Too many rape victims in South Africa

Nomfundo Nondzube

A woman is raped every 17 seconds in South Africa. This is according to South African Rape Statistics. So far, the highest increase in attacks has been against children under the age of seven, largely due to the myth that has circulated the world that sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure a man of HIV or AIDS. The shocking truth is that it is estimated that a woman in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped than learning how to read.

Nosipho Dlulane, a 24 year-old woman who studies at a well-established University in the Eastern Cape was raped at the tender age 8 years. Her story is similar to many stories that have been told in South Africa where young girls are taken advantage of by older men and lured into bed where they are raped. In 2006, she remembers being sent by her grandfather to his son-in-law’s house because her mom (now deceased) was sick. “He led me to his bedroom where he told me to lie in bed and put cotton in my mouth and showed me a knife. I was so terrified to see his penis and he asked me to touch it,” she said. Clinical psychologist Nandipha Lingani says that rape in its entirety is a sexual violent act that can be linked to the need of a man to be dominant and needing to be in control. “I would say that some sexual predators have their preference where they get their fulfillment from young children because they have the urgency to fulfill that sexual drive and also have a psychological motive to be in control,” Lingani said.

There have been at least three incidents of rapes and gang rapes involving teenagers in South Africa. People were appalled when a 17 year-old mentally disabled girl in Soweto was gang raped last month by a group of seven boys aged between 13 and 20. This ordeal was taped with a cell phone for 10 minutes and 33 seconds where they assaulted her, promising her R2. The video ended up on social networking sites.

The second incident happened a week two weeks ago where an 8 year-old girl from KwaZulu-Natal was allegedly raped by a 15 year-old boy, while walking home from school in Mvutshini Village in Gingindlovu. The young boy dragged the child into a field, raped her, took out one of her eyes and tried to strangle her. The girl crawled to her home after she was attacked and raped.

The third incident is a recent rape case in a school in Grahamstown where a teacher allegedly raped two school children who are siblings. He was suspended, but the parent is scared for her children’s safety. The mother noticed that something was wrong with her daughter while bathing her on March 29^th and took her to hospital where it was discovered that she has been sexually assaulted more than once. Following this incident, the mother realized that something was wrong with her son on April 25^th when he was unable to sit properly and complained of soreness. When she took him to hospital, she was horrified to find out that he had also been raped. The son said he had been assaulted by a man at school, the same story that the daughter had told her. This man was a teacher at their school, according to the Herald newspaper.

Lingani explained that the consequences of rape are that it changes the child’s way of interaction with the world as they are scared for life. “They may lose trust to any man they come in contact with or in most cases it is buried deep in their sub-conscience because of its traumatic effect,” she said. She continued to say that promiscuity sometimes is a behavioural outcome that’s resulted from sexual abuse but children react differently. She also added that depression, guilt and negative self-perception are some long term effects of sexual abuse.

‘He was like a father to me,” Dlulane said when talking about the day she was raped. “I told my mother a year later when I saw her again because she was sick,” she said. In her case, the rape did not affect my health necessarily; instead it affected her sleeping patterns. “I had to depend on sleeping pills for many years because I would have nightmares,” she said sadly. After this had happened to her, Dlulane was unable to receive support from her family because she kept quiet about what happened to her in order to keep her family at peace. Lingani says that it is very important that after the experience they must tell someone they trust who will help them get medical attention. “They must get an HIV test, report the person if he is known to them and also seek counseling to help them come to terms with the effects of post-traumatic stress, such as anxiety or depression,” she said.

The psychologist explained that upon referral, it is important to establish an environment whereby the patient will feel safe and secure enough to talk about their feeling. “In cases of rape, the victim tends to blame themselves for what happened, therefore it is necessary to comfort effectively,” she added. For Dlulane, it was hard for her to trust people around her as she looked at all males in the same way as she did the man who raped her. She always thought they would harm her and all she wanted to do was to protect herself even if at times she didn’t have to. “Children usually don’t know who to turn to, so it becomes a societal issue whereby it should be encouraged for children to practice the simple task of knowing what inappropriate touching is and to also help them form a habit with telling someone they can trust if anybody makes their bodies feel uncomfortable,” Lingani said.

Sometimes children are not able to express themselves, especially after they have been raped. The psychologist expressed that parents should always support their children after they have been raped. She said that this is ideal to remove feelings of rejection. She then said following the support comes establishing any physical damage with a pediatrician and ongoing counseling is essential throughout the victim’s life. “The reason for this is that feelings evolve through times and the traumatic event may resurface in other forms of behavior,’ she said.

