Ilitha Labantu calls on government to intervene in GBVF scourge against young women

Ilitha Labantu, an anti GBVF civil organisation, has decried the brutal murders of young women that has gripped Mamelodi Township and parts of KwaZulu Natal over the weekend.

According to media reports, 23-year-old Nonjabulo Nxumalo has become yet another victim of GBVF, following the recent killing of Tshiamo Moramaga, 22, and Baleseng Moramaga, 21 from Mamelodi East, who were found brutally murdered in the early hours of Sunday morning. On Monday, amid reports that Nxumalo has become the third victim, the community of KwaZulu-Natal is reported to have been left shell-shocked by this incident.

Media reports suggest that Nxumalo had been out socialising with friends at a local entertainment venue when a man, identified only as Robert followed her outside after the night of fun.

It is further alleged that, Robert is a foreign national who indulged Nxumalo and her friends with the gifts of alcohol, and when they were leaving, followed Nxumalo outside, before reportedly pulling out a firearm and forcing the young woman into his vehicle.

Her friends immediately raised the alarm, and community members launched a search. The suspect’s vehicle was later discovered abandoned in nearby bushes.

Residents reportedly found the suspect hiding close by, where he allegedly confessed to committing the crime.

This incident comes just as the community of Mamelodi has been devastated by the tragic death of the two young women, who died at the hands of a 38-year-old suspect, who has since been apprehended by the police, this is after members of the community discovered the bodies of the two cousins, along a road on Sunday, 26 October 2025.

Siya Monakali, speaking on behalf of Ilitha Labantu said the foundation has been left devastated by the incidents of this past weekend, as they point to a troubling trend of violence against young women.

“Ilitha Labantu is deeply disturbed by the brutal killings of two young women, reportedly cousins, in Mamelodi, and another young woman in KwaZulu-Natal, all of whom were allegedly murdered following social gatherings where alcohol was involved.

“These killings lay bare the continuing crisis of violence against women and girls in South Africa, where the right to life and safety remains precarious. Once again, the lives of young women have been cut short by those who should have been their peers or companions, reflecting a society where gender-based violence continues to claim lives with alarming regularity,” Monakali stated.

Furthermore, Monakali said such incidents must not be allowed to manifest themselves into deeper societal issues, which need the government needs to resolve with haste in order to prevent a deeper scourge.

"The repeated nature of such incidents points to a deeper social malaise rooted in impunity, toxic masculinity, and substance abuse. It highlights how environments of casual drinking often become spaces where women’s safety is compromised, exposing the intersections between social behaviour, gender inequality, and violence.

"The families of the victims are left devastated and traumatised, forced to mourn lives lost senselessly. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern that demands urgent action, community reflection, and accountability from both individuals and institutions entrusted with upholding justice and protecting lives," he added.