Council Urges Gauteng Families to Help Identify Bodies

• The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has appealed to Gauteng families with missing loved ones to assist with DNA identification of unidentified women's bodies.
• This appeal follows the discovery of eight women's bodies in Ekurhuleni since July 2026, some reportedly showing signs of sexual violence.
• The Council is demanding thorough investigations, timely forensic processes, and accountability from public institutions for implementing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.
• SAPS has clarified there is no waiting period for reporting missing persons, urging immediate reports at the nearest police station.
• The NCGBVF also urged the public and media to avoid circulating unverified information to protect investigations and affected families.

Our anger must not compromise the investigation or wound the families further.

The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) has issued an urgent plea to families in Gauteng who have missing loved ones, requesting their assistance in the DNA identification of unidentified women's bodies discovered across the province. This critical **NCGBVF Gauteng DNA identification appeal** directs families to engage directly with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Gauteng Department of Health to facilitate the necessary forensic processes. The Council underscored its firm belief that "no woman should be buried unnamed," emphasizing the dignity due to each victim.

This appeal comes in the wake of a disturbing pattern of discoveries in Ekurhuleni, where the bodies of eight women have been found since July 2026. Reports indicate that several of these **Gauteng unidentified women bodies** bore signs of sexual violence, prompting deep concern from the Council. Among those mourned is Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, whose family received condolences from the NCGBVF after she disappeared during a run. The Council firmly stated that these women are not mere statistics, but individuals whose lives held profound meaning to their families and communities.

In light of these tragic circumstances, the SAPS has reiterated a crucial point regarding **SAPS missing person reporting**: there is no mandatory waiting period before reporting a missing person. The police service advises that such cases should be reported without delay at the nearest police station, a measure intended to expedite investigations and potentially prevent further harm.

Beyond the immediate call for identification, the **National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide** is demanding comprehensive action from authorities. The Council has called for thorough investigations into these cases, alongside timely forensic processes and the allocation of adequate resources to ensure successful prosecutions. While acknowledging the deployment of a multidisciplinary investigative team by SAPS and an arrest made in one instance as part of the broader **Ekurhuleni femicide investigation**, the NCGBVF stressed that arrests must be followed by robust investigations and effective legal proceedings.

As a statutory body established under the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, 2024 (Act 9 of 2024), the Council is mandated to provide strategic leadership and coordinate the national response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). In this capacity, it plans to seek a formal briefing from SAPS and relevant provincial and municipal authorities concerning the Ekurhuleni cases. This oversight extends to understanding the safety measures being implemented for women in the affected communities.

Crucially, the NCGBVF has declared its intent to hold public institutions accountable for the implementation of the **National Strategic Plan on GBVF**. This commitment reflects the Council's role in ensuring that the national framework translates into tangible prevention and protection efforts on the ground.

The Council's focus on accountability is directly tied to the pillars of the **National Strategic Plan on GBVF**. Under Pillar 1, the NCGBVF will specifically demand accountability from national, provincial, and municipal institutions regarding the measures they have undertaken to safeguard women in Ekurhuleni. This ensures that responsibility for protection is clearly assigned and monitored.

Further, the Council highlighted the importance of Pillar 2, which mandates addressing prevention strategies, including the societal norms and behaviors that contribute to violence against women. Pillar 3 is equally vital, aiming to guarantee that women can move, work, exercise, and travel without fear, and that perpetrators of violence face appropriate consequences for their actions.

The Council also emphasized Pillar 4, which centers on response, care, support, and healing. This pillar is designed to ensure that affected families receive dignified psychosocial support throughout the traumatic processes of identifying loved ones, arranging burials, and navigating court proceedings. Additionally, Pillars 5 and 6 remain central to the Council's strategy, recognizing that economic dependence often traps women in dangerous situations and that reliable data is indispensable for identifying patterns of violence before more lives are lost. The recent killings serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for the country's GBVF framework to deliver concrete prevention and protection.

In addition to its direct appeals to families and institutions, the NCGBVF has urged the public and media to exercise caution and responsibility. The Council specifically requested that individuals refrain from circulating unverified information, images, or accusations related to the cases. This plea is rooted in the understanding that speculation can severely compromise ongoing investigations and inflict further distress upon already grieving families. The Council articulated this sentiment by stating, "Our anger must not compromise the investigation or wound the families further."

The establishment of the **National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide** under the 2024 Act empowers it to provide essential strategic leadership and coordinate a multi-sectoral response to GBVF across South Africa. Its actions and appeals underscore its commitment to ensuring that the national framework for addressing gender-based violence translates into effective prevention and protection for all women.

Lawyers representing families of missing persons in Gauteng should be aware of the NCGBVF's specific appeal for DNA identification assistance, streamlining the process with SAPS and the Health Department. Compliance officers in public institutions should note the Council's increased oversight and intent to hold them accountable for implementing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.

Source: Based on recent news reports.