The DA has placed a R500 000 reward on information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for a string of murders of women on the East Rand and has launched a public petition calling for urgent action on systemic failures, the party said on Tuesday.
Appeal for cooperation, not confrontation
The party said its reward and petition are intended to supplement state efforts, rather than replace them. In a statement distributed through a third-party platform the DA urged the Gauteng Provincial Government to step away from political defensiveness and to accept co-operation where it is offered.
The DA’s interventions come amid growing public alarm after the discovery of another woman’s body on the East Rand. The party said that government had repeatedly indicated a willingness to cooperate and so should welcome “every credible effort” to find perpetrators, protect women and address failures that have allowed the current crisis to develop.
“Women do not need another lecture about how to keep themselves safe. Women have spent their entire lives navigating a society in which they are forced to think about their safety every time they leave home,”
The DA emphasised that the issues at play are inherently political: the allocation of police resources, forensic capacity, crime intelligence and the overall effectiveness of the criminal justice system are determined by policy, budgets and leadership.
What the DA is offering and asking
To support investigations the DA has:
- Offered a R500 000 reward for credible information that leads to convictions;
- Launched a petition demanding urgent government action on systemic failures that expose women to violence;
- Called on the provincial government to publicly welcome additional resources and co-operation.
The party warned that attacking those who are attempting to help will only distract from stopping the violence. “At a time when another woman’s body has been found, we should not be arguing over who gets credit or who gets blamed,” the DA said in the statement.
Context and public safety concerns
The East Rand — part of the City of Ekurhuleni metro — has in recent weeks seen heightened community concern after several women were killed. Residents and civic organisations have demanded a visible and sustained response from the South African Police Service (SAPS), including improved crime intelligence, faster forensic turnaround and better protection for women in public spaces.
Political disagreements over responsibility and blame can complicate an emergency response. The DA framed its reward and petition as measures intended to strengthen, not supplant, official investigations. It said that calling attention to failures is a necessary part of democratic accountability.
Practical information for residents
Anyone with credible information that may assist investigations is encouraged to contact SAPS at their nearest station. The DA’s reward offer is contingent on information that leads to an identification, apprehension and conviction. The party has made its petition available online.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Reward | R500 000 |
| Petition | Available via the DA’s public action link (https://actionnotadvice.co.za/) |
The DA urged any political leader or office-bearer who wants to support the effort to do so in a way that prioritises victims and evidence over scoring political points.
As the situation develops residents said they want clearer communication from provincial officials about the steps being taken to protect women and to ensure investigations are adequately resourced. The public debate now centres on whether political differences will give way to coordinated action in the face of a mounting safety crisis on the East Rand.
Reporting from Ekurhuleni.
