Bredasdorp rape: 'Enough is enough'
2013-02-08 12:14
Video
2013-02-08 10:36
The rape and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen in Bredasdorp has shaken the country. See an overview of the situation here.WATCH
Johannesburg - South African media on Friday reacted with
anger over the gang rape, murder, and mutilation of Bredasdorp teenager Anene
Booysen.
On the front page of The Star, editor Makhudu Sefara called
for citizens to stand up against rape.
"We abhor all forms of sexual assault on any person,
young or old, and we have consistently shone a light on this scourge where we
have found it..."
Sefara said the only way to combat the crime was by
providing prosecutors with evidence, so rapists could be removed from society.
"Today, together with our partners in LeadSA, we repeat
that call. Stand up. Speak out. Help us turn this evil around once and for
all."
Mobilise society
He said LeadSA, an initiative by Independent Newspapers and
Primedia Broadcasting, decided to use its influence to mobilise society in the
wake of Booysen's ordeal.
The newspaper ran a feature on self defence for women.
The Citizen published an editorial calling for South
Africans to take collective responsibility in the fight against sexual crimes.
"Somehow, somewhere there must be a tipping point where
society is so convulsed by a collective anger over rape that we begin to turn
the tide against this terrible scourge."
Given the ubiquity of rape in South Africa, the editorial
argued, this tipping point should have come long ago. Rape would not cease if
society ignored it.
"Each of us needs to ask what we can do to stop this
awful trend. And then we must act accordingly. You can help."
'Enough is enough'
The New Age printed a full page poster on page 11, reading
"Enough is enough!"
The words "Stop sexual abuse" were arranged into a
word cloud in the shape of the hand signal used by traffic police, meaning
"stop".
Beneath this was the slogan: "Respect women. Respect
your nation".
Booysen was raped, mutilated and left for dead at a
construction site near her Bredasdorp home after visiting a sports bar on
Friday night. She died in hospital from her injuries on Saturday afternoon.
Die Burger newspaper reported on Thursday that before she
died, Booysen identified one of her attackers as her former boyfriend.
According to the Argus, a 22-year-old man appeared in Bredasdorp Magistrate's
Court on Tuesday on charges of rape and murder.
A second suspect, 21, was expected to appear in the same
court later on Friday.
- SAPA
