Presidency expresses outrage at the rape and murder of a teenager

7 Feb 2013

President Jacob Zuma has expressed his sense of shock and outrage at the reported gang rape and brutal murder of a Western Cape teenager Anene Booysen.

The 17-year old girl was discovered by a security guard at a construction site in Bredasdorp after being brutally raped and left for dead during the early hours of Saturday morning by a group of men who had allegedly lured her away when she was with friends. She managed to identify one of her alleged attackers before dying.

"The whole nation is outraged at this extreme violation and destruction of a young human life," said President Zuma. "This act is shocking, cruel and most inhumane. It has no place in our country. We must never allow ourselves to get used to these acts of base criminality to our women and children." The President further called on the courts to "impose the harshest sentences on such crimes, as part of a concerted campaign to end this scourge in our society".

President Zuma conveyed his deepest condolences to the family and relatives of the young girl and vowed that government would never rest until the perpetrators and all those who rape and abuse women and children, are meted with the maximum justice that the law allows.

Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, February 7 2013

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