In an act of unspeakable brutality that shook the nation, Luyanda Botha brutally raped and murdered UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana.
Nene, as she was known to her friends, was murdered inside a post office in Claremont.
Coming in the wake of other high-profile femicides and a rise in gender-based violence across the country, South African womxn began to ask #AmINext?
Her killer, Botha, confessed to the crimes, revealing horrifying details about how he lured Nene into the post office and what he did once he had her trapped inside.
Throughout his short trial, more came to light. The following is not an easy read, so prepare yourself.
The Citizen reports:
Botha was charged with twice raping 19-year-old Mrwetyana, a first-year University of Cape Town student, before bludgeoning her to death on August 24.
According to the State’s summary of facts, her body was hidden in the Clareinch Post Office safe in Claremont, Cape Town overnight before being taken to Lingelethu West the next day where Botha doused her body with an accelerant and set it alight.
Botha was also charged with defeating the ends of justice.
Botha has made no attempt to defend his actions and accepted a sentencing agreement, following a guilty plea.
According to the agreement, Botha will serve a life sentence for murder, two life sentences on both counts of rape, and five years for defeating the ends of justice. The five year sentence will run concurrently.
He will not be eligible for parole for 25 years. Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe confirmed the sentence.
Uyinene’s family were in court for the sentencing and the graphic details of her final moments.
We can only hope that Botha never gets parole.
[source:citizen]
