Cape Town - When Anene Booysen had a few drinks and danced with Johannes Kana and four other friends at Kallie's Pub in Bredasdorp the 17-year-old had no idea that she would not make it through the next day alive.
Kana's own confession gives an account of the young woman's last hours. At around 1 am on the morning of Saturday, February 02, 2013, Anene decided that she was ready to go home to her foster mother. It was only six blocks away from the pub and Bredasdorp is a tight-knit community, so she probably wasn't too concerned for her safety. Nevertheless, Kana volunteered to walk with her.
Along the way, they came to a construction site where the couple started kissing but Anene soon pushed Kana away. Ignoring her protests, he ripped off her pants and raped her.
It is unclear what happened next, and Kana has always insisted that he never killed Anene. But at around 5am on Saturday morning she was found by a security guard. News that a young girl had been brutally raped and injured swept through the community and her foster mother was on the scene soon afterwards.
Anene died in Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town on the same day, but not before naming the man who had committed this heinous crime.
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Initially, friends covered up for Kana, and one young woman even claimed that Anene had left the pub with her. Despite this, Kana was eventually convicted and sentenced for Anene's rape and murder.
Anene will never celebrate another Women's Month. She didn't get to have a 21st birthday party. She will never have a chance to realise whatever dreams she had for her future.
For Anene's sake and the sake of young women everywhere, if you know somebody who has done something like this Don't Look Away
.
If you know a young woman's life is in danger, Don't Look Away
.
If you are able to help prevent another tragedy, Don't Look Away
.
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