Latest news with #SayHerName
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Lest We Forget: honouring the victims of gender-based violence in South Africa
Slain UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana. File Picture: Independent Newspapers Slain UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana. Image: Independent Newspapers They were the victims of gender-based violence. All murdered by men and their deaths made headlines. This Women' Month, it is vital that our celebrations do not overshadow the names of women whose pain sparked transformative movements. These names Uyinene, Anene, Anni, Meghan, Leighandré, Jesse, and Hannah, symbolise much more than tragedy. Movements such as 'Say Her Name' and 'Not in My Name' emerged in their honour, demanding justice and refusing complacency. Uyinene 'Nene' Mrwetyana, a University of Cape Town student, was raped and murdered in August 2019. Her murder compelled the nation to confront gender-based violence and ignited the #AmINext movement, shifting the collective national consciousness. Luyanda Botha, who worked at the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont where Mrwetyana's body was found hidden inside the safe of the post office, and then later dumped and doused with an accelerant before being set alight, was charged with two counts of rape in addition to a murder charge, as well as one count of defeating the ends of justice and was eventually handed down three life sentences for the crime. Leighandre 'Baby Lee' Jegels Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Leighandré Jegels, a 25-year-old boxing champion, was fatally shot by her ex-partner just days before Uyinene's death, highlighting once again the prevalence of femicide. Anene Booysen, a 17-year-old victim of brutal gang rape and murder in 2013, became a symbol of outrage against the epidemic of violence towards young women. Booysen was raped and disembowelled after having drinks at a pub with her friends and was later seen leaving with Johannes Kana. Kana was handed a double life sentence for the rape and murder of the Bredasdorp teenager. Anni Dewani, whose honeymoon in South Africa ended in her death in 2010, sparked global media debate about justice, privilege, and institutional failure. TRAGIC STORY: Anene Booysen was raped and killed. Photo: HENK KRUGER Anene Booysen Image: Supplied Dewani's husband, British businessman Shrien Dewani, was initially charged for murder after she was shot during an apparent hijacking in Gugulethu, but was acquitted on all charges on December 8, 2014. Xolile Mngeni was handed a life sentence in 2012, and died in prison two years later from a brain tumour. Mziwamadoda Qwabe received 25 years for hijacking and murder and is still serving his sentence. In September 2016, 18-year-old Lekita Moore's naked and mutilated body was found on an open field in Vallah Park. She was stabbed 98 times, and her face, breasts and vagina were slashed. Anni Dewani Image: File Moore's case touched the hearts of many after her mother Shireen ended up on tik, deteriorating at every court case. Shireen passed on in 2023. Lekita's killer, Cameron Wilson, was sentenced to four life terms and 71 years behind bars for a string of convictions including murder, rape, and attempted murder. Meghan Cremer, a young showjumper and bakery manager, disappeared from her home in Schaapkraal in 2019. Her body was found dumped on an open sand dune five days later, in the Philippi area. In 2019, Cremer's accused killer, Jeremy Sias, was found not guilty of murder after the court ruled the State had failed to prove its case. Lekita Moore Image: File He was convicted of two counts of theft and defeating the ends of justice for stealing her belongings and dumping her body. Sias received an eight-year sentence, suspended for four years. Jesse Hess, a 19-year-old theology student, was raped and murdered shortly after winning a competition celebrating Women's Month, her life stolen so cruelly at a time meant for celebration. David van Boven was convicted and sentenced to two life terms for the murder of Hess and her grandfather. He was also convicted and sentenced for two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, sexual assault and fraud. Meghan Cremer Image: Facebook Tasliem Ambrose, a second accused, who entered into a plea agreement with the State, was acquitted of the murders, sexual assault, fraud and theft and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment on two counts of robbery. Hannah Cornelius, a Stellenbosch University student, was abducted during a car ride shared with a friend in May 2017. Over extended hours, she endured gang rape and brutal violence before being murdered in what became known as a horrific 'ride from hell.' Her killers were eventually sentenced in 2018. Jesse Hess Image: File Vernon Witbooi and Geraldo Parsons were sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder and life for her rape. Witbooi and Parsons also received 25 years each for the attempted murder of Cornelius' friend, 15 years for four counts of robbery and 10 years for their kidnapping. Eben van Niekerk received life sentences for Cornelius' rape and murder, 20 years for each robbery, and a combined 18 years for kidnapping, and 20 years for the attempted murder of Cornelius' friend. Nashville Julius was handed 15 years for two counts of robbery and seven years for the students' kidnapping. Her parents went on to establish the Hannah Cornelius Foundation, supporting grieving families and advocating for safe pathways forward. Hannah Cornelius Image: File
