Murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana explained

Uyinene Mrwetyana
Other Names:Nene
Birth Name:Uyinene Mrwetyana
Birth Date:2000 4, df=y
Birth Place:East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Disappeared Place:Claremont, Western Cape, South Africa
Death Place:Claremont, Western Cape, South Africa
Death Cause:Murder
Body Discovered:Lingelethu West, Khayelitsha
Resting Place:Qina Location, Centane, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Nationality:South African
Education:Kingswood College
Alma Mater:University of Cape Town
Parents:Noma Mrwetyana
Philip Mrwetyana
Occupation:Scholar

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

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.

Incident and legal proceedings

Murder and disappearance

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.[15] [16] [17] 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.[18]

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.[19] [20] [21] [22] It was during this time that the hashtag #BringNeneHome started trending on social media.[23] [24] Mrwetyana's body was found in a hole beside an unused railway track in the township of Lingelethu West in Khayelitsha.[25] [26] It was discovered on the 26th but was only identified as hers a few days later.[27] [28]

Trial

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. Following his arrest and subsequent confession, Botha was found to have raped and strangled her, before ultimately bludgeoning her to death. 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.

Response

National reactions

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] The hashtag #AmINext gained prominence during this time and was a major motive behind several of the protests.[36] [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" and is known to have "shifted the South African collective consciousness".