Dlulane started sharing her story with people around her whom she trusted such as close friends and other young girls who experienced the same thing. Doctors told her that she may never be able to conceive, but now she has a beautiful 4 year-old girl whom she loves daily. “I’m still scared that what happened to me might also happen to my baby girl,” she said. The shock of Dlulane’s death is that she didn’t receive justice as the man who raped her was never arrested due to lack of evidence. This angers her, “I don’t like the fact that our government doesn’t priorities to support the victims of rape and their families. There are many South Africans who will die because of emotional scars that never healed and the culprits get away with it because of this,” she said in anger.

Khaya couldn't have said it better.

Khaya Dlanga's column of the day is entitled "Why black folk don't vote DA," and it is one that all South Africans need to read. Basically, he gives all of us the real reasons why black people will not vote for the DA and I agree with him.

Firstly, black people's apartheid scars are still too deep, whether you are a born free or not, that is my opinion because in some way I am sure a black person has had an unpleasant encounter with a white person. Well this is not the reason, the reason is, and I quote: "The real reason most black people won’t vote for the DA is because they want to fix their problems for themselves. They don’t want to feel like they need a white person to solve their problems for them. If they allow the DA to take over, this is what it will feel like, “We can’t do it for ourselves, let’s let the white people fix this for us.” Yes, Mr Dlanga said it and whether you like it or not, it is true.

Some may find my views contrary to my upbringing, reason being that I didn't grow up being previously disadvantaged, I also played with Barbie dolls and talking toys and went to a ‘Model C’ school, therefore I would be one of those young twenty somethingers dancing along with other youth members of the DA, wanting Hellen Zille to be my next president...right...wrong. I believe that this country is not ready for a white person to govern because we are scared of what may happen to the future of this country. Dlanga says, "It is simple. Black people want to do it for themselves. It seems like race, but it really doesn’t have to do with race even though everything seems black and white. It’s about pride. It is about proving to ourselves that we can do it on our own." Well said and explained Mr Dlanga.

I know that some people may not be able to swallow this very well, but in a free country like ours, it is the right time to tell the truth about this country. Some white people will be very sensitive towards this issue and some have already expressed their hard feelings on Mr Dlanga's comments, but what makes me happy is that the case is closed and nobody, no matter who you are, it cannot be tampered with.

Another reason the DA will not get a black folks vote is that we don’t trust them. I still have this feeling that a white person sees me as a black person and nothing but a black person because they pretend so much. Take for example when you walk in a shopping mall and pass by a white person, they will automatically smile at you, but when you are gone that smile is wiped away immediately. Why do they feel the need to do this? Don’t shake your head, you exactly what I am talking about. That’s why the DA didn’t get the majority of black people’s votes because we just don’t trust them. Yes I said and it’s true!

We are the next generation and need to look at what needs to be done in order to fix the wrongs of our leaders and part of the fixing involves telling the truth.

Voting Day a Success!

On 18^th May 2011,   I took a taxi to Grahamstown to go and make my mark in the 2011 Municipal Elections. That day did not go on as planned, but eventually I made it to my home town.

This whole week was dedicated to elections and what the turnout would be. The day after elections was about who will win these elections. The IEC estimates 40 percent of the country’s 23.7 million registered voters cast ballots in these elections, meaning that many registered voters didn’t vote. Nonetheless, I am happy with the ANC results in particular, especially with the Makana Municipality. So far in Makana, the ANC has 20 out of 28 councils, which is an obvious win in the area. I am glad I went to cast my vote, but I feel that the ANC still has a lot to do when it comes to service delivery.

I remember watching cutting edge on the 28^th of April which was the day after Freedom Day. I must say that I was petrified with shock when I saw that there were still houses using the bucket system. To me this was a disgrace for the development of Grahamstown as a whole and also an infringement of basic human rights to the citizens. I was unhappy. After many have voted, this needs to be changed and the ANC needs to make sure that the poor are satisfied with basic services.

I did not only vote for my voice to be heard, I voted for those without a voice, whose actions have become effortless because of councillors who refuse to serve their people. If the DA were not there, I truly believe that the ANC would not have had a wake-up call because it is all thanks to Hellen Zille for keeping the party on their toes. Now is the time to go back to the drawing board and fix those mistakes made by ANC officials and start taking the people seriously. The reason for this is that our votes do count. Every one of them

DA is not getting my vote

There have been so many DA campaigns around this country and the irony of it all is that they are targeting poor black people, why? Obviously they want more votes, but what sickens me is the fact that they really don’t give a damn about us. Yes I said it, they don’t give a damn about us.
I agree that many poor people in South Africa have been undermined by the ANC and it has taken longer for other regions to get delivery, but playing the “We care for you” card is not going to work for me. I so wish the people of this country who forget so easily could read in between the lines. Hellen Zille just wants your vote in order to run this country her way. What has she done so far?

