The brutal killing of 21-year-old education student Onalenna Selebogo has sent shockwaves through Rustenburg and the North-West University (NWU) community.
The third-year Education student, described as bright, ambitious, and deeply loved by her family, was found stabbed to death in her Tuin Street flat on Aug. 4, 2025, her body wrapped in bed sheets.
Police say the attack occurred on Aug. 3. Her boyfriend, Walter Tshehla, 28, later surrendered to authorities and has since been charged with murder. He is expected to appear for a bail hearing at the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Aug.18.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Onalenna, who earned five distinctions in her studies and was set to graduate next year, had dreamed of becoming a teacher. Her grandmother, Florence Mbuqa, who raised her after her mother’s passing, remembered her as loving and devoted.
“She was my everything,” Florence said, recalling how her granddaughter would return home during holidays to help with household chores and even teach her new skills. The grief-stricken grandmother identified her body at the mortuary, a moment she described as unbearable.
GBV in the Spotlight During Women’s Month
The killing has reignited anger over gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa, especially as it occurred during Women’s Month.
South Africa is becoming notorious for violence against women. Two months ago, a wave of anger and frustration gripped the country after the murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, allegedly by a man she went on a date with.
NWU expressed “deep sorrow” at the loss of one of its standout students, offering counselling services to students and staff. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) condemned the crime, with Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga noting:
“This senseless act of violence robs us of yet another young life full of potential.”
Police statistics reveal the scale of the crisis: over 2,800 women were murdered in the 2024/25 financial year, with Gauteng and the Eastern Cape recording some of the highest numbers.
Activists argue that awareness campaigns are not enough, calling for more tangible interventions such as improved safety infrastructure, stronger protective measures for women in abusive relationships, and swifter justice in GBV cases.
A Call for Justice
As the investigation continues, Onalenna’s family, friends, and university community are united in their call for accountability.
Her grandmother has urged young women to stay away from abusive relationships, warning of the dangers that often go ignored until it is too late.
Onalenna’s story adds to the growing list of women whose lives have been tragically cut short by gender-based violence in South Africa, underscoring the urgency of systemic change.
