Church leaders have vowed to use their voices and words to fight gender-based violence and femicide.
This emerged during a National Prayer and Memorial Service honouring victims of GBVF at the Alberton Civic Centre in Ekurhuleni on Sunday.
The gathering comes amid renewed outrage over the killings of women in the metro, with President Cyril Ramaphosa confirming that 12 women’s bodies had been found in Ekurhuleni since July.
The victims include Busisiwe Mahlangu, Itumeleng Kekana, Nomfesane Mjobo, Gracious Nkomo, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, Dineo Motapane, Jabulile Ntimba and Ntombifuthi Nxumalo. Other victims have yet to be identified.
Apostle Thabo Sishange says there is no room for revenge in the fight against GBVF.
“What we are fighting is not for blood or flesh. It is a spiritual fight,” he said.
He says the gathering should not be about retaliation.
“We are all here today not to fight back, not to kill back.”
Sishange acknowledged that some people may seek revenge, but says that is not the response they want.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Muzi Dlomo has apologised to women on behalf of men.
“To all women of this country, who live in our land, we apologise. We are so sorry and we shall not allow people to do this in our name.”
Several suspects have already appeared in court in connection with some of the killings.
Two women, Tsakane Msithini and Fortunate Masilela, are facing murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice charges in connection with the killing of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found near Dawn Park. A third suspect was released after prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to proceed against him.
Police have also arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of Busisiwe Mahlangu, while another suspect was arrested in connection with the murder of Ntombifuthi Nxumalo. President Ramaphosa says forensic evidence and other investigative material are being examined in the remaining cases.
The government has established a multidisciplinary investigation involving detectives, Crime Intelligence, forensic specialists, investigative psychologists and digital investigators.
Ramaphosa has also ordered a national recovery operation targeting unresolved murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children, as well as measures to reduce forensic backlogs and municipal safety audits.
Church leaders, civic organisations, traditional leaders and the ANC Women’s League and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi were among those attending the memorial service.
The gathering comes as government faces mounting pressure to ensure that its response to GBVF translates into arrests, prosecutions and greater safety for women.
