As South Africa marks the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, the President’s newsletter underscores the scale of the crisis and outlines government’s intensified response after officially declaring GBVF a national disaster last month.

“As South Africa and the world observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December, it is a shame that our country has the dubious distinction of having one of the world’s highest levels of violence against women and girls,” the President said.

According to data from the HSRC’s National GBV Study (2022), more than 35% of women over 18 have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with most cases committed by intimate partners. The report, he said, provides the baseline needed to drive the country’s long-term response to GBVF through the National Strategic Plan adopted after the 2018 Presidential Summit.

Reflecting on the long-term effects of gender-based violence, President Ramaphosa said the impact is “arguably even more corrosive” than the devastation caused by COVID-19.

“Gender-based violence destroys families, has an economic cost, causes instability and fear for women and girls, and reproduces inter-generational trauma,” he wrote.

He said classifying GBVF as a national disaster strengthens the mandates of key departments, including Police, Justice, Social Development, Health and Basic Education, to scale up survivor support, expand shelters and safe spaces, and fast-track emergency resource allocation.

All organs of state are now required to submit progress reports to the National Disaster Management Centre.

The President highlighted recent briefings to Parliament’s Multiparty Women’s Caucus, where the SAPS and the Department of Justice reported steps taken to improve case management and strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to GBVF.

These include:

Expansion of victim-friendly facilities and specialised GBV desks at police stations
Establishment of a GBVF Information Centre at SAPS Academy Pretoria
Faster evidence processing and improved collaboration between SAPS and the NPA
A new 24-hour service for obtaining protection orders
Progress on anti-GBV legislation signed into law in 2022, including stronger sexual offences registers and more specialised courts
Despite this, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that implementation of the National Strategic Plan has been “uneven”, saying the disaster classification would help speed up funding flows for survivor services and improve access to justice.

Men are central to the solution

President Ramaphosa again emphasised that men must play a leading role in prevention efforts, echoing remarks he made during the Men’s Indaba in the Free State last week.

“Unless we directly engage men, we will continue to have marches, hold protests and conduct social media campaigns, but the statistics will not change. Even as men are the main perpetrators of GBVF, they are also part of the solution,” he said.

The President called for a nationwide, sustained programme of dialogues with men and boys to confront the drivers of violence including toxic masculinity, harmful cultural norms, peer pressure and socialisation.

President Ramaphosa further stressed that combating GBVF requires a whole-of-society response.

“A national disaster demands national responsibility. Whether as communities, civil society, government, faith leaders, business, unions or citizens, we must all play our part,” he said.

He urged South Africans to report abuse rather than “look away”, and to actively dismantle the attitudes that enable violence.

“The safety and security of women and children is everybody’s business. Let us continue to work together to realise a society free from gender-based violence and femicide,” President Ramaphosa said.

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This is according to Amnesty International South Africa’s Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed, who said that anything less than a thorough investigation “is a blatant disregard for ensuring the protection of everyone’s rights to safety and life in South Africa. This cannot be just another inquiry that leads to no justice or accountability.”

In addition to investigating the allegations, the Commission will report on the effectiveness or failure of existing oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing infiltration of law enforcement agencies.

Taking into consideration the nature of the allegations and evidence uncovered, the Commission will have the power to refer matters for immediate criminal investigations and prosecutions. The Commission itself, however, is not a criminal proceeding and action will need to be taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability.

“People in South Africa are tired of costly commissions that are long drawn out and lead to no accountability. The mere fact that another commission is being established is an indictment of our justice system and state institutions. We need to see concrete and enforceable action to fight crime and not more processes that delay justice. President Ramaphosa has an opportunity, and the power, to tackle corruption within the state quickly and decisively. Failure to do so has a massive impact on the rights of the people who live in South Africa”, Mohamed said.

The cost of a failing criminal justice system

Amnesty International South Africa said it has documented many instances of the failure of the criminal justice system to deliver justice for victims and survivors of crime. Fikile Ntshangase was an environmental activist and human rights defender who was silenced with six bullets five years ago. There have still been no arrests for her murder. Lindokuhle Mnguni and Nokuthula Mabaso were activists and human rights defenders part of the Abahlali baseMjondolo movement who were killed in 2022, and there has still been no accountability for their deaths.

“We are seeing a decline in the ability of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to resolve murders, and clear failures in their ability to respond to and investigate crimes. While the commission of inquiry is underway, the President must ensure the proper management of law enforcement agencies and ensure that crime does not worsen over this period,” Mohamed said.

There is already a widespread lack of trust in the police. Research by the Human Sciences Research Council shows that public confidence in the SAPS is generally low, dipping after key moments of intense violence and brutality, like the Marikana massacre and the unrest in July 2021. An Afrobarometer survey also showed that only 26% of people surveyed had “somewhat” or “a lot” of trust in police. The lack of trust in the police contributes to an environment of impunity, impacting people’s willingness to report crimes and on trust in the rule of law, Amnesty International said.

