President Cyril Ramaphosa says South African women deserve to be angry after the body of an 11th woman was found in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality area among a series of human remains over the past two months. 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Gauteng spokesperson Brenda Muridili had on Sunday confirmed the discovery, with reports stating that the body was found half-naked in an open area by a patrolling security vehicle in Springs, Ekurhuleni, as fears grew among South Africans over the unexplained deaths.

In a televised address on Tuesday night, Mr Ramaphosa acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that he shared the anger and grief of women in South Africa over the mysterious death. 

“The nation is angry. The women of South Africa are angry, and their anger is justified. I too share that anger. I share grief at the lives that were cruelly and senselessly cut short. On Sunday, the body of another woman was found in Springs. This brings to 11, the number of women found in Ekurhuleni since July,” he said. 

During the address, Mr Ramaphosa also read the names of several other victims who were allegedly killed outside of Ekurhuleni, describing them as “only some of the women whose lives have been taken from us in recent weeks.”

Subsequently, the president announced that the government was deploying every necessary capability to assist with the investigations into the cases, while ordering the minister of police, minister of justice and correctional services to audit unresolved cases within 60 days. 

“The state is bringing together its available capabilities to establish what happened and to identify those responsible,” Mr Ramaphosa said, adding that “Within 60 days this audit must identify unresolved cases. Within 90 days, recovery plans must be in place for these cases.”

The president, however, implored South Africans to be extra cautious, stating, “If you have reason to fear that something is wrong, report it immediately. Hours matter. Information matters. A photograph matters. A vehicle registration number matters.”