Ramaphosa's 60-Day Ultimatum: A Long-Overdue Reckoning for Black Women's Safety
President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally ordered a sweeping 60-day audit of unresolved murders and rapes of women and children, a move that acknowledges what Black communities have known for decades: the justice system has failed our mothers, daughters, and sisters. This is not just a policy announcement; it is a confrontation with the structural neglect that has allowed violence to fester in our townships and cities.
On Tuesday, Ramaphosa laid out a four-point plan to tackle gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), responding to the brutal killings of 12 women whose deaths have shaken the nation. The plan targets stalled investigations, forensic backlogs, unsafe public spaces, and the unchecked proliferation of liquor outlets that fuel violence in our communities.
Why the audit of unresolved cases matters for Black families
For too long, Black families have watched cases disappear into the system, never to surface again. Ramaphosa has directed the Ministers of Police and Justice, along with the National Prosecuting Authority, to conduct a national case-recovery operation. Within 60 days, this audit must identify the number and age of unresolved cases, those awaiting forensic evidence, cases where suspects are known but not arrested, and where investigations have been unreasonably delayed.
Within 90 days, individual recovery plans must be drafted for stalled priority cases, specifying outstanding work, the responsible official, and a deadline. This is a direct challenge to a system that has historically treated Black lives, particularly Black women's lives, as expendable.
Within 60 days, this audit must identify the number and age of unresolved cases, cases awaiting forensic evidence, cases in which suspects have been identified but not arrested, and cases in which investigative or prosecutorial action has been unreasonably delayed.
Forensic backlogs: A colonial legacy of neglect
The President has also instructed the Police Minister and forensic authorities to produce a funded plan within 60 days to reduce forensic backlogs. The plan must detail the size of the backlog, personnel and equipment shortages, and the resources required. Priority forensic samples involving the rape or murder of women and children must be ring-fenced for urgent processing, with quarterly public progress reports.
This is about accountability. The state has a duty to process evidence swiftly, not to leave families in limbo for years. The public must be able to monitor whether authorities meet their commitments, and this transparency is a step toward restoring trust in a system that has earned our skepticism.
Municipalities must identify danger spots in our communities
Every municipality has been instructed to begin a women's safety audit immediately, working with provincial governments and police to identify high-risk areas. Within 60 days, audits must flag broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes, and poorly secured parks. This comes as authorities investigate the deaths of women whose bodies were found in various locations across Ekurhuleni, including one dumped in a cemetery.
Within 90 days, the most urgent hazards must be addressed or included in a funded implementation plan. Ramaphosa said it plainly: Women should not have to live in fear because government has failed to repair a light, clear a public space, process evidence or enforce a law. Our communities deserve better than neglect dressed up as policy.
Crackdown on liquor outlets: Addressing a driver of violence
The President has called for intensified enforcement of liquor laws, targeting unlicensed outlets and those trading outside permitted hours. A coordinated legislative and enforcement package must be submitted to Cabinet within 60 days, focusing on reducing alcohol-related violence. However, Ramaphosa was clear: Alcohol does not cause gender-based violence and it can never excuse it. Responsibility always lies with the perpetrator.
Harmful alcohol use is a significant aggravating factor in interpersonal violence, and addressing it is part of a broader prevention strategy. But we must not lose sight of the root causes: a society still grappling with the violent legacy of apartheid and colonialism, where Black bodies have historically been devalued.
Is this plan enough to protect Black women?
These measures are necessary, but they are not sufficient. They must be implemented with urgency and genuine commitment, not just announced with fanfare. The President's plan is a starting point, but it must be followed by sustained action and resources. Our communities will be watching closely to see if these deadlines are met, and if they are not, we will hold this government accountable.
The fight against GBVF is a fight for the dignity of Black women, and it cannot be won with audits alone. It requires a fundamental shift in how the state values Black lives, and that shift must go beyond policy papers and press conferences.
Frequently asked questions about the GBVF action plan
What is the national case-recovery operation?
It is a directive for police and prosecutors to audit all unresolved murders, rapes, and serious sexual offences against women and children within 60 days, identifying why cases stalled and creating recovery plans within 90 days.
How will forensic backlogs be addressed?
The government must produce a funded plan within 60 days to reduce backlogs, with priority given to samples from rape and murder cases involving women and children, and quarterly public reporting on progress.
What are municipalities required to do?
They must conduct women's safety audits within 60 days to identify dangerous public spaces like broken streetlights and abandoned buildings, and address or fund fixes for the most urgent hazards within 90 days.
What action is being taken on liquor outlets?
Provincial and municipal authorities must intensify enforcement of liquor laws, and a legislative package to reduce alcohol-related violence must be submitted to Cabinet within 60 days.