Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Steps Up to Cover Burial Costs of Zenizole Vena & Asks Community to Stay Calm

• The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has offered to help with the burial of Zenizole Vena, who went missing and died
• The teenager gripped headlines across the country after she died at a police station after being turned away at the clinic
• South Africans online were triggered by Zenizole's story, and her death served as a reminder of how rife gender-based violence is in the country

EASTERN CAPE - The municipality of Nelson Mandela Bay has volunteered to cover the funeral costs of Zenizole Vena, who passed away while waiting to get assistance at the Motherwell police station.

The 15-year-old was allegedly indecently assaulted by two men that she knew. Zenizole's family says the schoolgirl had been missing for four days, and she was found by a family member in the streets.

According to the SABC News, the mayor Retief Odendaal said a full investigation will be conducted to find out the details of her kidnapping and assault. Currently, the police are searching for two suspects.

News24 reported that the mayor is asking the community of Motherwell to remain calm while authorities investigate the case.

“We understand that people are angry, but we cannot allow that anger to cause more harm by depriving others of their right to healthcare."

South African online were frustrated with the ongoing poor service delivery in the country. Saying if healthcare workers and the police did their jobs properly, Zenizole's life could have been saved.

@ElvisNyadzani suggested:

"Communities must allow clinics to operate, residents need services from the clinic. RIP"

@xolile_mthembu asked:

"What is the feedback on why victim Zenizole Vena was turned away from Motherwell Clinic?"

@AndileQwabe_ posted:

"It is heartbreaking that the little girl's name is now out there in a country where GBV apologists exist. Children have rights."

@Mickey07899439 said:

"The brutal act against Zenizole Vena is a disgrace. Motherwell clinic staff that turned this very badly injured girl away should go to prison. Healthcare workers, what is wrong with you? No compassion. Utter rot."

@Miss_Realist tweeted:

"Rest in perfect peace nana, you didn’t deserve this."

@LadyKhae_ mentioned:

"The system failed her."

@LadyKhae_ wrote:

"What happened to #ZenizoleVena is so sad. She could have been helped but the clinic turned her away and told her to go to the Police station. How did they turn away a child in distress? A child who was in need of help."

@DoPe_GiRL_87 stated:

"RIP Zenizole Vena. Hope the men involved are caught and that justice is served."

Gender-based violence in SA: 4 Women share harrowing experiences of assaults and re-victimisation by cops

Briefly News reported that gender-based violence gets thrown into the spotlight yearly. It usually takes high-profile cases that create outrage in what has been called a pandemic by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The deaths of women like Reeva Steenkamp in 2014, Karabo Mokoena in 2017, Zolile Khumalo in 2018, Uyinene Mrwetyana in 2019, Tshegofatso Pule in 2020 and Nosicelo Mtebani in 2021 were all talked about in mainstream media.

Source: Briefly News