By Anita Dangazele
- Aviwe Mavonya, 18, was raped and murdered walking home from school due to lack of scholar transport.
- Village demands proper roads and transport after years of students walking dangerous routes to school.
A village in the Eastern Cape is in mourning after an 18-year-old girl was raped and murdered while walking home from school.
Residents say the unfortunate incident could have been prevented if they had proper roads and transport.
Grade 11 learner Aviwe Mavonya’s body was found in bushes near KwaGqwarhu village in Libode on Thursday. She attended the Zibungu Senior Secondary School,
Her uncle Mzolisi Mavonya found her body.
“I decided to go into the bushes, just as I was about to continue with my business. I saw the half-naked body of a schoolgirl with a huge cut running down her face in the bushes.
“Her schoolbag was next to her, along with a used condom. I was extremely shocked, I called out for help and gathered some men from the village, and we called the police,” he said.
Her heartbroken father Nkosinathi Mavonya had reported her missing just a day before.
“Aviwe was well disciplined, she had the wisdom of an adult, we would even consult her on some family decisions. As much as she had a child at a very young age, she had changed her life for the better.
“She had dedicated her life to Jesus and had influenced other children here to do the same,” he said.
Villagers say their children must walk dangerous routes because there are no proper roads for scholar transport to reach them.
“Our children have to walk long distances to get to Zibungu SSS in the neighbouring village, they do not have scholar transport because we do not have proper roads.
“Cars cannot go into this village, especially on rainy days, only the younger children have a scholar transport, but it drops them off at the top and then they have to walk down,” said one villager.
Students often leave home at 4am for morning classes and only return at 5.30pm after afternoon lessons. Aviwe was attacked while walking home alone after afternoon classes.
Parents now want the school to stop early morning and afternoon classes to protect their children.
Pictured above: The parents of Aviwe Mavonya standing outside their home.
Image source: Supplied
