Christian Leaders in South Africa Condemn Gender Based Violence After Mysterious Deaths of Eight Women

In brief

Christian leaders in South Africa condemned gender-based violence and femicide on Tuesday, September 15, following the discovery of eight women's bodies in Gauteng. Members of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) expressed grief and outrage over the deaths, which occurred in Kempton Park and Olifantsfontein within a two-month period.

The SACC called for the government to quickly implement the national disaster declaration on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). The group stated that this response must include funded and monitored actions to protect women and girls to help rebuild their confidence in national safety.

The council urged police to properly investigate and prosecute every case of violence and abuse against women and girls. They also requested that the courts and judiciary handle these cases with urgency and issue the maximum legal sentences to perpetrators.