“We remind SAPS of the governing principles for national security provided in the South African Constitution, that ‘National security must reflect the resolve of South Africans, as individuals and as a nation, to live as equals, to live in peace and harmony, to be free from fear and want and to seek a better life’. We reiterate our call for the protection of whistleblowers during the Commission’s proceedings,” Amnesty International said.

Explosive allegations

On 6 July 2025, Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a press conference where he publicly accused the Minister of Police, members of SAPS, the judiciary, and high level politicians of colluding with criminal syndicates. Mkhwanazi accused the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, of interfering in investigations and disbanding the political task team on political killings for ulterior motives.

Ramaphosa subsequently established a Commission of Inquiry headed by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Madlanga to investigate the allegations. The Commission of Inquiry will be required to provide interim reports within three months, and then again at the six month mark. The final report will be submitted to the President, Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of South Africa. The Speaker of the National Assembly has also directed three portfolio committees of parliament to consider the allegations against Minister Mchunu.

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The provincial commissioner made several allegations about an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread into law enforcement and intelligence services as well as allegations implicating the judiciary, prosecutors, politicians and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

The Police Minister has been placed on leave of absence by the President.

Justice and Constitutional Development Committee chairperson, Xola Nqola, said: “The National Prosecuting Authority, as well as the Judiciary and Magistracy are pillars of the criminal justice system and constitutional rule of law. They are the guardians of justice and accountability, and we cannot have a question mark hanging over them, causing the public to lose confidence in our justice system.”

Police Portfolio Committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, said: “The announcement of the establishment of a commission will surely enable a process to root out corruption from the SAPS. It is important that the establishment of the commission is not merely cosmetic but facilitates greater reflection and steps to rejuvenate the entire criminal justice system.”

Last week, National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, mandated the two committees and the Intelligence Committee to consider Mkhwanazi’s allegations.

In that regard, the committees are expected to meet this week to consider the way forward and report back to Didiza.

Ramaphosa assured South Africans that government is hard at work to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of the police service.

The President made these remarks in his weekly newsletter to the nation, just a day after announcing the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate serious allegations made by Mkhwanazi.

“We have taken this decisive step because we are determined that the important work that has been done to rebuild our law enforcement agencies and security services should not be compromised.

“It is necessary that we establish the facts through an independent, credible and thorough process so that we can safeguard public confidence in the police service. This is particularly important as we seek to put the era of state capture behind us,” the President said.

The commission of inquiry, to be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will investigate allegations made by General Mkhwanazi that the Minister of Police and others had colluded to interfere with police investigations.

The commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.

Among the allegations that the commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistleblowers or officials resisting criminal influence.

“The commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations,” the President said.

Institutions under scrutiny include the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, the Judiciary and Magistracy, and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.

The commission will also investigate whether any members of the National Executive responsible for the criminal justice system, were complicit, aided and abetted, or participated in the acts mentioned above.

The commission will be asked to report on the effectiveness or failure of oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing such infiltration.

It will make findings and recommendations for criminal prosecutions, disciplinary actions and institutional reform.

Once established, the commission shall consider prima facie evidence relating to the involvement of individuals currently employed within law enforcement or intelligence agencies.

Where appropriate, the commission must make recommendations on the employment status of such officials, including whether they should be suspended pending the outcome of further investigations.

The commission will also be empowered to refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, taking into account the nature of the allegations and evidence the commission will uncover.

In order for the commission to execute its functions effectively, the President decided to put the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect. He said the Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the commission to enable it to do its work.

In his place, the President has appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police. Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as an MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that the commission is being established against the backdrop of significant progress in rebuilding and strengthening the country’s law enforcement agencies and security services.

In recent years, the South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and other bodies have been making important inroads in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

“It is essential that we maintain this momentum and that we intensify this work. We will ensure that the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies continue to function without hindrance as the commission undertakes its work,” the President said.

He called on all members of the law enforcement agencies and security services to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and adhering to their code of conduct.

“I call on all South Africans to support the commission in its work and, where appropriate, to provide any information or assistance the commission may require.

“In establishing this Commission of Inquiry, we are affirming our commitment to the rule of law, to transparency and accountability, and to building a South Africa in which all people are safe and secure,” he said.

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Marking Women’s Day on Friday 9 August, Ramaphosa said South Africa is deeply traumatised by the violence perpetrated against women and children. “This violence is a betrayal of our Constitution. It is an affront to our common humanity,” the President said.

