Jerusha Muller of KwaSizabantu Mission, Kranskop, writes:
It has been with growing horror and dismay over the last 3 weeks that I have watched the home that I love be smeared as a disgusting torture house and the people I respect and admire vilified as abusers at the very least and rapists and fear-mongers at the most.
I am compelled to set the record straight.
I wrote a letter to News24 on 29 September, trying to tell a part of my story.
I was told that my letter had been forwarded to the news desk, and then – nothing.
And yet, letter after letter dissing KSB, tearing it apart and recommending its businesses be sold, not caring what would happen to the 1 500 souls who depend on the income they receive from them to survive, were printed.
Day after day evidence seemed to mount that KSB was only negative – and yet I personally know of dozens (if not more) of people who love KSB who have written in to News24, who were ignored.
This is the reason I am making my letter public.
I would like to point out that I am one “victim” (as News24 likes to so happily paint us) of childhood sexual abuse. I was 8 years old. A co-worker on the mission caught the man (a visitor to the mission) in the act of abusing me.
She immediately grabbed me and rushed me home. Suffice it to say, the police were called, and he was arrested.
Years later, when the trauma of what I had suffered finally exploded out of me, the person who was really there for me was Rev Erlo Stegen.
That man sat with me for HOURS, days, as I vented, wept, and sorted through the mess of emotion and the messy aftermath.
I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without him.
He really listened to me, let me bare my soul, let me be angry, let me cry my eyes out, let me question where God was in all of this.
He counselled me ever so gently, prayed with me. And he did it again and again, as often as I needed it.
I have been encouraged in my journey of seeking professional therapy as well.
Apart from that, uncle Erlo has done so much for me personally, I can never put it all into words or even attempt to repay him.
And I’m just one of MANY.
Quite honestly, I will go to the mat over that man.
An accusation has been levelled recently that everything looks great on a short visit, but it’s terrible once you live there.
Well, I’ve been living here for 39 years. I attended Domino Servite School, where I received a top-class education.
I went on to earn my degree, while gaining unbelievable work and life experiences.
While it would be ridiculous to try and paint my childhood as all roses, I have been able to confront every past issue or hurt (because, unlike what has been portrayed, KSB actually does invite people with issues to come forward and they do something about it.
I really do have very happy memories of a care-free childhood, playing with my friends, building treehouses, milking cows, and – before the dam was dug and later, aQuelle – finding tadpoles in my bathwater (what fun!) … I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Frankly speaking, enough is enough. It’s time that everyone knows that MUCH good comes from KSB.
Lives have quite literally been saved. People have been freed from the bondage of drugs, alcohol abuse and even cigarette addiction.
People come here hopeless, and leave filled with new life and purpose.
Families have even been able to shelter here during difficult periods when their lives were in danger.
KwaSizabantu was and remains, a place where people are helped.
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