Sinegugu is a current student at Rhodes University and when she heard about former student, Anelisa Dulaze’s disappearance, she became increasingly concerned that not enough was being done to find her friend. She joined the Facebook page, #HelpFindAnelisa and raised awareness of her disappearance with the current student body at Rhodes via social media.
Anelisa Daluze was celebrating her 21st birthday with friends and was last seen at Pats Tavern on the 30th January. Her mother, Vathiswa, had sleepless nights ever since her daughter went missing and a campaign was started to find Anelisa. Residents of Enkanini in Khayelitsha marched to the Site B police station in April in protest against the failure of the police to find the missing 21 year old, however, only in May was her body found buried inside a half-built house in Makhaza.
Sinegugu was devastated by the news and especially more so, when she learned that the family were in financial straits and could not afford to bury Anelisa. Quick to action, she spoke to an Aunt of the family and then started to make plans. Sinegugu posted onto social media that she would be taking collections from current students and staff for the family and also organised that a fundraising page, “In Loving memory of Anelisa Dulaze”, on BackaBuddy was started. An email to the entire Rhodes University staff body was sent out informing them of the sad loss of a very young life and requesting that if anyone could assist, to please deposit funds into Anelisa’s mother’s account. Sinegugu spent two days collecting money and together with the fundraising service on BackaBuddy, raised over R58 000 for Anelisa’s family. Sinegugu’s caring and dedication and the current student’s participation and willingness to help, is a true example of what can be done when a community joins hands in order to help one of their own.
http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/missing-drama-students-body-found-2016512