IOL News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
‘Womxn: Working' shed light on the struggles of South African sex workers
Womxn: Working - A powerful documentary on sex work activism in South Africa Image: Armand Hough/Independent Media A new documentary, 'Womxn: Working,' making its world premiere at the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, sheds urgent light on the ongoing struggle of sex workers in South Africa. Directed by Shanelle Jewnarain and produced by Tiny Mungwe and Mitchell Harper, the film chronicles a journey of activism spanning a decade of activism, resilience, and relentless advocacy for decriminalisation and justice. The film, made possible by NFVF and KwaZulu-Natal Film and Tourism Authority, set against the backdrop of South Africa's alarming femicide crisis, 'Womxn: Working' follows the lives of prominent sex work activists such as Nosipho Vidima, Dudu Dlamini, Constance Mathe, and the late Ruvimbo Tenga. According to Sharlene Versfeld from Versfeld & Associates, these women are fighting in courtrooms and Parliament, leading protests, organising vigils, and supporting their communities from the ground up. 'Their stories are a testament to the courage and leadership of those fighting for their rights amidst systemic violence and societal stigma.' Filmed over ten years, the documentary exemplifies a collaborative approach rooted in the principles of 'Nothing about us, without us,' working closely with activist groups like SWEAT and Sisonke. Versveld stated that this partnership ensures that the voices of sex workers remain at the heart of the narrative, challenging stereotypes and highlighting their agency. 'The film explores key milestones in South Africa's sex workers' rights movement, including efforts to influence policy through the Asijiki Coalition, a coalition uniting trade unions, legal experts, gender rights organisations, and political allies. 'Their advocacy has led to calls for the long-awaited report from the Law Reform Commission on the legal status of sex work, igniting national debates and community engagement.' In addition, 'Womxn: Working' revisits campaigns like 'Say Her Name' and the legal case involving artist Zwelethu Mthethwa's prosecution for the murder of a sex worker, illustrating the ongoing fight for justice and recognition. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Our film shows sex workers as they've rarely been seen,' said director Shanelle Jewnarain. 'Not as subjects of pity, but as organisers, mothers, leaders, and fighters. I hope it disrupts stereotypes, prompts reflection, and challenges viewers to interrogate the systems that criminalise and punish women for survival while enabling the violence they endure. 'Through it all, these women find strength in solidarity, balancing activism with care work for their families and communities.' Producer Tiny Mungwe emphasised the importance of centering Black women's voices in the documentary, describing it as a deeply personal and communal journey. 'We have tried to push back stereotypes and focus on Black Womxn, who are often silenced. The film explores the polarising debate surrounding sex work in South Africa, where discussions tend to focus on morality rather than women's autonomy over their bodies.' SWEAT spokesperson Megan Lessing highlighted the broader significance of the film. 'This documentary honours the courage, resilience, and leadership of sex workers who have fought relentlessly for their rights, safety, and dignity. 'It's a story from the frontlines-led by sex workers themselves. We hope audiences understand that decriminalisation is not just policy reform; it's about recognising humanity and protecting the lives of sex workers.' 'Womxn: Working' will be screened at The Labia Theatre in Cape Town on Saturday, June 21, at 4:30 PM, with further screenings scheduled in Johannesburg. IOL Politics
The Independent
07-03-2025
- The Independent
San Carlos Apache teenager's death reverberates throughout Indian Country
