The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the murders of at least six women in Ekurhuleni.
Over the weekend, police warned women in the area to take extra precaution following the discovery of the bodies of four women over a two-month period. A further two bodies have since been discovered.
“The committee is deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding the deaths and urges anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity, encountered the victims or suspects, or possesses any information that could assist investigators to report it to the police without delay.
“The committee further calls on communities to remain vigilant, particularly women who may feel increasingly vulnerable following these incidents. Residents are urged to exercise caution, remain alert to their surroundings, avoid unnecessarily placing themselves in potentially dangerous situations and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles or activities to the police,” the Committee said in a statement.
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Concern was also raised on reports that the murders may be linked and “may point to the presence of a serial killer”.
“However, at this stage there is no confirmed evidence establishing that these cases are the work of a serial killer, and the committee cautions against speculation that could compromise ongoing police investigations or cause unnecessary panic in communities.
“What is beyond dispute is the gravity and brutality of these crimes. The targeting and killing of women in such circumstances is an intolerable assault on the safety and dignity of women and cannot be allowed to become normalised,” the statement read.
The Committee has urged the police to “leave no stone unturned in investigating these murders, establishing whether there are any links between the cases and ensuring that those responsible are brought before the courts”.
It added that investigators must pursue every lead, interrogate all possible connections between the incidents and provide communities with timely updates as investigations progress.
“The committee also calls for strengthened cooperation between the police, community policing forums, local safety structures and residents.
“Community members are not merely recipients of policing services; they are critical partners in preventing and solving crime. Information that may appear insignificant could ultimately prove decisive in bringing a dangerous perpetrator to justice,” the statement continued.
The Committee reiterated its call for anyone with information to approach law enforcement.
“The committee reiterates its unequivocal call for an end to gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women. Women must be able to live, work, travel and participate in their communities without fear of being targeted simply because they are women.
“The message from the committee is clear: these killings must not be allowed to become another statistic. Communities must speak up, the police must act decisively, and perpetrators must face the full might of the law,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called on law-enforcement agencies to act with urgency to identify, arrest and bring to justice those responsible for attacks on women exercising in public spaces.
READ | Chikunga calls for action over attacks on women
“Women should not have to choose between their safety and their health. No woman should fear for her life simply because she has chosen to run, walk, or exercise in a public space. Women must be free to exercise, walk, and run without fear. This is unacceptable,” Chikunga said. -SAnews.gov.za
