Cape Town - The National Freedom Party (NFP) has called for the death penalty for those convicted of rape and murder.
This is after the party sent condolences to the loved ones of Rhodes University, Khensani Maseko, who reportedly committed suicide after being raped.
Maseko reportedly committed suicide at her family's home in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.
"The NFP challenges the ANC-led government to open a debate in Parliament on bringing back death penalty," said the party in a statement.
The party said it believed that capital punishment is the best way to deal with the perpetrators.
Video: Sandisiwe Ntlemeza/African News Agency (ANA)
"NFP is deeply concerned and against the ongoing rape culture in South Africa. Khensani Maseko's death has proved again that many more women are dying in silence. As this month is supposedly Women’s Month, losing a young intellectual like her is a huge loss."
According to the party, the government has failed the women of South Africa.
On Monday the Rhodes University SRC expressed shock at the death of the third year BA student. She was an SRC alumnus and a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters.