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 he was photographed playing golf while the nation was reeling from a series of brutal killings of women. The images, which circulated on social media, drew sharp criticism from citizens and activists who felt the President’s leisure activity was insensitive given the gravity of the ongoing gender-based violence crisis.

The President’s decision to hit the golf course while families are mourning and the country is in a state of shock over the senseless loss of life is a clear sign of being out of touch with the reality on the ground.

Critics argued that the timing of the outing was particularly poor, as the country was grappling with high-profile cases of femicide that had sparked national protests and calls for urgent government intervention. Many took to social media platforms to express their frustration, using hashtags to demand more decisive leadership and action against the perpetrators of violence.

In response to the growing outrage, the Presidency issued a statement acknowledging the public’s concerns and reiterating the government’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence. The statement emphasized that the President remains deeply concerned about the safety of women and children and is working closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is served.