Nosipho Gumede 

South Africans are in a frenzy, distraught and over-emotional since headlines of femicide, kidnapping and rape dominated headlines on Monday. 

This comes after a suspect who appeared in court in connection to 19-year-old Uyinene’s disappearance was charged with rape and murder.

A six-year-old was kidnapped and snatched from her mother in the early morning hours as she was being dropped off at her school, and

Boxing champ Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels, was shot and killed on Friday by a man alleged to be her boyfriend.

Slain UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana’s name sparked a hashtag/movement #AMINEXT? Which saw many other women coming out and sharing their stories and their losses on social media platforms. 

The movement is about the fear of becoming the next victim of rape and femicide, it’s a cry for help from the women of South Africa, one which is sadly not being heard.   

We are not safe, we can’t even go to the post office anymore, we can’t uber or walk alone because that isn’t safe either. It doesn’t matter what you are wearing, where you are going or what time you are leaving, we are still being kidnapped, raped and killed on a daily basis. 

Staying alive is a daily prayer if you are a woman in this country. 

Feminist activist and writer Soraya Chemaly once said, “ask a man what his greatest fear is about serving jail time, and he will almost inevitably say he fears being raped. What can we deduce from the fact that jail is to men what life is to women?” and this spoke so much volume. 

The very same men we are supposed to feel safe with, the ones who are supposed to protect us are the very same people that harm us. 

The movement has erupted many emotions, heartache, and concern as women took to social media naming and shaming their rapists and abusers. Some went on to express their emotions under the hashtag. 

Lawyer and social media activist, Tumi Sole expressed his views under the hashtag AMINEXT?

“Take some time and go through this hashtag! South African women are living in fear! Not safe at homes, workplaces, schools or anywhere!” he wrote.

This movement has seen the whole of South Africa on its feet, celebrities, politicians, etc. are all up in arms.