Well, let me start with the DA advert shown on SABC on how the DA has changed a woman’s life living in Tambo Square. That’s a good tactic I must say but I doubt it has fooled everyone. The woman says that ever since the DA has been in power in her area, they have electricity and basically they now have better service delivery. The irony to this is that you should see the house she lives in. it is still an informal settlement, actually, she still lives in a shack with electricity and a water tap outside, oh and most probably a toilet outside as well.

My question is how do you begin to build a number of toilets outside without walls to cover them? You must be a heartless human being stuck in the apartheid era, thinking that black people deserve less. The RDP houses I have been to in Port Elizabeth have showers and geysers. This is a luxury to some black people and yet you go to a ‘DA owned’ province, where the majority of people who run it are white, the toilets are built outside, insulting the humanity of black people.

The DA is not getting my vote in these municipal elections. I remember visiting Cape Town for the International Jazz Festival early this year and my friends told me that Hellen Zille threatened to close down all entertainment areas at midnight. I was petrified with shock because to me that meant that we are going back to the apartheid times where black people had to be indoors at a certain time.

No matter how much the DA can deny it, their best interest at heart is not with us black people and how the ANC has not done a good job in delivering for the poor, instead they want our vote next week. She has come to Port Elizabeth for the fourth time and is planning on getting votes in the metro. I say she must forget about it because my friends and family refuse to be lead by a white person.
My message to you still remains. Do vote in these upcoming municipal elections but think about your future when you tick that box.

The date is nearer

I spent the afternoon of Freedom Day, 27^th April 2011 in Grahamstown. I attended an ANC rally in commemoration of this special day where the main aim was to celebrate this day.

The double story Tanyi Hall was not packed to capacity as the weather that day was 4 degrees, allowing people to rather stay in the comfort of their homes and watch the Freedom Day celebrations on television. ANC comrades sung songs of liberation and what impressed me the most is that the majority of the people who attended this rally were members of the youth and volunteers of the ANC. My father, Mr M.D Nondzube, a former policeman and ANC veteran opened in prayer, asking the Lord to bless this congress and reminded the crowd of how quick we are to forget. He said that we forget our blessings and most of all; we forget where we came from and what it means to be free.

I see freedom as being privileged and having an opportunity to own something that belongs to me and me only. I have the power to control my day and my life in general and to me, I couldn’t ask for more. The main focus of the rally was to remember those who died in the struggle for our freedom, mainly Chris Hani, who is one of my respected heroes. Many issues within the ANC were discussed, including the fact that members are shifting to other parties who promise to deliver. This is not only a threat to the party, but is rather a challenge. I believe that if there was less fighting within the structures of the ANC and people were more united, then things would have been much better in this country.

I am young and have an opportunity to change this country. I am still a member of the ANC and will vote for them in these Local Government elections coming up, but I will not tolerate the basic human right being stolen from a member of society by those who aim to enrich themselves. Voting is an important process all over the world and one should realise that you can’t complain about how this country is run if you do not vote.

Attending this rally was an eye-opener for me as I learnt more about the history of the ANC and also the things that went wrong during the seventeen years of our democracy. I have faith that the black people in particular of our society will read in-between the lines and make an informed decision when it comes to voting during these upcoming elections. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, what matters is to exercise the freedom of your voice.

AMANDLA!

Transnet – Raising Opportunities

Transnet is a focused freight transport company, delivering integrated, efficient, safe, reliable and cost-effective services to promote economic growth in South Africa. Their main focus in the past few years was to reach the communities of this country and give back to those who are known to be unreachable by society.

Their corporate responsibilities were to assist communities especially in the rural areas with economic growth. The adopted a NGO known as SInethemba, based in Korsten, Port Elizabeth. They assisted them in Education and fundraised fifty-one-thousand rand in 2009. They donated stationary in 2010 and this year they donated shoes. The aim of Transnet is to support these children from Sinethemba and give them a brighter future.

Following this the company and its representatives traveled to Mqanduli, a rural area in the Transkei and donated two-hundred and eighty thousand rand worth of furniture (stock) to Gqubeni Primary School. They then donated five-thousand rand towards education and a gas stove. They aim to have a long-term partnership with this school and give them a start-up and lay a foundation for them to build themselves in the future.

