The trivialities of joking abuse, coupled with the stories of victim-crying, perpetuate a culture of immunity for the perpetrator.
The #justiceforcewecwe movement appeared at Bergview University, an independent school in Matatiele, South Africa, in response to the rape of a seven-year-old girl called cwecwe (a pseudonym for protecting her identity). The October 14, 2024 attacks sparked widespread outrage due to lack of progress in the investigation and recognition of inaction by schools, police and the judicial system.
The incident sparked national rage and prompted protests calling for law enforcement to investigate and realize justice in CWECWE. As the rage of the masses grew, there were troubling attempts to downplay abuse and defend suspicious perpetrators.
Cwecwe was sexually assaulted on the school grounds while awaiting the school’s transport. According to her mother, the attack became apparent after Cwecwe showed abnormal behavior in a few days. The attack was confirmed through a medical check-up.
The rape of 7-year-old Cwecwe rekindled discussions about the safety of women and children in South Africa
A report from the Center for Analytics and Behavioral Change (CABC) said that while being accused of inviting abuse, the victim’s experience was trivial under the guise of a joke. Insensitive comments in the #justiceforcewecwe debate elicited widespread criticism from online users demanding accountability from the responsible party. The data was directed towards important questions: When is sufficient enough?
CABC reports that victim accusations and minor abuse are common online.
The #justiceforcewecwe online conversation received over 400,000 mentions on X (formerly Twitter) from March 1st to April 15th, 2025, and about 11,000 mentions on Facebook. #justiceforcewecwe.
The conversation peaked after reports that Cwewe’s mother had been involved in a car accident.
More spikes occurred on April 6, 2025 as plans for a nationwide closure were announced on April 8th. Several posts indicated that the closure called for the resignation of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
CABC said the movement has gained great traction, but it has raised concerns about paying attention to issues, and many fear that it will get colder as public interest wanes.
The #justiceforcewecwe movement has uncovered troubling trends in online discourse, including revealing allegations of abuse, opportunism and selective activity. CABC previously reported that victim experiences often decrease due to patterns observed in #justiceforcewecwe conversations, jokes and victim accusations.
Researchers focused on the debate and confusion about the case.
Questions have arisen about whether the principal is a suspect and whether DNA has been collected. Police Minister Seno Mchunu then apologised to the principal for naming him as a suspect. In a letter to the Eastern Cape Secretary, Gerry Nell of Afriforme, who represented the principal as a lawyer, said the principal was not a suspect in the case and was not close to the minor child at the time of the incident or before or after the incident. It was then revealed that the principal had not submitted his DNA.
According to CABC, Nell’s appointment added a racial tone to the conversation. It has also been reported that no foreign DNA was found in CWECWE, but others wonder why DNA was requested if foreign DNA was not found in minor children. However, discussions about who will be responsible will continue online.
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Additionally, several posts on #justiceforcewecwe have shown how they used case popularity to promote case popularity by setting the foundation on behalf of Cwecwe’s family. These allegations question their motivations.
Despite the decline in online conversations, more than one million signatures have been collected in petitions seeking #JusticeForcwe. There are still calls for the government and police to quickly act and arrest the perpetrators of abuse and violence.
CABC reminds individuals to apply sensitivities, remember that at the heart of the problem is a young child hurt by her ordeal. “We urge our public to be cautious about spreading untested information that could distract us from important issues, as it is safe for women and children in the country where gender-based violence, misogyny and murder is a concern,” the report concluded.
