For many South Africans, 16 December is a day of reconciliation, a time for reflection and remembrance. But for a 20-year-old woman from the Bojanala District in North West, this day is forever etched in her memory as one of profound trauma and betrayal.
What should have been a festive celebration ended in a horrific sexual assault, leaving her not only physically violated but deeply disillusioned with the justice system.
The young woman, speaking to the Daily Sun, recounted the events of that fateful day. She had attended a braai at a friend's home in the RDP area of Mathibestad, celebrating the Day of Reconciliation with friends and family. However, a simple disagreement with her friend about leaving early escalated into a terrifying ordeal.
"I attended a braai at my friend’s aunt's place on Monday, the 16th of December, in the RDP area of Mathisbestad. We relaxed there with other people. The issue arose when I informed my lady friend that it was time to head back home, which was quite a distance. I needed to take a taxi to get there," she began her account.
"My friend was disappointed that I was leaving early since it was only about 5.30pm. We argued as she walked me to the taxi stop. By the time we reached the main street, where taxis pick up passengers, our argument intensified. Two men approached and separated us. She left. One of the men asked me where I was headed, and I told him," she continued, describing the events leading up to the attack.
The man, whom she recognised from the area, offered to walk her home, citing the scarcity of taxis on the public holiday. She accepted his offer, unaware of the horror that awaited her. He led her towards his home, claiming he needed to retrieve his car keys. However, there was no car in the garage. When she expressed her desire to walk home alone, he insisted on accompanying her, claiming he would retrieve a car battery from a nearby yard.
"He walked with me. We crossed through the cemetery with its vandalised fence to reach the next street. It was already dark. As we passed the graves to get to the other side, the situation turned around," she recounted.
In the darkness of the cemetery, the man violently assaulted her. "He grabbed me with force and pulled my dress up and my leggings down and told me he would kill me if I screamed. I tried to pull my leggings up again, but he would pull them down until I gave up, fearing he was going to kill me if I didn’t cooperate. He then took off all his clothes. He was naked. He then forced himself on me,” she said.
After the assault, the man callously instructed her to wipe her tears and smile before walking her part of the way home. Only after he turned back did she flee to a neighbour's house, where she recounted the horrific events to her family. She was immediately taken to the hospital and then to the police station to report the rape.
Despite reporting the crime, the suspect remains at large. The young woman expressed her deep disappointment and frustration with the police's lack of action, stating that the alleged perpetrator continues to roam freely, even sending friends to apologise and offer bribes to dissuade her from pursuing the case. She claims that despite reporting his presence at a local tavern, the police failed to respond effectively.
North West police spokeswoman Colonel Adele Myburgh confirmed the incident, stating: "This is a rape case of a 20-year-old female. It was reported on 16 December at 8.20pm at RDP phase 1 in Mathibestad close to Makapanstad. Investigations are continuing by Klipgat FCS. No arrest has been made as yet."
