US lashes SA over crime as women’s bodies pile up

Washington has openly accused the South African government of lacking the will to confront a disturbing rise in violent crime after the bodies of nine women were discovered in the Ekurhuleni region over a period of just nine weeks. The accusations, voiced by the US State Department in a briefing with local media, have intensified scrutiny on a series of murders that police are still trying to connect.

Rising Violence in Ekurhuleni

The string of killings began in mid‑July when a 37‑year‑old woman was found naked and bound with cable ties in a field near Kempton Park. Since then, eight more victims – all women, most of them black – have been located in different suburbs, including Dawn Park in Boksburg and the Villa Lisa area of Kempton Park. The most recent discovery was a partially clothed woman, estimated to be around 30 years old, whose throat had been slit in an open space on Lama Street. Police believe she was killed elsewhere and her body was dumped there.

Four of the victims have been identified: Itumeleng Kekana (32), Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo (38), Dineo Evelyn Motapane (38) and Gracious Nkomo (28). The identities of the remaining five remain pending, and the investigations are hampered by limited forensic resources and the sheer volume of cases.

International Reaction and Travel Advisory

In an interview with the US State Department, a spokesperson said, “The US is concerned by rising crime in SA and the lack of desire from the government to adequately address it.” The department reiterated that the travel advisory for South Africa remains at Level 2, urging American visitors to exercise increased caution, stay aware of their surroundings, and enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme for real‑time alerts.

The criticism arrives against a backdrop of heightened diplomatic tension. In February 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to resettle Afrikaner families from South Africa as refugees, citing alleged racial discrimination and farm attacks. While the order primarily targeted white South Africans, the current wave of murders involves black women, underscoring the broader, non‑racial nature of the security crisis.

Government and Police Response

President Cyril Ramaphosa responded swiftly, promising that “no stone will be left unturned” in the hunt for the perpetrators. He has ordered the Inter‑Ministerial Committee on Gender‑Based Violence and Femicide to convene a briefing in Hatfield, Pretoria, where ministers Sindisiwe Chikunga and Dina Pule will outline a coordinated response.

On the policing front, Gauteng Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili disclosed that investigators are using fingerprint databases and Home Affairs records to confirm the identity of a man arrested in connection with the first Kempton Park killing. Early leads suggested the suspect might not be South African, but this has not been verified. Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana warned that the possibility of multiple perpetrators cannot be ruled out, and that investigators are cross‑checking timelines, victim profiles and forensic evidence across all nine cases.

To encourage public cooperation, the police have announced a reward of R400 000 for information leading to an arrest. Community leaders have also been mobilised to monitor neighbourhoods and report suspicious activity, a strategy that proved effective in earlier gender‑based violence task forces.

Broader Context: Gender‑Based Violence in South Africa

South Africa has long grappled with high rates of gender‑based violence. According to Statistics South Africa, more than 30 % of women reported experiencing some form of physical or sexual abuse in the past year. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ranks the country among the world’s most dangerous for women, a reality reflected in the recent spate of murders.

Experts point to a combination of factors – entrenched patriarchy, inadequate policing resources, and a culture of impunity – that fuel the epidemic. The National Strategic Plan on Gender‑Based Violence, launched in 2020, set ambitious targets for reducing femicide, but implementation has been uneven, especially in rapidly expanding urban municipalities like Ekurhuleni.

Adding to the complexity, rumours continue to swirl about a suspect linked to the Kempton Park murder. Rumors about the Kempton Park murder suspect remain unverified, and officials caution the public against spreading unconfirmed information that could jeopardise ongoing investigations.

What Lies Ahead

As the investigations progress, South Africans are watching both domestic and international reactions closely. The US criticism may spur additional diplomatic pressure, but the ultimate resolution depends on the capacity of local law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.

For now, families of the victims, community activists, and government officials are united in a single demand: accountability. The reward, the inter‑ministerial briefings, and heightened police patrols signal a renewed urgency, but lasting change will require sustained investment in forensic labs, victim support services, and community‑led safety initiatives.

Until the murders are solved and systemic reforms take hold, South Africa’s reputation for safety – both for its citizens and for foreign visitors – will remain under the microscope, with the world watching how the nation confronts one of its most pressing social crises.