Category: MIL-OSI

An expanded Operation Shanela has been initiated to intensify law enforcement visibility and boost safety on the ground in Ekurhuleni as law enforcement investigates the spate of killings of women on the East Rand, which have resulted in the discovery of nine bodies.

This, according to the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide co-chairperson, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga.

The IMC briefed the media in Pretoria on Sunday afternoon on the actions the government is taking in response to the murders.

The expanded operation translates into the incorporation of municipal metro police forces to enforce bylaws, tackle the illegal sale of liquor and drugs, and reinforce border security.

On a local level, the City of Ekurhuleni will “intensify grass cutting and debushing of open spaces and clearing of illegal dumping sites in line with the Clean Cities and Towns” programme.

“In addition, due to the urgency of the situation, GCIS is redirecting the Love Your Street campaign, which involves the mobilisation of communities to participate in keeping their environment clean and promote shared responsibility for neighbourhood safety.

“The Love Your Street campaign encourages communities and municipalities to clean, maintain and improve local environments, including addressing overgrown grass and illegal dumping. Love Your Street campaign does not remove the responsibility for reliable refuse removal, clearing of open spaces and keeping open spaces properly lit from municipalities,” Chikunga explained.

Businesses are also urged to work with government and do their part.

“Shopping centres, transport facilities, entertainment establishments and other businesses operating in public spaces should ensure that lighting, security systems, emergency procedures and surveillance infrastructure are functional.

“Most importantly, businesses should cooperate promptly with police requests for information or security footage that may assist an investigation. In this regard, the IMC condemns in the most severe terms the GBVF Sandton reported incident, where a man has been recorded threatening women for rejecting his advances.

“The IMC is calling on the suspect to hand himself over to the nearest police station as a matter of urgency; however, the law will find him,” Chikunga noted.

 

The Minister also commended the swift arrest – with the assistance of taxi drivers – of an e-hailing driver who allegedly raped a 17-year-old child.

“This is the type of community leadership that our country needs. The IMC has learnt with grave concern of attempts to interfere with police investigations, and the law will take its course on interference with justice.

“Law enforcement officials and all institutions receiving complaints of gender-based violence have a responsibility to respond promptly, professionally and sensitively. Every report must be treated seriously, properly investigated and referred to the appropriate support services.

“The IMC appeals to men and boys to become active partners in ending violence against women and children. Men must challenge harmful behaviour, reject misogyny, teach boys to respect women and girls, and report abuse wherever it occurs. Silence, indifference and the protection of perpetrators allow violence to continue,” Chikunga noted.

Do your part

Chikunga emphasised that government’s actions alone are not enough, describing communities as “essential partners in preventing gender-based violence and femicide, supporting investigations and creating safer public spaces.”

“Residents must remain vigilant and report suspicious conduct, threats, harassment, missing persons and incidents of violence to the police without delay.

“The IMC calls on community policing forums, ward committees, street committees, traditional and faith-based organisations, civil society formations, institutions of higher learning, schools, businesses and neighbourhood associations to strengthen their coordination with local policing structures.

“These formations should help communities identify safety concerns, improve reporting mechanisms and connect victims and survivors with appropriate protection, psychosocial, health and legal-support services,” the Minister said.

A core pillar of the IMC’s focus lies on active male engagement and youth education.

The committee noted that men and boys must be systematically mobilised to become active partners in shifting societal norms.

“Community, sporting, workplace, educational and faith-based programmes should promote positive models of masculinity, respect for women and girls, non-violent conflict resolution and accountability.

“Men must challenge harmful attitudes, reject misogyny, refuse to protect perpetrators and speak out when they witness abusive or threatening behaviour. Parents and caregivers also have a responsibility to teach children that violence, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable,” Chikunga said.

The Minister registered the IMC’s concern that despite the strengthening of legislation and interventions, the country “continues to experience unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and femicide.”

“The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide remains the country’s collective framework for preventing violence, strengthening the criminal justice response, supporting victims and survivors, and addressing the social and economic conditions that enable abuse.

“We need all hands-on deck on a sustained and coordinated action by government, law-enforcement agencies, civil society, business, communities and individuals. Gender-based violence and femicide are not private or women’s issues. They are societal crimes that demand collective responsibility and decisive action,” Chikunga concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

0

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (IMC on GBVF) has approved a Comprehensive Emergency Strategy to speedily bring to justice the perpetrators behind the killing of nine women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. 

This is according to IMC co-chairperson, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, during a media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday.

