GAUTENG – Deputy President Paul Mashatile has strongly condemned the recent killings of women in and around Kempton Park, Gauteng, calling for immediate and coordinated action to combat gender-based violence (GBV). As the Chairperson of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Cabinet Committee, Mashatile emphasized the urgent need to protect women and children and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
In a formal statement released on Wednesday, the Deputy President joined President Cyril Ramaphosa and the broader South African public in extending the deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims who lost their lives under these horrific circumstances. Mashatile expressed firm solidarity with the women and residents of Kempton Park, surrounding areas, and the entire nation affected by this devastating series of events.
Addressing the path forward, Mashatile urged law enforcement agencies to collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders and local communities. He stressed the critical importance of ensuring that those responsible for these crimes are brought to book, thereby restoring a tangible sense of safety for women and children. The Deputy President reiterated that gender-based violence has no place in South African communities and called on all men to take a leading role in condemning such acts and actively protecting women.
This high-level condemnation follows a series of grim discoveries by police over a short period. Over the weekend, authorities revealed the discovery of four women’s bodies in the same general area over a span of approximately two months. The situation escalated early in the week when two additional bodies were found in different areas of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, on Monday, 14 September 2026, and Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026. By Tuesday evening, police announced the discovery of an eighth body in the region, intensifying the urgent call for justice and community safety.
