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On Saturday, the 26th of August, Zintle Khobeni De Lange, Chairperson of ActionSA's Western Cape Women’s Forum, and Matthew George, Chairperson of the Student Forum, along with other ActionSA members, took part in the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation’s Unity Walk. This event marked the fourth commemoration of UCT student, Uyinene Mrwetyana's tragic passing, whose life was violently taken through a heinous act of rape and murder at a Claremont Post Office branch in 2019.

As we pause to remember the enduring pain of this tragedy, our hearts are heavy with the pervasive reality of gender-based violence and femicide across South Africa. Uyinene's memory resonates with countless other victims and survivors who have suffered the same fate. In solidarity, the WC Women’s Forum raises its voice alongside the call for the transformation of the Clareinch Post Office into a Haven of Healing, providing solace and support for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and femicide, thus creating a lasting tribute to Uyinene's memory.

Uyinene's tragic fate illuminated the deep-rooted flaws in our justice system, exposing the alarming recurrence of repeat offenders granted parole, only to re-enter society and inflict harm on law-abiding citizens. The pattern persists – in chilling echoes, repeat offenders unleash violence again, as tragically seen in the case of 9-year-old Reagan Rertse.

Amidst the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa, ActionSA urgently implores the government to enhance community-led initiatives targeting gender inequality and supporting women-led grassroots organizations. It is imperative that we reinforce all efforts towards a comprehensive strategy, combining prevention and swift response, to eradicate this deeply entrenched scourge from society.

Issued by ActionSA WC Women’s Forum Chairperson, Zintle Khobeni De Lange