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Murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana

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Uyinene Mrwetyana
Mrwetyana in 2017/18
Born
Uyinene Mrwetyana

(2000-04-20)20 April 2000
East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Disappeared24 August 2019 (aged 19)
Claremont, Western Cape, South Africa
Died24 August 2019(2019-08-24) (aged 19)
Claremont, Western Cape, South Africa
Cause of deathMurder
Body discoveredLingelethu West, Khayelitsha
Resting placeQina Location, Centane, Eastern Cape, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Other namesNene
EducationKingswood College
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town
OccupationScholar
Parent(s)Noma Mrwetyana (mother)
Philip Mrwetyana (father)

Uyinene "Nene" Mrwetyana[1] (20 April 2000 – 24 August 2019)[2][3] was a South African student at the University of Cape Town. On August 24, 2019, she was raped and murdered in the suburb of Claremont, Cape Town. Her murder highlighted the broader national problem of gender based violence and femicide in South Africa,[4][5][6] and is credited with "shifting the South African collective consciousness"[7] and "igniting a movement".[8][9]

Background

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Mrwetyana was born in East London, Eastern Cape to parents Noma and Philip Mrwetyana.[10] She grew up in the suburb of Beacon Bay in East London and attended Hudson Park Primary School in [Vincent],[11] where she chaired the school's student council and was awarded the "Hudsonian of the Year" award.[12] Mrwetyana attended high school at Kingswood College where she graduated in 2018, posthumously receiving the school's own Neil Aggett Memorial Award in 2020.[13][14] She began studying film and media at the University of Cape Town soon after graduating high school.[15]

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Murder and disappearance

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On 24 August 2019, Mrwetyana had been told by a post office attendant and her future killer, Luyanda Botha, that her parcel was not ready for collection and that she should come back later in the afternoon, despite the post office closing at 1pm. Botha had planned his attack in advance, arranging with his post office colleague, Soraya Abdullah for her to leave work earlier. When Mrwetyana arrived after the official closing time, Botha locked the door behind her and began to violate her.[16][17][18] He raped her and attempted to strangle her, before ultimately bludgeoning her to death with a two kilogram weight targeting her head and eventually knocking her unconscious. He returned the following day to retrieve her body and drove to a nearby field where he doused her body with petrol and set it on fire.[19]

Mrwetyana was last seen in Claremont leaving a minibus taxi outside Clareinch Post Office soon before her death. She was missing for nine days and received a large amount of media coverage and public attention in Cape Town.[20][21][22][23] It was during this time that the hashtag #BringNeneHome started trending on social media.[24][25] Mrwetyana's body was found in a hole beside an unused railway track in the township of Lingelethu West in Khayelitsha.[26][15] It was discovered on the 26th but was only identified as hers a few days later.[27][28]

Trial

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A suspect, later identified as post office employee Luyanda Botha, was arrested and confessed to the Wynberg Magistrate's Court of committing the murder at a post office in Claremont.[22][15] Following his arrest and subsequent confession, Botha was found to have raped and strangled her, before ultimately bludgeoning her to death.[19] On 15 November 2019, Luyanda Botha received three life sentences for the rape and murder of Mrwetyana.[29] He will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years of his sentence.[19]

Response

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Protests against gender based violence and femicide occurred outside Houses of Parliament after the news of Mrwetyana's death

National reactions

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Following Botha's arrest, remembrances and memorial services were held at the University of Cape Town,[30][31] and University of Witwatersrand.[32] A large protest occurred at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town on 4 September where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was present.[33][34] Ramaphosa also attended an even larger protest outside Houses of Parliament, Cape Town the next day which gathered an attendance of several thousand people.[35][9] The hashtag #AmINext gained prominence during this time and was a major motive behind several of the protests.[36][9][37] Mrwetyana's death as well as the rape and death of other women precipitated widespread public outcry that led to a two-day campus shutdown at the University of Cape Town.[38] Mrwetyana's death "ignited a movement"[8][9] and is known to have "shifted the South African collective consciousness".[7]