“The [Committee] met on Thursday…to receive a briefing and consider recommendations from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) on the work to speedily find the perpetrators of the murders of women in the Ekurhuleni Metro of the Gauteng Province.

“The IMC approved a Comprehensive Emergency Strategy for implementation, which is in line with the key elements of the National Strategic Plan on the fight against GBVF, [namely], Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion, Law Enforcement, Protection, Safety, and Justice [and] Victim and Survivor Centred Support,” she said.

Additionally, the multidisciplinary specialised team established to investigate the murders has been “elevated to be coordinated by the Deputy National Commissioner: Detective Services.”

Finding families

Chikunga said that of the nine recovered bodies, one remains with no missing person case reported.

“The IMC calls on people to check on their female relatives who are in Ekurhuleni, particularly those in and around Kempton Park, Kwa-Thema and Tembisa, and to report any missing persons at their nearest police station. There is no requirement to wait 24 hours before reporting a person missing.

“Early reporting enables the police to initiate the necessary investigation and search processes without delay. Families should provide a recent photograph, a description of the missing person, details of where the person was last seen and any other information that may assist investigators,” the Minister urged.

Community members with any information on the murders are urged to report to police.

To give information to police, contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249 or call the South African Police Service Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

“Information should be reported directly to the police rather than circulated through social media or informal community platforms.

“The sharing of unverified allegations, graphic images or the personal information of victims may cause additional trauma to families, fuel fear and prejudice, or compromise ongoing investigations,” Chikunga said.

She highlighted that the Department of Social Development has commenced psycho-social support to the “families of the identified victims in line with the families’ needs.”

“Each of these women was a human being of equal dignity, with relationships, hopes and a rightful place in our society.

“Government stands with the affected families and remains committed to ensuring that they receive the necessary support while justice is pursued,” Chikunga said.

Members of the public can report GBV incidents and access support by contacting the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre on 0800 428 428.

The GBV Command Centre can also be reached by sending a Please Call Me to 1207867#, SMSing “HELP” to 31531, or contacting Skype: Helpme GBV.  – SAnews.gov.za

0

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called for an urgent and coordinated response to the escalating kidnapping crisis in the Province, following disturbing revelations that Kempton Park recorded the highest number of kidnapping cases in Gauteng between April and June 2026.

The revelation was made during a critical stakeholder engagement convened by the Committee on Friday, 18 September 2026, to interrogate the growing prevalence, causes and impact of kidnapping in Gauteng.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) latest crime statistics, Kempton Park recorded 76 kidnapping cases between April and June 2026, compared with 48 during the same period in 2025, an increase of 58.3%. 

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Bandile Masuku, said this makes Kempton Park the highest recording precinct in Gauteng for kidnapping during the quarter.

“The figures are particularly concerning given the recent discovery of the bodies of several women in the broader Ekurhuleni area. While investigations into these deaths remain ongoing, the Committee believes the exceptionally high kidnapping figures in Kempton Park demand intensified policing, intelligence-led investigations and visible interventions to protect residents,” Masuku said.

He added that the picture is equally alarming at the provincial level. 

Gauteng recorded 2 367 kidnapping cases between April and June 2026, more than half of the 4 638 cases recorded nationally during the quarter. 

The scale of these figures places Gauteng at the centre of South Africa’s kidnapping crisis.

“The Committee is particularly concerned that kidnapping in Gauteng is taking different forms, including hijacking-related kidnappings, where victims are unlawfully restrained or taken during vehicle hijackings, as well as the growing threat of kidnapping for ransom,” Masuku said.

During a presentation by the SAPS, it emerged that the established organised crime team dealt with ransom kidnapping cases in Bekkersdal and Roodepoort during the first quarter of the current financial year. 

In Bekkersdal, a ransom of R5 million was reportedly demanded, while a R3 million ransom was demanded in the Roodepoort case.

“These figures should serve as a wake-up call to every law enforcement agency and every level of government. Kidnapping cannot be treated as an isolated crime when its tentacles extend into hijacking, organised crime, ransom demands and the targeting of vulnerable people.

“The Committee is calling for kidnapping to receive the highest level of attention in Gauteng, including strengthened intelligence gathering, enhanced coordination between law enforcement agencies, targeted operations in identified hotspots and stronger engagement with communities,” Masuku said.

The Committee also urged residents to work closely with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity and providing information that could assist investigations.

“The message from the Committee is clear: Gauteng cannot normalise kidnapping. Communities must be protected, criminal networks must be disrupted, and those responsible must face the full might of the law,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

0