KUGOMPO CITY – The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation held an awareness walk in remembrance of the slain UCT student.
Mrwetyana died aged 19 after she was raped and murdered by Post Office employee, Luyanda Botha in Cape Town.
Her death sparked outrage around the country after she had been missing for days before her body was found burnt and buried in a shallow grave in Khayelitsha.
Her mom, Noma, said her daughter's life must go beyond awareness.
She said Uyinene’s death should translate into concrete action to combat gender-based violence and femicide.
READ: Remembering Uyinene Mrwetyana
She called for a multidisciplinary approach involving different sectors of society and for stronger action against perpetrators of gender-based violence.
“Uyinene was killed on the 24th of August 2019 and this year is the seventh year. We commemorate her life and all other victims of gender-based violence today. We stand in solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence and femicide.
“We are here to put our heads together as a collective. Our theme says from awareness to action. We want more action on the ground and we ask for a multidisciplinary or multisectoral approach to the fight against gender-based violence," she said.
Former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi was one of the marchers and gave the keynote address said the fight against GBV needs a shift.
READ: WATCH | Five years since Uyinene Mrwetyana's murder
She said it should turn to effectively implementing existing policies and ensuring perpetrators are held accountable.
Tunzi said women are tired of raising awareness about gender-based violence and now want to see government take concrete action.
“Awareness is not a problem anymore; we've done more than enough of that. I think it is now time for the implementation of these policies that are supposed to be implemented correctly.
“I feel like we're not backed enough, we're not supported enough. We're seeing perpetrators get away with things every day, whether that be at the police station or whether that be at the high-end government level. Not enough is being done and that is exactly where the issue is,” Tunzi said.