South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on men to take responsibility for violence against women and announced police measures to address a recent wave of murders that has drawn public anger at authorities.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that insufficient steps have been taken to protect women. He announced two initiatives to be completed within 60 days. Police will review unsolved murders, attempted murders, and serious sexual offences against women and children. The force will also produce a funded plan to reduce the forensic backlog for such cases.
The announcement comes as South Africa faces anger over recent killings of women. The president's appeal for men to speak up represents a shift in framing the issue as one requiring male participation in prevention and accountability.