Another Sister Lost: The Murder of Onalenna Selebogo Sparks Outrage Over South Africa’s GBV Crisis

The community of Rustenburg is reeling after the brutal killing of 21-year-old Onalenna Selebogo, a bright and ambitious Education student at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus. On 3 August 2025, Onalenna’s life was cut short inside a flat in central Rustenburg.

Her body, wrapped in bed sheets, was found with multiple stab wounds to her neck — a scene that has left family, friends, and fellow students in shock and anguish. Police named Walter Tshehlo** as the prime suspect. He allegedly fled after the attack, only to later surrender to authorities. Tshehlo has been charged with murder and is scheduled to appear in court for his bail hearing on **18 August 2025.

Onalenna’s death is not just another statistic — it is a devastating reminder of the ongoing gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide epidemic in South Africa. She was a young woman with dreams of becoming an educator, a daughter and friend loved by many, whose life and future were stolen in an act of senseless brutality.

Her killing has reignited public anger, with many asking the same urgent question: How many more women must be murdered before GBV and femicide are declared a National Disaster? Activists say that without stronger legal protections, swifter justice, and systemic change, tragedies like Onalenna’s will continue.

As the case moves through the courts, her loved ones and community are calling for justice — not only for Onalenna but for all women who have suffered at the hands of gender-based violence. Her name now joins a growing list of women whose deaths demand both remembrance and action.