Implementations

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Clareinch Post Office in Claremont on 24 August 2020, a year after Mrwetyana's death

On 29 November 2019, The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation was founded in Makhanda, Eastern Cape in celebration of her life.[39][40][41] The Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship was also founded for female students in the Humanities faculty at the University of Cape Town,[42] and was later first awarded to Luhlanganiso Majebe in July 2021.[43] Following protests and uproar after Mrwetyana's death, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced reforms such as harsher punishments for sex offenders and the public disclosure of the National Register for Sex Offenders to stem sexual and physical violence against women and children.[44][45]

International reactions

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In September 2019, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex secretly visited the post office where Mrwetyana was murdered, while touring South Africa with her husband, Prince Harry.[46] In that same month, hundreds of South Africans gathered to protest against gender-based violence in Times Square, New York City after the news of Mrwetyana's death.[47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Phakeng, Mamokgethi (2 September 2018). "Remembering Nene". University of Cape Town. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Funeral notice: UYINENE (UTHIXO) MRWETYANA". Daily Dispatch. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. ^ Tanya Ferber (3 September 2019). "Post office where UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana was killed closes its doors after walk-in". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  4. ^ Mogoatlhe, Lerato (2 September 2019). "Uyinene Mrwetyana's Death Shows South Africa's Femicide Crisis". Global Citizen. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  5. ^ Charles, Marvin; Ishmail, Sukaina (4 September 2019). "Anger and frustration grips SA over gender-based violence". Cape Argus. OCLC 848273689. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  6. ^ Hyman, Aron; Meyer, Dan (4 September 2019). "'We want Cyril', gender-violence protesters chant at WEF". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b Khan, Jamil (12 September 2019). "Reforming your own humanity first, is key solution". The Sowetan. OCLC 660155591. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. ^ a b "#IamNene: How Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder ignited a movement". News24. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d Lyster, Rosa (12 September 2019). "The Death of Uyinene Mrwetyana and the Rise of South Africa's #AmINext Movement". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  10. ^ Dayimani, Malibongwe; Kretzmaan, Jenna (30 August 2019). "More detectives hunt for missing student". Daily Dispatch. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2020 – via Press Reader.
  11. ^ Farber, Tanya (8 September 2019). "Murder in a post office that touched the entire country". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Hudson Park is devastated by news of the loss of Uyinene Mrwetyana. Uyinene chaired our Student Council in 2013, and was awarded the Hudsonian of the Year award..." Facebook. Hudson Park Primary School. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  13. ^ Dordley, Lucinda (13 March 2020). "Uyinene Mrwetyana receives posthumous award". Cape Town Etc. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  14. ^ Carlisle, Adrienne (12 March 2020). "Uyinene honoured with Neil Aggett memorial award". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  15. ^ a b c Meyer, Dan (2 September 2019). "Missing UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana was 'bludgeoned with a scale' in post office". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  16. ^ Nkanjeni, Unathi (24 August 2020). "Lest we forget: Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder remembered a year on". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  17. ^ Knight, Tessa (15 November 2019). "JUSTICE for Uyinene: Three life sentences for Uyinene's killer". Daily Maverick. OCLC 1117734205. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  18. ^ Dordley, Lucinda (7 November 2019). "Details of Uyinene Mrwetyana murder revealed". Cape Town Etc. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  19. ^ a b c Etheridge, Jenna (15 November 2019). "Luyanda Botha handed 3 life terms for raping, killing Uyinene and defeating the ends of justice. Mrwetyana". News24. OCLC 44230895. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  20. ^ Etheridge, Jenna (2 September 2019). "Missing UCT student: Uyinene's location still unknown as suspect makes first appearance". News24. OCLC 44230895. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  21. ^ Somdyala, Kamva (28 August 2019). "Public's rallying cry as PI hired to help find missing UCT student Uyinene". News24. OCLC 44230895. