Cyril Ramaphosa’s golf outing sparks outrage as SA reels from deadly women’s killings

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has faced significant public backlash following reports of a golf outing during a period of national mourning and crisis, as the country grapples with a surge in the brutal killings of women. The controversy erupted as citizens expressed outrage over the perceived insensitivity of the President’s leisure activities while the nation reels from the discovery of multiple women’s bodies in the Ekurhuleni municipality.

The recent discovery of 11 women’s bodies in the area since July has reignited intense public anger and fear, with many questioning the government’s effectiveness in curbing the escalating crisis of gender-based violence. In a televised address, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating,

There are women lying tonight in government mortuaries waiting to be identified, waiting for someone to claim them, waiting to be taken home and laid to rest. How can our hearts not be broken? How can we not be angry?

The President further addressed the national sentiment, adding,

The violence inflicted upon the women of South Africa is a source of profound pain and national shame. The nation is angry. The women of South Africa are angry.

Despite the public outcry and the pattern of the killings, Ramaphosa noted that police have not yet found evidence of a serial killer, though all possibilities remain under active investigation.

Critics have contrasted the President’s public commitments to addressing gender-based violence with his reported golf outing, arguing that such actions demonstrate a disconnect from the suffering of families and the broader public. The government has since announced new measures, including a four-point recovery plan and a 60-day forensic audit, in an attempt to restore public trust and address the systemic failures in handling these violent crimes.