Honoring a young life cut short by gender-based violence, and continuing the fight for a safer South Africa.
(The Post News)- On August 24, 2019, the life of 19-year-old Uyinene Mrwetyana was brutally cut short by Luyanda Botha, a Post Office employee in Clareinch, Cape Town. Her tragic death sparking widespread outrage and calls for action against gender-based violence.
Uyinene, a University of Cape Town student, had gone to the post office to collect a parcel. Instead, she was met with unspeakable horror. Botha, who was later convicted of her murder, had been hiding in the post office, waiting for his next victim. He raped and bludgeoned Uyinene to death, leaving her body in a post office safe.
The statistics surrounding gender-based violence in South Africa are staggering. One in five women will experience sexual or domestic violence in their lifetime. These numbers represent lives lost, families shattered, and communities torn apart. Uyinene’s death is a heart-wrenching reminder of the reality that women and girls face every day.
In the wake of her death, hundreds marched to Parliament in solidarity with the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation, demanding change and justice. Her mother, Noma Mrwetyana, has become a vocal advocate against gender-based violence, ensuring that her daughter’s legacy lives on.
“We must scrutinize our macro-economic systems, social structures, and cultural norms to create a safe South Africa,” UCT Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, stated.
About the Author
