By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Inside 

South Africa has reached a climate where there is no longer a safe space for women and children to roam in the country to the point where it seems as though women and children never had a safe space to begin with. Everyday the deaths of women and children continue to rise and the lack of urgency in combating this epidemic from South African police services and the national government has sparked anger and anguish to millions of South African citizens. The latest case of femicide which has sparked national distress is the brutal murder of 30 year old Wits student, Olorato Mongale, whose lifeless body was tragically found in Lombardy West on 25 May 2025 after she went on a date with her alleged killer.

National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said in a video released by the SABC “We have mobilised maximum resources, as with any GBVF [Gender-Based Violence and Femicide] cases we investigate. We have roped in our FCS unit [Family violence, Child Protection, Sexual Offences Unit] along with crime intelligence officers and our cybercrime unit.” The Spokesperson also added that SAPS (South African Police Service) will collaborate with private security companies in order to track the vehicle of the alleged killer. Early investigations reported that the number plate of the alleged killer’s white Polo Vivo that the authorities found belonged to someone else, leading the relevant authorities to believe that the murder was premeditated as per what was mentioned by the Police Spokesperson. According to a statement by Mathe, Mongale went on a date with a man who had introduced himself as John, who had arrived to pick her up from her complex. After picking her up from her residence, the Police Spokesperson further added that “They proceeded to Alexandra, then to Kew in Johannesburg. About an hour and 45 minutes later at around 16:50 [May 25], her lifeless body was dumped in Lombardy West, and that is where police collected her lifeless body.” Before going on the date with her alleged murderer, Mongale had taken all the necessary precautionary measures such as informing her friends she is going on a date with this man, as corroborated by the Mongale family’s spokesperson Dr Crieslda Kananda, which seemed to not make a difference to the fate of young Olorato Mongale.

Children have not been made an exception in regard to this growing epidemic. A seven year old girl by the name of “Cwecwe” was allegedly raped by her teacher while she was at school. The assault took place in October 2024 and has been reported nationally in 2025 to public outrage. The case was dropped by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) due inconclusive evidence of any rape. “The prosecutors assessed the contents thereof and concluded that there was insufficient evidence upon which a successful prosecution could be instituted, as no conclusive evidence of Rape/sexual assault could be found after an interview and examination conducted on the minor girl.” said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.

In South Africa more than 115 women are sexually assaulted daily, which totals sexual assaults to 42,000 occurring annually according to a UN (United Nations) report in 2025 ,which deems South Africa the most dangerous place for a woman. From April-June 2024 South Africa had an alarming increase in Gender-Based Violence and Femicide cases with a reported 966 murders, 1644 attempted murders, 13,757 assault cases and 9 309 sexual assault cases were reported within the span of three months making the femicide rate five times higher than the global avereage according to stats by Statistics South Africa and World Report. On 14 May 2025 the Portfolio committee met with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with disabilities to implement the National Strategic Plan(NSP) on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. Committee chairperson Ms Liezel Van der Merwe said in a statement “ We spent quality time this morning on a very important topic that is close to this portfolio committee’s heart. Gender-Based Violence and Femicide remains a critical national crisis that requires a multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary approach involving all of society.” Despite talks about the NSP as well as the implementation of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, there is also a worry about the slow implementation of these strategies and policies and hope that this crisis does not increase more than it already has.

South Africa is seen as the most dangerous place for women and children. Whether in your home, school, workplace it seems that women and children have to constantly look over their shoulders as the vast majority of men in the country of South Africa continue to run rampant with violence and abuse towards millions of women in this country. The South African government has assured that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is among the top priorities in South Africa’s reform to rectify the economic and societal empowerment of women all over South Africa. These stories are among a plethora of unanswered questions and cases were no justice has been served, organizations such as Women for Change South Africa which was founded in 2016 has spared countless efforts to combat GBVF by using social media as a way to give a voice to those whose voices have been taken away by merciless perpetrators, and has for many years called for the South African government to declare this crisis a national disaster, and even started a petition that you can sign on their website womenforchange.co.za. 

For anybody suffering from Gender-Based Violence and Femicide or know anybody that is affected by it in anyway here are various Non-profits that combat GBVF and can offer any assistance:

Gender-Based Violence Hotline-0800 150 150 (Operational 24/7)

Women for Change South Africa- IG:@womenforchangesa & email: [email protected]

POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse)-Helpline: 011 591 6803

Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust- Helpline: 0214479762

Masimanyane Women’s Rights International- Helpline: 043 743 9169

Rural Development Support Programme- Helpline: 021 462 4555

TEARS Foundation- Helpline: 010 590 5920