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  22. ^ a b "HORROR. HORROR.: Murder Confession arrives with a thud – but Uyinene Mrwetyana is still officially missing". Daily Maverick. 3 September 2019. OCLC 1117734205. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  23. ^ Phakeng, Mamokgethi (30 August 2019). "UCT and Mrwetyana family intensify search for missing student". University of Cape Town. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  24. ^ Bhengu, Cebelihle (28 August 2019). "Social media spearheads search for missing Uyinene Mrwetyana via #BringNenehome". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  25. ^ Friedman, Barbara (28 August 2019). "Twitter rallies behind search for missing UCT teen #BringNeneHome". CapeTalk. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  26. ^ Cruywagen, Vincent (3 September 2019). "Chilling evidence of Uyinene Mrwetyana's last moments and how she fought back". Independent Online. OCLC 36296821. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  27. ^ Koen, Carina (2 September 2019). "'Where is our Uyinene?' – Devastation after murder of UCT student". The Citizen. ISSN 1016-3956. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  28. ^ Raborife, Mpho (8 September 2019). "Uyinene's alleged killer drank alcohol, then burnt her body and buried her in a shallow grave – Cele". News24. OCLC 44230895. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  29. ^ Adebayo, Bukola (15 November 2019). "South Africa's post office murderer and rapist given three life sentences". CNN. OCLC 464379002. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  30. ^ Alexander, Esa (3 September 2019). "Cape Town mourns brutal killing of Uyinene Mrwetyana". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  31. ^ Meyer, Dan (2 September 2019). "She wanted to see the world' - friends reeling over death of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  32. ^ Karrim, Azarrah (4 September 2019). "'Women are disappearing… it's a norm': Emotional vigil held for Uyinene Mrwetyana at Wits". News24. OCLC 44230895. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  33. ^ Hyman, Aron; Meyer, Dan; Molyneaux, Anthony (4 September 2019). "Tear gas used outside World Economic Forum as chanting protesters surround venue". The Times. ISSN 1996-5516. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  34. ^ Etheridge, Jenna (4 September 2019). "Anti-homicide protesters try to storm fence at CTICC where Ramaphosa is speaking". News24. OCLC 44230895. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  35. ^ Francke, Robin-Lee (5 September 2019). "Thousands protest in South Africa over rising violence against women". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  36. ^ Parkinson, Christian (13 September 2019). "#AmINext protests in South Africa over violence against women". BBC News. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  37. ^ Levitt, Jessica (3 September 2019). "#AmINext trends as SA reels after Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder". Independent Online. OCLC 36296821. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  38. ^ "Academic classes and tests suspended for 5 and 6 September". University of Cape Town News. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  39. ^ Shange, Naledi (29 November 2019). "'I don't want the end to define my daughter': Uyinene Mrwetyana's mom as foundation is launched". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  40. ^ Ellis, Estelle (1 December 2019). "Maverick Citizen: Eastern Cape: Rain blesses launch of Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation in Makhanda". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  41. ^ "Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation to tackle gender-based violence". iOL. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  42. ^ Kubheka, Thando (7 September 2019). "UCT Announces Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship for Women in Humanities". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  43. ^ "UCT selects first Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship recipient". www.news.uct.ac.za.
  44. ^ "President calls for a Joint Sitting of Parliament on Gender-Based Violence". The Presidency of South Africa. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  45. ^ Brothwell, Ryan (7 March 2020). "New laws aim to introduce harsher punishments for criminals in South Africa". Business Tech. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  46. ^ Carlisle, Madeline (28 September 2019). "Meghan Markle Privately Visited a Memorial to Murdered 19-Year-Old South African Student Uyinene Mrwetyana". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  47. ^ Karrim, Azarrah (24 September 2019). "South Africans demonstrate against gender-based violence in Times Square, NY". News24. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
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