In his address to the National Women’s Day commemoration held in Pofadder in the Northern Cape, the President referred to the Human Sciences Research Council’s first-ever national survey on gender-based violence prevalence in a democratic South Africa, saying that the survey results will help guide the response to gender-based violence.

The study was undertaken in 2022 based on a random sample of people interviewed at home. It measured issues like physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse, as well as controlling behaviour between intimate partners.

Among other things, the survey found that around 7% of women aged 18 years and older had experienced physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months. This rate was highest among young women, black women, women who completed secondary education, and women who are unmarried but live with a partner.

“Seven percent may not sound like a lot but this figure is the equivalent of 1.5 million women. So, according to the HSRC survey, over the course of just one year, more than one and a half million women experienced physical or sexual violence in our country. That is more than the entire population of the Northern Cape.

“These are not statistics. These are human beings. These are women who have endured trauma that no person should have to experience.”

The President said the survey highlights that physical violence starts early, often affecting adolescent girls and young women, and that it continues through adulthood.

“Around 13% of women who had ever been in an intimate relationship reported that they had experienced economic abuse at the hands of their partner. This is why we need to address the massive inequality in income between men and women.”

He stressed that on average, women earn a quarter of their income from grants, compared to a far lower percentage for men.

“We must therefore create more jobs and other economic opportunities for women, so they are less vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.”

The survey also showed that 4% of men reported having perpetrated physical violence against a woman in the preceding 12 months.

“This translates to over 600 000 men. This makes clear what we all know. Men must change their behaviour. Men must change their attitudes. That is why we today we call on all South African men to make a pledge to be part of the solution. To take responsibility for their actions.”

He called on men not to raise their hands against women, while also urging them to treat women as equals and with dignity.

“If we are to end gender-based violence, we must work together as a society. We must work together, both men and women, both young and old,” he said.

Ramaphosa said the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) continues. “Guided by our National Strategic Plan, we have introduced new laws that protect survivors of gender-based violence, improve the response of the police, and ensure harsher sentences for perpetrators.”

He told those gathered at the Dennis Nel stadium that government has opened up additional Sexual Offences Courts, while the network of Thuthuzela Care Centres has been expanded.

“We have introduced more victim-friendly services at police stations across the country. We have just recently passed legislation for the establishment of a Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Council to mobilise and coordinate work across society.”

Ramaphosa, joined by Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and other government officials, signed a pledge for South African men to end gender-based violence and femicide during the national Women’s Day commemoration at the Denis Nel Stadium in Pofadder.

This year’s Women’s Day marks 68 years to the day since 20 000 women of diverse backgrounds marched to the Union Buildings to protest the pass laws of the apartheid regime.

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He refers to the SAPS-led Operation Shanela (sweep clean), now in its second year, as “a multi-sectoral crime-fighting strategy” with involvement from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) as well as other law enforcement agencies. These range from the National Traffic Police Unit (NTPU) of the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the nine provincial traffic authorities through to the country’s eight metro police departments (Buffalo City, Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Johannesburg, Mangaung, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane). Also in Shanela are the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), National Treasury’s SA Revenue Service (SARS), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Ramaphosa notes Shanela “draws heavily on collaboration with community policing forums (CPFs) and community patrollers” as well as working with security companies, adding it shows the fight against crime is gaining momentum.

Read the full story on defenceWeb here.

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“A data-driven approach will be used to identify violent crime hotspots and inform the allocation of policing resources alongside prevention measures,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) on Thursday 18 July.

The President was outlining apex focus areas for the next five years, which will be driven by the Government of National Unity (GNU). After the National and Provincial Elections in May produced no outright majority winner, various political leaders were tasked to work together to form a Government of National Unity, comprised of 10 political parties.

In his address on Thursday, President Ramaphosa said the country must have capable, sophisticated and independent law enforcement agencies that can fight complex and organised crime.

He committed that the Government of National Unity will continue to tackle priority crimes, including illegal mining, gang violence, cash-in-transit heists and the construction mafia, through specialised police units.

“We will continue to implement the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), and expand victim support services, like the Thuthuzela Centres and GBV desks in police stations,” President Ramaphosa said.

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Elrico Kaizer Kasper, 38, appeared in the De Aar Regional Court on Wednesday.

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said Kasper made the post in March last year.

“Kasper posted on his social media page that ‘some people’ were planning to assassinate President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his visit to De Aar, on Human Rights Day celebrations.”

“A disruptive operation consisting of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team and Crime Intelligence was operationalised and the team located the said accused. He was then taken in for questioning and he admitted to having posted such, citing the frustration of unemployment.”

The National Prosecuting Authority said it hoped the sentence will work as a deterrent to other perpetrators of cybercrimes.

“It is important that people should be aware that the dissemination of false information through social media platforms, will lead to people being prosecuted.”

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