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

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has faced a wave of public backlash after being photographed playing golf while the nation grapples with a series of brutal murders targeting women in the Ekurhuleni region.

The images, which circulated widely on social media, drew sharp criticism from citizens and activists who argued that the President’s leisure activity was insensitive given the gravity of the ongoing femicide crisis.

This cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa. We must confront an uncomfortable truth. What we have done has not been enough.

The outrage follows the discovery of multiple bodies of women in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, sparking fears of a serial killer operating in the area. While the President has since promised that no stone will be left unturned in the investigations, the timing of his golf outing has been viewed by many as a disconnect from the national mourning and fear felt by the public.

Government officials have defended the President, noting that he has directed police to prioritize the investigations and is preparing to address the nation on the government’s strategy to combat gender-based violence and femicide.