South Africa has its Amanat moment
8 Feb 2013 7:39 AM IST
The rape and gruesome mutilation of a teenage girl in South Africa has sparked a rare outburst of anger in a country that often appears numb to sexual violence.
Anine Booysen, 17, was found disembowelled at a construction site in the southwestern town of Bredasdorp at the weekend and later died in hospital. She reportedly lured away from her friends by a group of men and it suspected she was gang-raped, but police said Thursday they were still investigating.
The case has shocked the nation where tales of sexual violence are commonplace.
‘The whole nation is outraged at this extreme violation and destruction of a young human life,’ President Jacob Zuma said in a statement on Thursday. ‘This act is shocking, cruel and most inhumane. It has no place in our country,’ he said. ‘We must never allow ourselves to get used to these acts of base criminality to our women and children.’
The Cape Argus newspaper cited a witness saying the teenager’s body was cut open from her stomach through to her genital area, and exposed her internal organs. Two suspects have been arrested and one of them appeared in court this week. Studies have found that more than one quarter of South African men admitted to raping a woman or girl.
Anine Booysen, 17, was found disembowelled at a construction site in the southwestern town of Bredasdorp at the weekend and later died in hospital. She reportedly lured away from her friends by a group of men and it suspected she was gang-raped, but police said Thursday they were still investigating.
The case has shocked the nation where tales of sexual violence are commonplace.
‘The whole nation is outraged at this extreme violation and destruction of a young human life,’ President Jacob Zuma said in a statement on Thursday. ‘This act is shocking, cruel and most inhumane. It has no place in our country,’ he said. ‘We must never allow ourselves to get used to these acts of base criminality to our women and children.’
The Cape Argus newspaper cited a witness saying the teenager’s body was cut open from her stomach through to her genital area, and exposed her internal organs. Two suspects have been arrested and one of them appeared in court this week. Studies have found that more than one quarter of South African men admitted to raping a woman or girl.
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