The University of the Witwatersrand community has been left reeling after a 20-year-old first-year Science student, Asitandile Zozo was murdered in the Eastern Cape on 17 August.
Wits University released a statement on the matter describing Zozo as “a determined and driven young women.” The statement read, “It is no longer enough for government to tell us that they are putting together teams to evaluate the problem and come up with solutions. The problem is clear, Women are being murdered in shocking numbers by men in South Africa.” The murder comes almost a year after the country was forced to confront the realities of gender-based violence and femicide when University of Cape Town student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, was raped and murdered by Post Office employee Luyanda Botha.
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana confirmed that Zozo was stabbed to death by a man believed to be in a relationship with her. The suspect was arrested after he tried to commit suicide after the alleged murder, and is currently under police guard in hospital. It is alleged that witnesses saw the man chasing after Zozo at her place of residence, prior to her being stabbed several times. This supports the claims made by Wits that “women live in fear of being murdered in their homes, workplaces, schools, universities, family homes, post offices, velds, parks, vineyards, holiday destinations and streets.”
The University highlighted the lack of support given to women who look to take action against the men that have abused and violated them. The statement explained, “The problem is that when women go to police stations to report their abuse, they are told it is a domestic issue that should be dealt with by the family, that the perpetrator will calm down or that they should come back the next day as the person to report to is not available.” This along with the inability to hold men accountable for their actions against women and children ensures that this cycle of violence continues.
The solution to the problem is a very simple one according to Wits stating, “Government must implement existing legislation to hold these murderers, rapists and abusers accountable.” They also urged government to create a curricula that speaks to gender equity and diversity, to ensure that children grow up being able to identify such acts as inexcusable.
