Parliament, Monday, 21 September 2026 – The Chairperson of the Oversight Committee on the Presidency, Ms Dorries Mpapane, has expressed deep horror, grief and absolute condemnation following the tragic discovery of the bodies of nine women in the Kempton Park and broader Ekurhuleni areas in the Gauteng province.
Over the past two months, a devastating wave of violence has claimed the lives of nine women, including identified victims Dineo Motapane, Gracious Nkomo, Elizabeth Moselakgomo and Itumeleng Kekana – leaving local communities gripped by trauma, fear and deep uncertainty.
Ms Mpapane emphasised that these gruesome murders are a painful reminder of the persistent crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) plaguing South African society. “We cannot accept a society where women are hunted and killed in our streets and residential spaces,” said Ms Mpapane.
“The responsibility of safety cannot be shifting onto women by simply telling them to be more vigilant or to restrict their movement. Government, through law enforcement and dedicated multi-sectoral structures, must actively create safe environments. We extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the families who are mourning lives so cruelly and violently taken away.”
The committee acknowledges the recent arrests made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit, as well as the deployment of a multidisciplinary specialised investigation team. However, Ms Mpapane stressed that structural, institutional and reactive gaps must be decisively closed to prevent such horrors from recurring.
In light of this, the Committee on the Presidency will strictly oversee the response of the Presidency’s structures, demanding comprehensive progress briefs from the Ministry of Women and the GBVF Steering Committee on the tangible implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. Furthermore, the committee calls on the Department of Social Development and relevant Presidency secretariats to guarantee that comprehensive psychosocial support and counselling are seamlessly extended to all affected families. Finally, law enforcement agencies must leave no stone unturned to ensure airtight prosecutions, and the committee urges the public to cooperate fully with investigators and to report missing persons immediately without waiting for a 24-hour period to lapse.
Ms Mpapane concluded by reiterating that the Committee on the Presidency remains steadfast in its oversight mandate. It will ensure that state resources and strategic plans are translated into measurable impact, comprehensive protection and absolute justice for the women of South Africa.
ISSUED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE PRESIDENCY, MS DORRIES EUNICE MPAPANE.
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Email: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
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