“He would swear at me and call me names.”
These were the words of Veronika*, who is in her early 20s, while she was waiting at the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on February 16 to hear about the fate of her abuser.
Magistrate Ian Cox sentenced the man to an effective 20 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of rape, indecent assault, child abuse and crimen injuria.
The victim waited six years to hear that the 74-year-old accused would be imprisoned.
“I have waited so long to get justice,” said Veronika, who was first raped at the age of 10 by her relative.
According to Veronika, he was the only family she and her mother had at the time, and so they relied on him a great deal.
Veronika states that the rapes took place at the relative’s home over a period of five years.
“He would bribe me with money to keep me quiet,” she said.
“I only told my mom when I was 18, after having an argument with her.”
The victim describes her journey as one that was emotionally draining and the cause of her aggression towards people.
“This has ruined many of my relationships,” she said.
Veronika mentions how she attempted to commit suicide to escape from the ordeal.
Her thoughts were: “Nobody cared about me, so why should I care about other people?”
She said she can now move on.
“Now I can walk freely knowing he is in jail,” she said.
*Veronika not her real name
Also read:
Two robbers sentenced to 15 years
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