Femicide Is Out Of Control - How TF Do We End This?
Cosmopolitan - South Africa|December 2019
The 2018/19 SAPS Crime Statistics revealed that a total of 2 771 women were murdered in South Africa during that period – that’s one murder every three hours. This makes our country’s femicide rate five times higher than the global average. Commonly known as ‘the rape capital of the world’, South Africa earned the title in 2000. Almost 20 years later, statist ics are worse than ever. Carrie Timlin investigates the ongoing national war on women’s bodies.
Femicide Is Out Of Control - How TF Do We End This?

On 5 September 2019, thousands of people gathered outside Parliament in Cape Town to demand that government take action against gender-based violence (GBV). The protest followed on from a harrowing news week that saw #AmINext trending on social media in response to a series of brutal femicides in South Africa.

UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19, went to the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont, where she was bludgeoned with a scale, raped and killed by a postal worker, less than 100 metres from a police station. Jesse Hess, 19, was murdered in her home. Boxing champion Leighandre Jegels, 25, was shot and killed by her boyfriend, a police officer. These women were three of the many whose tragic deaths would make headlines in the weeks leading up to and following the protests.

A Facebook post by Alice Cropper, which has been shared more than 41 000 times at the time of writing, details her close encounter at the Clareinch Post Office with the same man who would later confess to the murder of Mrwetyana. Cropper says that perhaps the most terrifying thing about him was how normal he seemed.

‘We imagine a rapist/killer will identify [himself or herself] as a shadowy character lurking in an alleyway or as someone with an “off” demeanour,’ she says. ‘He was very friendly, charming and helpful.’

When she made the connection that the same man, who had tried to trick her into returning to the post office later in the day, was Mrwetyana’s perpetrator, she tried to take this information to the police. ‘Nobody wanted to help me,’ she says. ‘I was left to wander the corridors alone, looking for someone. I was angry […] because I had information that may help prevent Uyinene’s killer from getting a lesser sentence and nobody seemed to care.’

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Cosmopolitan - South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Cosmopolitan - South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM COSMOPOLITAN - SOUTH AFRICAView All
Marc Buckner
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

Marc Buckner

The Bachelor SA Season 2’s star is here to make you swoon. Find out why boss babes are ready to risk it all for this adventurous dog lover.

time-read
1 min  |
May 2020
I Tested Positive For The Alzheimer's Gene At 26 Years Old
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

I Tested Positive For The Alzheimer's Gene At 26 Years Old

A DNA testing kit is like a crystal ball, but what if you don’t like what you see?

time-read
3 mins  |
May 2020
Basically No-One Has A 28-Day Menstrual Cycle
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

Basically No-One Has A 28-Day Menstrual Cycle

Brought to you by: the idea of a ‘normal’ period is a lie

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2020
For Those Times When You're Like, ‘I Love You, But You're Annoying...'
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

For Those Times When You're Like, ‘I Love You, But You're Annoying...'

Coupledom can be hard!

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2020
How To Get Sh*t Done
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

How To Get Sh*t Done

Calling all procrastinators: sometimes getting started on a new project or goal can be the hardest part. Here’s how to stop putting it off and actually press go

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2020
Is Rage Bait Okay?
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

Is Rage Bait Okay?

It has become the new engagement strategy for many brands. Companies bait their followers into engaging with their content around topics that cause outrage. But is this okay? Social -media strategists Talya Goldberg and Jabulile Dlamini -Qwesha share their views.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2020
Is Cardio A Scam? And 7 Other Not-stupid Questions About Fitness Things
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

Is Cardio A Scam? And 7 Other Not-stupid Questions About Fitness Things

Thanks for calling 0800 -WTF- Is -This

time-read
3 mins  |
May 2020
Hold The Phone
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

Hold The Phone

Zozibini Tunzi is here to remind you all to Take. Up. Space. She’s rewriting the pageantry rulebook, and she wants you to join in (in a bath, wearing sparkly boots, because that’s just how we roll).

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2020
How To Tell It Like It Is *And Finally Get A Promotion*
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

How To Tell It Like It Is *And Finally Get A Promotion*

Receiving constructive criticism on your work can be terrifying. But do it right and it can be a career game-changer.

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2020
What Makes A Compulsive Liar?
Cosmopolitan - South Africa

What Makes A Compulsive Liar?

We all do it. Tell those lit t le white lies to ourselves, and others. But what about those for whom lying is a way of life? Catriona Harvey-Jenner investigates the rise of a new kind of scammer.

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2020