Rape Victim seeks justice
According to Mkhwanazi, the first incident occurred in Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal in 1999, when she was 14.
A 34-year-old Katlehong woman has come forward to share how she had suffered harrowing gang-rape ordeal at the hands of criminals in four separate incidents, since her teenage life until her early thirties.
Speaking out about the sexual abuse incidents, Ntombi Mkhwanazi, a mother of two daughters, said the first incident resulted in her being infected with HIV. She also shared information detailing why she feels the criminal justice system has also let her down in all the four gang-rape incidents.
The second rape happened in Newcastle in 2013 at the age of 28, and the other two incidents Mkhwanazi claims they happened in Doornfontein in 2015 and Katlehong in 2016.
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She said what makes her feel bad is that in all the incidents, no arrests were made even though in the last incident in Ramokonopi, Katlehong, she managed to identify one of the attackers.
“During the last sexual abuse incident, I was assaulted, gang-raped and my phone stolen by one of the suspects.
“What makes me feel bad is that I was able to identify one of the suspects, but no arrests have been made until today,” said Mkhwanazi.
The victim said she has been sent from pillar to post trying as she sought to find justice for herself.
“I have been to Katlehong Ramokonopi Police Station where the case was registered, I have also been to different radio stations, newspapers, television shows, and recently visited the Hawk’s offices to report the matter – but no one seems to be winning in getting me the justice I deserve.
“Even if I call the investigating officer, he does not pick up my calls anymore,” lamented Mkhwanazi.
She said the only time the police helped her was when they took her to Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus after she had been raped.
She said this has left her traumatised and psychologically affected.
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“Not only because I was raped, but also because each time it happens I am denied justice by people who are supposed to be protecting me,” Mkhwanazi said.
She stated that due to trauma and the psychological effect she suffered, she has been deprived the right to raise her own two children who were taken into a children’s home after social workers declared her unfit to raise her children.
“When the fourth incident happened I was studying electrical engineering at a college in Johannesburg, and I was making a living with the money I made out of my business of selling food on the streets,” she said.
Mkhwanazi added that due to the trauma she suffered, she dropped out of college while busy with her N3 level, and she also stopped doing the job that put food on the table for her and her two children.
“Who is going to compensate me for all the loss I suffered. There is a lot I lost here, starting from being infected with HIV, being traumatised because of failure to get justice, being deprived the right to raise my own children as well as quitting my studies. Who knows may be I would have been employed now. I need justice and my life back. The only way in which I can get my life back is only if the rapists are brought to book; especially the suspects in the last incident because I managed to identify one of them,” said Mkhwanazi.
Contrary to the victim’s statement, the Gauteng provincial police said three suspects were arrested in connection with the last incident, but the case against them was withdrawn and they were let free.
“The rape suspects appeared in court about the case but the court withdrew the case in 2018,” said Gauteng SAPS provincial spokesperson, Col Lungelo Dlamini.
Dlamini, could not be drawn to give reasons for the withdrawal of the case, saying if the victim wants the details regarding the withdrawal of the case, she must contact the NPA.
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Meanwhile the Katlehong SAPS spokesperson, Const Sivenkosi Mtwa, said there are normally two main reasons as to why dockets are closed.
“It is either the victim did not appear in court on a scheduled date or there was no sufficient evidence to link the suspect with the case.
“But no matter the reason, there is no way the docket can be closed without the victim knowing,” said Mtwa.
In this case, however, the complainant insisted that she was never informed about any arrests, court appearance and withdrawals in her rape cases.
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