March for Uyinene unites communities against gender based violence

We will march every year until there are zero cases of gender-based violence (GBV), said   Professor Elelwani Ramugondo from the University of  Cape Town (UCT) at the commemorative march in honour of the late Uyinene Mrtwetyana.

Hundreds of people marched from Darling Street, District Six, to Parliament on Saturday, August 23, to commemorate Ms Mrtwetyana's life and to say “no” to GBV and femicide that still plagues communities even six years after the brutal death of the 19-year-old UCT student.

Ms Mrtwetyana was raped and murdered in 2019 by postal employee Luyanda Botha at the Clareinch Post Office (“Student’s murder causes uproar,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, September 5, 2019).

The march, themed “Reimagining Safety: Developing the Boy Child as Catalysts for Change”, was organised by the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation (UMF), in partnership with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and #Langa For Men.

Ms Mrtwetyana's mother, Nomangwane Mrwetyana from East London, also attended the march. She is a member of the organisation in her daughter’s name, which was founded in 2020.

The UMF provides workshops and training for young girls about consent, how to identify abusive behaviour and provides information on where pupils can report GBV. The UMF also provides a scholarship programme for aspiring female pupils to study at UCT.

“I always have mixed feelings and sadness about commemorating this day as I miss my daughter,” she said.

Ms Mrwetyana said she is glad that the legacy of her daughter can be honoured. “I am happy for the support received from our partners and the greater community of Cape Town,” she said. 

While many people braved the cold and rain in patches, many assembled at St Mary’s Cathedral, located opposite Parliament. Former lead singer from Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola, also sang songs in honour of the late Ms Mrwetyana.

UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, Professor Ramugondo said: “We march to keep the memory alive of women and children, as well as other vulnerable communities like the LGBTQ+ and the elderly who find themselves victims of men mostly, who unleashed untold violence on them.” 

She said this commemorative march is to “never forget” the stories of women who were victims of untold atrocities, often at the hands of men. “We will march every year until there are zero cases; we don’t have to have a country which is known as the rape capital of the world,” she said.

Former MEC for Health and current member of provincial parliament, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo also joined the march. “I came to provide support to Uyinene’s family, though this commemorative walk is a reminder that gender-based violence still exists,” she said. 

Dr Mbombo said that every victim of GBV should not be forgotten. “ Uyinene died in a government entity like the post office, so the government must take responsibility to ensure that all government facilities are a safe space for everyone,” she said. 

The first recipient of the UMF scholarship, Luhlanganiso Majebe, said she was honoured and thankful to be part of Uyinene’s legacy through studying at UCT. “It is sad as Uyinene was a young lady who had a dream to study and it was taken away from her, so as a young lady we have a right to be in educated spaces like UCT, we have the right make our voices heard, we deserve the right to have men that will stand with us,” she said.