From heartbreak and devastation to outrage, Emily Pike's tragic death is stirring heavy emotions and putting the spotlight to a crisis that has long plagued Native American communities, where a disproportionate number of people have been killed or have gone missing. In the case of the San Carlos Apache teenager, she disappeared from her group home on the edge of a Phoenix suburb in late January. Authorities posted her picture on social media, saying she was missing and had possibly run away. Just a couple inches shy of 5 feet tall, she was wearing a pink and gray shirt. It was nearly a month later that sheriff's deputies in a neighboring county reported finding and identifying Pike's remains. It was more than 80 miles from where she was last seen. Since then, news of her brutal death has reverberated through Indian Country and beyond. A crowd was expected to gather Thursday at an intersection in Mesa, near her group home, to honor her life and to press for changes that might help curb the violence. Advocates say the crisis stems from colonization and forced removal, which marginalized Indigenous people by erasing their culture and identity. Limited funding, understaffed police departments and a jurisdictional checkerboard that prevents authorities from working together have only exacerbated the issue. 'Everyone's daughter' Pike's case has drawn the attention of hundreds of thousands of people through social media. Some have shared photos of themselves, their mouths covered with a red handprint that has become emblematic of the movement to end the violence. Posts included the hashtags #NoMoreStolenSisters, #SayHerName and #JusticeforEmily. In Wisconsin, organizers planned for their own candlelight vigil. Fliers in Colorado encouraged people to wear red, and Daisy Bluestar, a Southern Ute tribal member on Colorado's Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives Task Force, posted a video about Pike with the hashtag #ColoradoStandsWithYou. The girl's basketball team at Miami High School in Arizona wore jerseys with 'MMIW' and a red handprint on the back. 'We're all mourning this terrible loss of a precious young girl. Emily really has become everyone's daughter, granddaughter and niece,' said Mary Kim Titla, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Titla herself has three female relatives who went missing and were killed. She said the community has come together to honor Pike and to demand justice. This shared solidarity comes from a desire for healing from historical and generational trauma, she said. 'It affects so many people," Titla said, 'and I think the reason is because we all know someone — it could be a relative, it could be a friend, it could be in our own tribal community.' What happened to Emily? Pike's remains were found northeast of Globe, Arizona, the Gila County Sheriffs Office said. Like many others, her case involves multiple agencies. Gila County is working with Mesa police, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mesa police typically don't investigate runaway reports, but the agency did list Pike as missing on its Facebook page two days after the group home reported she was gone. Arizona's Department of Child Safety requires notification of a child's missing status to occur within a day of receiving the information. However, that requirement doesn't extend to tribal social services, according to Anika Robinson, president of the nonprofit foster care advocacy group ASA Now. Pike was in the custody of San Carlos Apache Tribe Social Services, which could not be reached for comment, at the time she went missing from the group home in Mesa. Mesa police reported Pike as missing to the National Crime Information Center the evening of Jan. 27. Police have said it would have been up to the group home to contact her case manager who then would have contacted Pike's family or tribe. The girl's mother, Steff Dosela, has said in interviews that she didn't hear about her daughter's disappearance until a week later. Robinson questioned why it took so long. 'Imagine what probably had already transpired by that week,' she said. Addressing the crisis Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2023 created a task force to identify policies for addressing the high rates of disappearances and killings among the Native American population. A final report is due in 2026. Washington, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin and Wyoming also have created task forces dedicated to the crisis. President Donald Trump during his first term created the nation's first task force to begin looking at the problem, dubbing it Operation Lady Liberty. The Biden administration followed with a special unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. attorneys' offices in key areas began taking a closer look at unsolved cases, and top officials held listening sessions across the nation. Just last month, the federal government launched an initiative to help solve missing and unidentified person cases. Tiffany Jiron, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, said more comprehensive law enforcement training that address jurisdictional challenges, increased funding for tribal programs that provide shelter, mental health resources and legal aid to impacted families and survivors and strengthened alert systems are among the policy solutions that advocates should continue to fight for to address the systemic crisis. 'As an Indigenous people, we are not invisible,' she said. 'We deserve just as much attention from law enforcement. Our cases are involving real people, real families, real children.'
