The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) strongly condemns the recent killing of women in and around Gauteng, where the bodies of eight women have reportedly been discovered.
These horrific crimes are a grave violation of the rights to life, dignity, and safety, and an affront to the constitutional values that underpin South Africa’s democracy. Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) continues to inflict devastating harm on families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
The Commission extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Every woman whose life has been lost was a valued member of society, and their deaths demand justice and accountability.
This brutality stands in stark contrast to the principles that define our cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage. The African philosophy of Ubuntu (“Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”) calls on all of us to recognize our shared humanity and uphold the dignity, respect, and protection of every person. Violence against women has no place in a society founded on these values.
The Commission calls on cultural, religious, traditional, and community leaders to intensify efforts to confront GBVF. Places of worship, traditional institutions, families, and community structures must continue to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors that fuel violence, discrimination, and inequality.
These tragic killings occur at a time when the CRL Rights Commission, together with the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), embark on a Joint National Inquiry into Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The Inquiry highlights the urgency of strengthening accountability, prevention measures, and coordinated interventions to address the root causes of GBVF.
The discovery of the bodies of eight women must serve as a national call to action. The Commission urges law enforcement agencies to prioritise the investigation, swiftly identify and apprehend those responsible, and ensure that justice is served without delay.
The Commission further calls on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, families, men, and boys to take an uncompromising stand against GBVF. Building safer communities requires collective responsibility and a shared commitment to respect, equality, compassion, and accountability.
Communities must also reject the culture of silence that enables abuse and violence. Incidents of abuse must be reported, perpetrators held accountable, and vulnerable individuals supported through lawful and appropriate interventions.
The CRL Rights Commission remains firmly committed to advancing a whole-of-society response to GBVF and calls on all South Africans to work together to create communities where women and girls are safe, valued, and free from violence.
Issued by CRL Rights Commission
Mpiyakhe Mkholo: Mpiyakhem@crlcommission.org.za; 082 527 3859
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