Rape and murder of Anene Booysen


Anene Booysen was a 17-year-old girl who was found by a security guard the morning after she had been gang-raped and disemboweled by having her abdomen slit open at a construction site in Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape, South Africa on February 2, 2013; she was still alive, but died later in the day.

Rape and murder

Anene Booysen was found by a security guard lying a short distance from her house after spending time at a bar on the evening of February 2, 2013. She died from her injuries in hospital six hours later. She managed to identify one of her attackers before her death.

Reaction

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma condemned the attack as "shocking, cruel and most inhumane". The Congress of South African Trade Unions, South Africa's biggest labour union, called for mass action over rape in South Africa. Opposition parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko called for parliamentary hearings. The United Nations issued a statement strongly condemning the rape and murder. On 13 February, a protest, led by Annie Lennox, was staged at St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town.
Booysen and Reeva Steenkamp, both young South African women killed in 2013, were named SA Persons of the year 2013 by the Daily Maverick.

Funeral

A funeral was held at the Dutch Reformed Church in Bredasdorp, about 128 km east of Cape Town on February 9, 2013.

Prosecution

Johannes Kana was convicted for the crime, and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. Three suspects were initially arrested, but only Kana, who confessed to raping Booysen, stood trial. Before she died, Booysen told police five or six men were involved in the attack.