South Africa mourns after man confesses to Uyinene Mrwetyana’s rape and murder

A man has been charged with the rape and murder of missing UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana, a report by News24 revealed on Monday.

Mrwetyana went missing last Saturday after she left her residence in Claremont, Cape Town to pick up a parcel from the post office. Social media came together to get the word out in hopes of finding her.

The 42-year-old unidentified man, who was an employee at the post office, was arrested last week and appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

He confessed to attacking Mrwetyana, raping her, and knocking her out with a scale.

Police are still in the process of identifying a body that was found in Khayelitsha last week, it is believed the victim is Uyinene Mrwetyana.

Following the news, #UyineneMrwetyana trended once more, this time with messages of sadness, disgust and anger from South Africans.

The news that just broke about Uyinenen is horrific. Hearing the details about how her life was taken is painful.

This will be everywhere for a while, Sending love and support to Uyinene’s friends and family. ❤️❤️❤️

— Ngoako Lerato Mannya (@LeratoMannya) September 2, 2019

Right there in the Post Office? And none of his colleagues heard or saw anything? Women are not safe ANYWHERE. Rest in Peace, brave, strong Uyinene 😢

— Not A Loner (@Illo_naaa) September 2, 2019

Uyinene was killed in a post office…An entire fuckin’ post office…A government owned entity!…Women really are not safe anywhere in this country…Next we’ll be killing them in parliament… My gender disgusts me. #UyineneMrwetyana

— Njabulo Ndaba (@Njabulo_OOTW) September 2, 2019

TW:

South African student Uyinene Mrwetyana went to the post office to pick up a parcel.
A post office employee went on to rape and kill her.

The post office.

‘To my daughter I will say, when men come, set yourself on fire’- Warsan Shire.https://t.co/1q7IxWl1hD

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) September 2, 2019

Imagine going the post office. THE POST OFFICE!!!! 😭😭😭and not coming out alive. We are tired. All of the woman in me is tired. When is enough going to be enough? #UyineneMrwetyana

— YT: Zandile Ngobeni (@Zandile08) September 2, 2019

I am torn💔 gutted 💔 surely we can petition to have him hanged! He doesn’t deserve another ounce of oxygen! Uyinene deserves proper justice 💔#UyineneMrwetyana

— IG: Nelanie_Owam (@LaanieSD) September 2, 2019

We are not safe https://t.co/DnV4sYo1FF our homes,going to the post office ,work,police stations,schools ,public&private transport,we are always walking in fear.💔💔💔💔💔 😭😭 #UyineneMrwetyana .May God comfort her family and friends.💔💔💔

— Bokamoso (@Bkay_K) September 2, 2019

The South African Government also tweeted its condolences, condemning violence against women and children. 

“We would like to extend our deepest condolences on the death of UCT Student #UyineneMrwetyana. May her soul rest in peace,” it said. 

We would like to extend our deepest condolences on the death of UCT Student #UyineneMrwetyana. May her soul rest in peace. Government condemns any form of violence against women and children. #RIPUyinene pic.twitter.com/dphOY0O0uL

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) September 2, 2019

Uyinene Mrwetyana’s tragic story brings to light the horrors of kidnapping, rape and murder that women face on a day-to-day basis.

Earlier on Monday morning, a Grade R child was abducted outside Laerskool Kollegepark in Vanderbijlpark, she is now being ransomed for R2-million.

Reports of missing women in South Africa are steadily on the rise, with alerts for Mikayla Pieters and Bernice Mitchell joining the list in the last few weeks.

Feature image: screenshot, @GovernmentZA via Twitter