Avoid walking alone. Stay away from isolated places. Tell someone when you get home.

Women know these instructions. Precautions can help in particular situations, but responsibility for violence belongs with the person committing it.

In its 20 September 2026 statement, the government acknowledged nine women whose bodies had been discovered in Ekurhuleni and announced measures covering investigations, prevention and support for affected families.

People experiencing threats or abuse also need practical help and to know they will be taken seriously.

In immediate danger? Call SAPS on 10111. For support and referrals, call the GBV Command Centre on 0800 428 428.

The Danger Can Come From Someone Close

The South African Medical Research Council estimated that about 60% of women murdered in 2020/21 were killed by an intimate partner. Published in 2024, the research describes that study period, not this year’s cases.

Abuse can include stalking, threats, sexual violence, controlling behaviour and emotional or financial abuse. You do not need visible injuries to seek assistance.

Help And Reporting Contacts

• SAPS emergency: 10111 - immediate police assistance.

• Crime Stop: 08600 10111 - crime information and anonymous tip-offs.

• GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428 - 24-hour support and referrals.

• National Shelter Helpline: 0800 001 005 - 24-hour, toll-free shelter assistance.

• Childline: 116 - support for children and families with child-related concerns.

If Someone Confides In You

• Listen without blame or pressure to leave immediately.

• Ask what help they want and when it is safe to contact them.

• Offer practical support, such as accompanying them to a service.

• Keep their plans private. Avoid confronting the alleged abuser or attempting to mediate.

Useful Resources

• Two-page safety-planning guide - guidance for staying, preparing to leave and safety afterwards.

• NPA video resource on Thuthuzela Care Centres - an introduction to their services.

SAPS · Government Support Information · Childline

Three Practical Steps Towards Help

🫂1. Plan With Someone You Trust

Leaving can increase danger. Seek specialist support to plan around your circumstances.

Where safe:

• Agree on a trusted contact, a code word and somewhere to go.

• Keep documents, medication, keys and money accessible.

• Include children in an age-appropriate plan. Their role is to reach safety, not intervene.

• Use a device the person cannot access when seeking help.

🚑2. Seek Medical Care After Sexual Assault

• Go promptly to a Thuthuzela Care Centre or hospital. You do not need to open a police case first to receive medical assistance.

• Ask about injury care, emergency contraception, HIV prevention medication (PEP), care for sexually transmitted infections, forensic examination and counselling.

• Start PEP as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours after potential HIV exposure.

• Still seek care if more time has passed or you have washed or changed clothes.

🚨3. Ask about protection and reporting

• Apply for a domestic violence protection order at a magistrate’s court. The application is free; ask the clerk about urgent assistance.

• Keep evidence only where safe, including messages or records of incidents.

• Report breaches to SAPS, providing the order and relevant information.

• Report a missing person immediately. There is no 24-hour waiting period. Take a recent photograph and details of where they were last seen.

Protection-order information · Safety-planning guide

A Final Word

Families, employers, communities and public institutions have a responsibility to respond seriously to reports of abuse.

At Intelligent Monitoring, we know that behind every call for help is a person who deserves to be heard and taken seriously. Our work is about people - their safety, their families and the places they share. We believe technology must be backed by caring people who listen and respond, with dignity and compassion at the heart of that response.

You do not need to have every next step worked out before asking for help.

*Disclaimer: Contact numbers listed above are taken from official agency websites for informational purposes.