DA mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni Khathu Rasilingwane has launched a full-scale petition rallying residents and women across the municipality to reject government instructions urging women to "protect themselves".

The launch on Thursday follows the grim discovery of a ninth body in the region, signalling what Rasilingwane describes as a rapidly escalating crisis.

She condemned recent sentiments from the South African Police Service (SAPS) that place the burden of safety on women, arguing that advising women to take better precautions reflects a fundamental failure by leadership to comprehend the daily fear and suffering experienced by residents.

"All that the government offers is an undefined 'lockdown' and a police 'task team.' This is inexcusable," Rasilingwane said. "It is a failure to understand pain and suffering, living in fear every day – not just this week."

In response to the killings, Rasilingwane announced on Wednesday that the DA is offering an additional R500 000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and successful criminal prosecution of the murderer.

Titled "Action, Not Advice", the DA’s petition demands that law enforcement shift its focus from policing women's behaviour to actively combating violent crime.

Rasilingwane stated that the SAPS receives billions of rands in taxpayer funding specifically to protect citizens, and it must deliver on that mandate.

The DA has directed an urgent demand to Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia, calling for a substantial increase in police resources, an immediate clearance of the DNA evidence backlog to expedite criminal identification, and the release of reliable gender-based violence and femicide statistics.

The party has urged all South Africans to sign the petition to demand systemic accountability.

President Cyril Ramaphosa officially declared the murders a national crisis, ordering that the investigations receive the highest level of priority from government and law enforcement. A multidisciplinary specialised team has been deployed to work around the clock to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile also broke his silence on the matter, urging law enforcement agencies to collaborate closely with communities and stakeholders.

Mashatile stated that gender-based violence has no place in South African society, adding that men must be at the forefront of condemning these crimes and protecting women and children.