Protest against gender- based violence throughout South Africa

On 4 September 2019, people gathered outside parliament in Cape Town to address gender- based violence in South Africa. They carried posters on which was written ‘Asphelelanga kushot’ uNene, translated as “We are not complete, we are short of Nene”. The protest was triggered by rape incidents, including one of a 19-year-old first year student, Uyinene Mrwetyana from the University of Cape Town. who was raped and killed by a man in a Cape Town Post Office.  The protesters were angry, some demanding the government to bring back the death penalty.

The National Assembly speaker, Thandi Modise addressed the protesters promising to pressure the minister to take action against gender- based violence in South Africa. She said that a minimum sentence for perpetrators must be a life sentence in jail.