Mrwetyana family asks SA not to use Uyinene’s name towards projects

Rhodes University has stated on Monday on behalf of the Mrwetyana family, that the unauthorised projects misusing Uyinene’s name are “unethical, misleading, insensitive and dishonest”.

An authorised foundation in Uyinene’s name is under-way

The family is currently in the process of initiating a foundation in Uyinene’s name the statement read, and they appealed to the public to not initiate or contribute towards unauthorised projects that are using the family’s grief to “cash in” on the tragedy.

Nomangwane Mrwetyana, Uyinene’s mother, works at Rhodes University and she recently committed to establishing the Uyinene Foundation which will focus on aims “to protect all girls against gender-based violence” according to the Cape Times.

“Some of the known instances in which Uyinene’s name is being used include fundraising efforts (crowdfunding), the establishment of anti-gender-based violence NGOs, an upcoming book, and several social media profiles. Members of the public have expressed concerns that the Uyinene fundraising campaigns could be misinterpreted as having the support of the Mrwetyana family.”

Rhodes University

The Mrwetyana family has requested to mourn in peace

The statement further declared that some of these initiatives might be “well-intentioned” but they don’t have support from the family to bear Uyinene’s name; the Mrwetyana family has also requested to mourn in peace as Uyinene’s murder was brutal and widely covered in the country.

“To use Uyinene’s name and also to disregard her grieving family so as to emotionally appeal to the public is unethical, misleading, insensitive and dishonest, regardless of whether the purpose is nefarious or well-intentioned. As announced at the funeral, the family is in the process of initiating a foundation in Uyinene’s name. The family is aware of and appreciates funds that have been initiated by the University of Cape Town, Kingswood College and Rhodes University.”

Rhodes University

The arrested suspect is charged with murder, rape and will appear on 5 November

The 42-year-old Clareinch Post Office worker suspect made his first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 2 September, and the court heard that the man had struck Mrwetyana with a scale inside the Post Office, and she allegedly fought back but was hit unconscious.

The accused allegedly confessed and indicated where a body was buried in Khayelitsha, and in attendance of this court hearing was the Mrwetyana family, University of Cape Town’s body and students, friends and private investigators who were tasked with investigating the first-year film students disappearance. The case has been scheduled for 5 November 2019.