Implementations

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

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phakeng. Mamokgethi. Mamokgethi Phakeng. 2 September 2018. Remembering Nene. 24 August 2020. University of Cape Town.
  2. Web site: 4 September 2018. Funeral notice: UYINENE (UTHIXO) MRWETYANA. 24 March 2020. Daily Dispatch.
  3. Web site: Post office where UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana was killed closes its doors after walk-in. 3 September 2019. Tanya Ferber. 3 September 2019. The Times. 1996-5516.
  4. Web site: Mogoatlhe. Lerato. 2 September 2019. Uyinene Mrwetyana's Death Shows South Africa's Femicide Crisis. 24 August 2020. Global Citizen. en.
  5. Web site: Charles. Marvin. Ishmail. Sukaina. 4 September 2019. Anger and frustration grips SA over gender-based violence. 4 September 2019. Cape Argus. en. 848273689.
  6. Web site: Hyman. Aron. Meyer. Dan. 4 September 2019. 'We want Cyril', gender-violence protesters chant at WEF. 4 September 2019. The Times. en-ZA. 1996-5516.
  7. Web site: Khan. Jamil. 12 September 2019. Reforming your own humanity first, is key solution. 24 August 2020. The Sowetan. en-ZA. 660155591.
  8. Web site: 25 September 2019.
    1. IamNene: How Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder ignited a movement
    . 25 August 2020. News24.
  9. Lyster. Rosa. 12 September 2019. The Death of Uyinene Mrwetyana and the Rise of South Africa's #AmINext Movement. en. The New Yorker. 20 September 2019. 0028-792X.
  10. News: Dayimani. Malibongwe. Kretzmaan. Jenna. 30 August 2019. More detectives hunt for missing student. 3. Daily Dispatch. 25 August 2020. Press Reader.
  11. Web site: Farber. Tanya. 8 September 2019. Murder in a post office that touched the entire country. 25 August 2020. The Times. en-ZA. 1996-5516.
  12. Web site: 15 August 2018. 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.... 25 August 2020. Facebook. Hudson Park Primary School. en.
  13. Web site: Dordley. Lucinda. 13 March 2020. Uyinene Mrwetyana receives posthumous award. 25 August 2020. Cape Town Etc.
  14. Web site: Carlisle. Adrienne. 12 March 2020. Uyinene honoured with Neil Aggett memorial award. 25 August 2020. Daily Dispatch. en-ZA.
  15. Web site: Nkanjeni. Unathi. 24 August 2020. Lest we forget: Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder remembered a year on. 25 August 2020. The Times. en-ZA. 1996-5516.
  16. Web site: Knight. Tessa. 15 November 2019. JUSTICE for Uyinene: Three life sentences for Uyinene's killer. 25 August 2020. Daily Maverick. 1117734205.
  17. Web site: Dordley. Lucinda. 7 November 2019. Details of Uyinene Mrwetyana murder revealed. 25 August 2020. Cape Town Etc.
  18. Web site: Etheridge. Jenna. 15 November 2019. Luyanda Botha handed 3 life terms for raping, killing Uyinene and defeating the ends of justice. Mrwetyana. 30 January 2020. News24. en. 44230895.
  19. Web site: Etheridge. Jenna. 2 September 2019. Missing UCT student: Uyinene's location still unknown as suspect makes first appearance. 25 August 2020. News24. 44230895.
  20. Web site: Somdyala. Kamva. 28 August 2019. Public's rallying cry as PI hired to help find missing UCT student Uyinene. 25 August 2020. News24. 44230895.
  21. Web site: 3 September 2019. HORROR. HORROR.: Murder Confession arrives with a thud – but Uyinene Mrwetyana is still officially missing. 4 September 2019. Daily Maverick. en. 1117734205.
  22. Web site: Phakeng. Mamokgethi. Mamokgethi Phakeng. 30 August 2019. UCT and Mrwetyana family intensify search for missing student. 25 August 2020. University of Cape Town. en.
  23. Web site: Bhengu. Cebelihle. 28 August 2019. Social media spearheads search for missing Uyinene Mrwetyana via #BringNenehome. 25 August 2020. The Times. 1996-5516.
  24. Web site: Friedman. Barbara. 28 August 2019. Twitter rallies behind search for missing UCT teen #BringNeneHome. 25 August 2020. CapeTalk. en-ZA.
  25. Web site: Cruywagen. Vincent. 3 September 2019. Chilling evidence of Uyinene Mrwetyana's last moments and how she fought back. 24 August 2020. Independent Online. en. 36296821.
  26. Web site: Meyer. Dan. 2 September 2019. Missing UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana was 'bludgeoned with a scale' in post office. 24 August 2020. The Times. 1996-5516.
  27. Web site: Koen. Carina. 2 September 2019. 'Where is our Uyinene?' – Devastation after murder of UCT student. 25 August 2020. The Citizen. 1016-3956.
  28. Web site: Raborife. Mpho. 8 September 2019. Uyinene's alleged killer drank alcohol, then burnt her body and buried her in a shallow grave – Cele. 25 August 2020. News24. en. 44230895.
  29. Web site: Adebayo. Bukola. 15 November 2019. South Africa's post office murderer and rapist given three life sentences. 24 August 2020. CNN. 464379002.
  30. Web site: Alexander. Esa. 3 September 2019. Cape Town mourns brutal killing of Uyinene Mrwetyana. 4 September 2019. The Times. en-ZA. 1996-5516.
  31. Web site: Meyer. Dan. 2 September 2019. She wanted to see the world' - friends reeling over death of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana. 2 September 2019. The Times. 1996-5516.
  32. Web site: Karrim. Azarrah. 4 September 2019. 'Women are disappearing… it's a norm': Emotional vigil held for Uyinene Mrwetyana at Wits. 4 September 2019. News24. en. 44230895.
  33. Web site: Hyman. Aron. Meyer. Dan. Molyneaux. Anthony. 4 September 2019. Tear gas used outside World Economic Forum as chanting protesters surround venue. 4 September 2019. The Times. 1996-5516.
  34. Web site: Etheridge. Jenna. 4 September 2019. Anti-homicide protesters try to storm fence at CTICC where Ramaphosa is speaking. 4 September 2019. News24. 44230895.
  35. News: Francke. Robin-Lee. 5 September 2019. Thousands protest in South Africa over rising violence against women. The Guardian. 24 August 2020. 0261-3077.
  36. News: Parkinson. Christian. 13 September 2019.
    1. AmINext protests in South Africa over violence against women
    . en-GB. BBC News. 24 August 2020.
  37. Web site: Levitt. Jessica. 3 September 2019.
    1. AmINext trends as SA reels after Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder
    . 24 August 2020. Independent Online. en. 36296821.
  38. News: 4 September 2019. Academic classes and tests suspended for 5 and 6 September. University of Cape Town News. 25 August 2020.
  39. Web site: Shange. Naledi. 29 November 2019. 'I don't want the end to define my daughter': Uyinene Mrwetyana's mom as foundation is launched. 25 August 2020. TimesLIVE.
  40. Web site: Ellis. Estelle. 1 December 2019. Maverick Citizen: Eastern Cape: Rain blesses launch of Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation in Makhanda. 25 August 2020. Daily Maverick.
  41. Web site: 30 November 2019. Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation to tackle gender-based violence. 25 August 2020. iOL. en.
  42. News: Kubheka. Thando. 7 September 2019. UCT Announces Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship for Women in Humanities. Eyewitness News. 25 August 2020.
  43. Web site: UCT selects first Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship recipient. www.news.uct.ac.za.
  44. News: 17 September 2019. President calls for a Joint Sitting of Parliament on Gender-Based Violence. The Presidency of South Africa. 21 March 2020.
  45. News: Brothwell. Ryan. 7 March 2020. New laws aim to introduce harsher punishments for criminals in South Africa. Business Tech. dead. 21 March 2020. 21 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200321183420/https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/378407/new-laws-aim-to-introduce-harsher-punishments-for-criminals-in-south-africa/amp/.
  46. Carlisle. Madeline. 28 September 2019. Meghan Markle Privately Visited a Memorial to Murdered 19-Year-Old South African Student Uyinene Mrwetyana. 24 August 2020. Time. 0040-781X.
  47. Web site: Karrim. Azarrah. 24 September 2019. South Africans demonstrate against gender-based violence in Times Square, NY. 24 August 2020. News24.

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