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 grapples with a series of brutal killings targeting women.

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 images of the President on the golf course circulated widely on social media, drawing sharp criticism from citizens and activists who argued that the timing was insensitive given the recent discovery of multiple women’s bodies in the Ekurhuleni area. Critics expressed frustration that the head of state appeared to be engaging in leisure activities while the country is in mourning and demanding urgent action against gender-based violence.

The controversy comes as the government faces mounting pressure to address the high rates of femicide and violent crime. President Ramaphosa has since announced new measures to combat the crisis, including a four-point plan and a commitment to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the investigations into the recent murders.