Violence against women a stain on the country's conscience: Ramaphosa

In a statement from the Presidency, Ramaphosa says the latest murders of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana and champion boxer, Leighandre Jegels are a stark reminder that women are not safe in their home or in the streets.

He says this is a very dark period for the country.

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The President will be meeting with the police's top brass today to be briefed on what is being done about gender-based violence and other issues.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has commended the country’s law enforcement authorities for arresting two suspects linked to the deaths of Mrwetyana and Jegels.

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Mrwetyana’s alleged killer was arrested and charged with rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice. The man suspected of killing Jegels was also arrested, but has since died in hospital.

"The murder of these two young women, one at the hands of a stranger and the other killed by a man who was reportedly her boyfriend, remain a stark reminder that the women of South Africa are not safe, either in their homes or in the streets," read the Presidency's statement.

“This is a very dark period for us as a country. The assaults, rapes and murders of South African women are a stain on our national conscience.”

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Ramaphosa said the country should be hanging its head in shame.
 
"We have just commemorated Women’s Month. 63 years after the women of 1956 marched for the right to live in freedom, women in this country live in fear, not of the apartheid police but of their brothers, sons, fathers and uncles."