The Duchess of Sussex had left the tribute for murdered University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana
During her visit to South African city Cape Town the Duchess of Sussex visited the place of Uyinene Mrwetyana’s death.
The University of Cape Town student was at her local post office picking up a parcel when she was attacked.
She was tortured, raped and then beaten to death with the post office scales, before her body was dumped in the nearby township in Khayelitsha.
While Prince Harry and Meghan were in South Africa for their ten day tour the story of the girl’s murder was headline news and causing outrage across the country.
The Duchess was so affected by the 19-year-old’s death that she convinced Scotland Yard detectives to take her on a top secret visit to the post office.
She left a moving message on a yellow ribbon reading: “We stand together in this situation. Harry & Meghan 26th September 2019.”
The tribute was written by Meghan in the local language Xhosa.
It was discovered this weekend that the ribbon had been untied and taken, presumably as a macabre souvenir.
Uyineye’s mother Noma told the Weekend Argus: “The disappearance of the ribbon is quite unfortunate and is actually a reflection of the type of society we have become”.
In the wake of the horrific murder demonstrators across the country hit the streets in opposition to the use of violence against women.
Schoolgirl Aaliah Jacobs, 17, who spotted Meghan tying the ribbon, added: “I am highly disappointed that someone took it.
“But at least Meghan got the word out all over the world about Uyinene and gender-based violence”.
A 42-year-old man who cannot be named yet appeared before Wynberg Magistrates in Cape Town charged with rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
He is an employee at the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont, Cape Town, where the student was last seen alive on August 24.
Her body was found dumped 15 miles away a week later.
