MNGANDUZWENI – A woman who has been a victim of domestic violence for 16 years has finally walked out and urges women in the same situation not to be silent.
For all the years Sarah Mkhonto* stayed in the abusive marriage, she thought she was doing it for her children, not knowing that they were dying inside too.
“After two years of marriage, my husband started beating me up and I had nothing so I thought staying would be the best thing for the sake of my children’s well being,” she sobbed as she related her story to Mpumalanga News.
Mkhonto also said that her husband who was doing so well had bought her a big beautiful house and a flashy car and would shower her with expensive gifts but would become a monster at times.
“He would push me against the wall, yell at me and the children just because his business deals did not go his way but would apologise afterwards,” she added, showing us scars on her body that she said will keep reminding her of the horrible abuse for as long as she lives.
One of her children said that she can still remember every act of abuse they went through as if it was yesterday.
“My dad was a hard working man and ensured that we had everything we needed but the material things could not make up for what he would do to my mom and the yelling.
I can still hear the echo in my ears but I’m glad my mother walked out,” said Mkhonto’s 14 year old daughter.
Mkhonto, who finally made a decision to walk out and is now working as a domestic worker told us that she does not miss all the comfort of her previous home but she is enjoying the peace that she has now and seeing her children happy.
“I have moved back home and since our marriage was not formal, I could not get anything. I actually did not want anything that would constantly remind me of that man. I wanted to start over, on my own,” she said.
“I urge all women who are in abusive relationships to walk out because an abusive person will not change. They stay that way and have a manipulative behaviour that will convince you that you are on the wrong side,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, a local social worker,Ms Lesedi Mashego says that there are many abuse cases that are just swept under the carpet and never reported at all.
“The law protects women who are abused by their spouses. All they need to do is break the silence and speak,” she said.
*(Not her real name)
