Murder of Anene Booysen

Overview

Anene Booysen (born October 30, 1995) was a 17-year-old girl living in Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. On the night of February 2, 2013, after spending time at a local bar, she was gang-raped and severely mutilated at a nearby construction site. A security guard found her the following morning, alive but grievously injured, a short distance from her home. She was taken to hospital, where she died approximately six hours later.

Attack and identification of attackers

Before she died, Booysen was reportedly able to identify her attackers to police, telling them that five or six men were involved in the assault. It is unclear why police pursued charges against only one of the individuals she named.

Prosecution

Two suspects were initially arrested in connection with the case, but only one, Johannes Kana, ultimately stood trial. Kana confessed to raping Booysen and was convicted for the crime. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

Public reaction

The case drew widespread national and international condemnation. South African President Jacob Zuma described the attack as "shocking, cruel and most inhumane." The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the country's largest labour union, called for mass action in response to rape in South Africa. Opposition parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko called for parliamentary hearings into the issue. The United Nations' office in South Africa issued a statement strongly condemning the rape and murder.

On February 13, 2013, a protest against the attack, led by musician Annie Lennox, was held at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. Later that year, Booysen and Reeva Steenkamp — another young South African woman killed in 2013 — were jointly named South Africa's "Persons of the Year 2013" by the Daily Maverick publication.

Funeral

A funeral service for Booysen was held at the Dutch Reformed Church in Bredasdorp, located about 128 km (80 miles) east of Cape Town, on February 9, 2013.