On February 22, 2025, the community of Retreat in Cape Town was shaken by the brutal murder of 17-year-old Kimberly Kirsty George. While walking, Kimberly was approached by a gunman who shot her multiple times in the head, chest, and stomach. Tragically, she was four months pregnant, having recently shared the joyous news with her family. A 26-year-old man was also killed in a nearby house shortly before Kimberly’s attack, allegedly by the same assailant.
As gunshots echoed through the neighborhood, Kimberly’s friends rushed to her aid, finding her lying in the street, covered in blood. Despite their efforts and her initial responsiveness, she succumbed to her injuries and was declared deceased at the scene by medical personnel. The loss of Kimberly and her unborn child has left her family and community devastated, mourning the senseless end of a young life filled with promise.
This tragic incident underscores the pervasive issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide in South Africa. Recent statistics reveal a grim reality: between April 2023 and March 2024, 5,578 women and 1,656 children were murdered in the country, with femicide rates soaring by a shocking 33.8% compared to the previous year. Additionally, 42,569 rape cases were reported during the same period, though it’s estimated that 95% of such cases go unreported.
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has been studying femicide for over two decades. Their 2020/2021 research indicated that intimate partner femicide remains the leading cause, with three women killed daily by intimate partners. Alarmingly, the percentage of femicide cases where investigations did not identify a perpetrator increased to 44% from 30% in 2017. 
In response to the escalating crisis, the South African government has implemented several measures. The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP GBVF), launched in 2020, aims to strengthen accountability, response, and coordination in addressing GBVF. Despite this, the implementation and funding of its commitments have been criticized for lacking urgency, leading to continued high femicide rates.
In May 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill into law. This legislation established a statutory body tasked with providing strategic leadership in combating GBV and femicide. The council aims to oversee the full implementation of the NSP GBVF and allocate funds to policies and programs designed to end these pervasive issues. citeturn0search3
Grassroots organizations and civil society are also mobilizing to address the crisis. Women For Change, a prominent advocacy group, has launched a petition urging the government to declare GBVF a national disaster. They argue that such a declaration would facilitate the immediate mobilization of national resources and demonstrate unwavering political commitment to combating violence against women and children.
The tragic loss of Kimberly George and her unborn child serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive action to combat GBV and femicide in South Africa. It calls for a unified effort from government entities, civil society, and communities to implement effective measures, ensure justice for victims, and create a safer environment for all.