‘Let me die in peace’: Assisted suicide goes to court
Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was allegedly murdered by a post office employee who was appointed despite having a carjacking conviction. | Image: Twitter
For weeks, South Africans have been doing what they can to spread awareness about the missing person’s case of Uyinene Mrwetyana among others, but the search came to a grim end when the man arrested in connection with Mrwetyana’s disappearance was charged with her murder and rape as well as defeating the ends of justice in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
According to reports, Mrwetyana went to enquire about a parcel she had been expecting.
EWN reports that the man, who was an employee at the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont near where she stayed, assisted her with a parcel on August 24 and told to return later. Upon her return, it is believed that he sexually assaulted and attacked her with a scale.
The hashtags #UyineneMrwetyana and #RIPUyinene immediately began trending and have dominated the trends list for most of Monday afternoon.
Various social media users have taken to the hashtags to share both their condolences and their thoughts on the state of violence in South Africa, especially as it pertains to women and children.
https://twitter.com/JuicyJeans69/status/1168499417269379072?s=20
https://twitter.com/JuicyJeans69/status/1168503285361381377?s=20
Mortified. Disgusted. Speechless…💔 #UyineneMrwetyana
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) September 2, 2019
Someone asked me in an interview a few days ago if I thought we had a successful women's month this year? And I thought to myself- how? When we're dying for being women. As far as I'm concerned, women in my country are an endangered species. Stop killing us! #UyineneMrwetyana
— Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) September 2, 2019
Women are not safe because of men! Let's just be honest here.
This is too painful. 💔#UyineneMrwetyana#RIPUyinene
— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) September 2, 2019
Heartbreaking end to the search of #UyineneMrwetyana. Yes, justice must be served but what of the safety of women in this climate? We can't keep posting RIP, women are in danger. Why is this not being heard by our leaders? May this be the straw that breaks the camel's back!💔😔
— Dineo Langa (@therealdineo) September 2, 2019
The South African government also chimed in with their condolences on the official @GovernmentZA account but Twitter users were not having it.
*Please note that the following tweets contain strong language and profanity.
https://twitter.com/MyLifeAsSne/status/1168491725746266112?s=20
https://twitter.com/Nomali_Z/status/1168510546980802562?s=20
that’s all you know as South African government, you only good at sending condolences mxm
— dumisa sakwe (@orianevansygent) September 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/KPutuma/status/1168492704537489409?s=20
How many rape crisis centres are in SA, for the number of women who are raped daily? Domestic violence support? Training for police? Application of the Law? Proper prosecution of offenders? Uyinene was brutally raped & murdered at a GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION. YOU DON’T CARE.
— Illona Non Grata (@Illo_naaa) September 2, 2019
It was not a ‘death’ she did not die. She was murdered and raped. In broad daylight. At a post office. By a CIVIL SERVANT. You need to DO BETTER.
— Jareater (@jareater) September 2, 2019
There’s a whole femicide in this country and all the government can say is “we condemn any form of violence against women and children”. Wow what a boring tweet 😴😴
— Motshidisi (@TshidiBaby_) September 2, 2019
READ NEXT: Man arrested for Uyinene Mrwetyana’s disappearance charged with murder, rape
(Compiled by Kaunda Selisho)
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