South Africa gender commissioner: women ‘hunted’ amid femicide crisis

A ninth woman has been found dead in Ekurhuleni, a region east of Johannesburg in South Africa. Her death is part of a wave of killings of women in the area. Princess Eurika Mogane, a gender equality commissioner, told Al Jazeera the violence feels like a war. She said women in South Africa are being hunted. Families and campaigners are calling on police to act faster and take the threats seriously.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. The government has called the problem a national crisis. Groups keep lists of the names of women killed, so the deaths are not forgotten. Most victims are killed by men they know, such as partners or neighbours. Police stations in poor areas are often short of staff. Campaigners say courts move slowly and very few cases end with someone found guilty.

Everyone should be safe at home and on the street. This wave of killings shows how much police work and public education still needs to change.