Luyanda Botha, the man who stands accused of the murder of 19-year-old student Uyinene Mrwetyana, has been handed down three life sentences for the heinous crime.
Botha was charged with two counts of rape, along with the murder charge, as well as one count of defeating the ends of justice. The former Post Office employee confessed to raping and bludgeoning Mrwetyana to death at the Clareinch Post Office in August.
Women and men across the country banded together when news of Mrwetyana’s disappearance first gained traction, with vigils being held across the country in support of her family and friends.
On August 8, she made her way to the Clareinch Post Office to check on the status of a package she was expecting, and was told by Botha to return later, as the power was out. When she returned, she found Botha alone there. He reportedly sexually assaulted Mwretyana before bashing her head in with a scale used to weigh packages at the Post Office.
According to the indictment: “The parcel arrived on August 16, 2019 and on Saturday, August 24, she arrived at the post office after it was closed for business. The accused was alone inside the post office and let her in. The deceased was not seen alive again.”
The indictment added that Mrwetyana was also hidden in the safe in the Post Office before being dumped in Lingelethu West. Here, she was doused in accelerant before being set alight.
Picture: Twitter