UN raises alarm over killings of women in South Africa's East Rand

The United Nations team in South Africa has raised concern over the killing of several women within a short span of time in the East Rand region of Gauteng province, in the country's northeast.

Speaking at a press briefing in New York, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, said the team, led by Resident Coordinator Nelson Muffuh, was sounding the alarm over the deaths. He said the UN condemns violence against women and girls in all its forms and manifestations.

The team described the killings as more than isolated tragedies, saying they reflect the persistent and deadly violence that women and girls face across South Africa. The country has declared gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster, and the UN team on the ground is calling for action that matches the escalating gravity of the crisis.

In line with South Africa's National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and the UN Cooperation Framework, the team said commitments and collaborative efforts must translate into tangible results. It listed greater accountability, access to justice, economic empowerment backed by sustained financing, and robust monitoring as key outcomes.

Dujarric said the UN remains committed to supporting South Africa in meeting its international human rights obligations and in national efforts to uphold human rights, safety and well-being. The team extended its condolences to the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with women and girls across the country.