GEO uses art to remember Wits student slain by former boyfriend.
Two fine artists from University of Johannesburg (UJ) have painted a mural in remembrance of the slain Wits student, Asithandile “Kwasa” Zozo.
The mural took six days to complete. It is located on the SRC wall close to the Wits Matrix.
Zenande Mketeni (26) and Tshilidzi Netshifhefhe (27) started painting the mural on Saturday, August 20. Mketeni is a fine arts graduate from UJ and Netshifhefhe is a first-year student in fine arts at the same institution.
The painting is of a former first-year student at Wits and gender-based violence activist who was stabbed dead by her ex-boyfriend on August 17, 2020.
The concept of the painting is a realistic and lifelike portrait of Zozo with a purple background to represent domestic violence awareness.
On August 20, the artists consulted the Zozo family for approval on an image they had chosen. “We settled on a beautiful image of her where she is smiling and you can see all the life in her,” said Mketeni.
The Wits Gender Equity Office (GEO) told Wits Vuvuzela there has been a delay in finalising the unveiling of the commemorative mural and it will announce a final date on its social media pages. The office said the finished mural will be interactive; the Wits community will be invited to write messages of encouragement and hope.
Netshifhefhe will paint a replica of the mural and send it to the Zozo family. “We will make a canvas print so that they can have something of their own,” he said.
The office said the mural is not just for Asithandile Zozo but also for other victims of GBV, such as Uyinene Mrwetyana and Nosicelo Mtebeni.
Mketeni said she feels honoured to have been given this opportunity to work with Wits GEO in remembering Zozo and bringing awareness to the cause. “Art is a great way to bring about change and I really hope what we do is something that honours her,” Mketeni said.
FEATURED IMAGE : Tshilidzi Netshifhefhe (left) and Zenande Mketeni standing in front of the mural in progress. Photo: Keamogetswe Mosepele
RELATED ARTICLES :
- Wits Vuvuzela, Anti-GBV protest postcards headed to Parliament, August 2021.
- Wits Vuvuzela, Witsie takes up the fight against GBV, April 2021.