Transnet has a skills development programme which allows them to participate in the open-schools. They offer learnerships or internships for those scholars who cannot afford to go to University or College. The target for this experiential learnership is for top scholars in Nelson Mandela Metro. They have worked with the take a girl-child to work programme which was sponsored by Cell C. They offer bursaries for engineering students and then employ them in order to give them practical exposure in the engineering industry. Learnership programmes are advertised on the Transnet website and their main focus is on the employees’ children, to give them this opportunity.

Education is spread out, and they offer learnership prgrammes in courses like Communications and Information Technology for example, but the aim of this company is to give back to the community.

The CEO of Transnet said, “I am humbled by Transnet for contributing to our society. It’s very overwhelming to see that you can make a change in someone else’s life”. The message communicated by Transnet to those who are able to give back to the community is that leaders should inspire their employees and show them how to give back.

The future plans for this company are that this year they want to achieve their goal of meeting their customer’s expectations. There will be Cargo Volumes coming through in order to give back to our communities.

A new initiative within Transnet is the food gardens project designed to provide sustainable assistance to rural communities. Such initiatives are particularly relevant in the face of the current food crisis. The high level of food insecurity experienced within rural communities makes them increasingly vulnerable to malnutrition, chronic illness and high mortality rates due to HIV/AIDS.

They also aim to install touch boards for safety, heighten moral internally, increase employment, add value to the economic state of the Eastern Cape and emphasize the need to involve other stakeholders. The company wants to excel and sustain so that they can teach their employees to excel and sustain themselves for the significant change in their lives to be seen. They focus mainly on remote and rural areas to set an example for others to give of themselves.

Within Transnet, there is a Maritime Industry which wants to invest in the economy of the Eastern Cape as well because there is a capacity to create jobs. What is vital is to set the same mindsets, to become ambassadors and create business awareness.

Local law firm a success

Founder and managing director of ZTA Incorporated - Attorneys at Law, Zaahira Tiry, is a business woman and practicing attorney who knows what the definition of success is.

After obtaining her BCOM LAW Degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, she decided to pursue law whole-heartedly. She then registered for the LLB Degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. With these qualifications, Tiry’s passion for law directed her to venture off to Johannesburg.

She then worked at the South Gauteng High Court Johannesburg as a Judges Registrar for various Judges. At that time, her intention with her career was unpredictable. “Although I was privileged to be offered an opportunity to continue working as a Judges Registrar, I opted to decline the offer and chose to do my articles whilst attending the School for Legal Practice. Soon thereafter I qualified as an Attorney. The choices I made were in line with my inner vision for success and the creation of my legacy as a professional business woman”, Tiry said.

She continues to further her career as she believes that skills development is the key to being victorious as a practicing attorney. Following this she commenced with the Magister Legum Research Qualification in Public Law in 2009, the topic of her dissertation being “The Legal Regime of Political Parties”. Her passion for law and politics was found along the journey of her life at a time when the apartheid regime was replaced by a constitutional dispensation armed with a Bill of Rights for the people of South Africa.

“My passion begins with law and politics, but my specialisation in corporate law is my ultimate joy”. She said with a smile. She has a corporate law postgraduate qualification from the University of South Africa in co –operation with L.E.A.D and is also a member of the Law Society of the Cape of Good Hope. Her achievements are inter alia the following:

•Certificate for best performance in High Court Practice

• Certificate for best performance in Matrimonial matters & Divorce; Insolvency;

Personal Injury Claims

•Certificate for Leadership

•Certificate for best performance in Attorneys Bookkeeping

•Certificate in Introduction for Trial Advocacy

•Certificate in Commercial Law

•Medal for Leadership

•Diploma in Muslim marriages

Tiry describes ZTA Incorporated as a Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) legal firm offering diversified legal services. The firm’s objective is to empower the economy by providing trusted legal services. The company’s vision is to be a leading law firm that maintains a competitive edge in the global market and to meet this vision Tiry’s goal at this point in time is obtaining eligibility from the relevant international law society in order for her to write the international legal examination.

According to Tiry, “The aim of ZTA Incorporated is to be committed to our clients, communities and beyond”. She concludes with the following words of encouragement for those seeking the fulfillment of their dreams: “My journey to success has taught me the importance of being true to yourself and choosing to crush defeat by the stance you take in your moments of weakness. My strength lies in my choice to always have confidence in the ability of a trying mind. Ultimately for me, I feared not because victory began the day sacrifice erupted”.

The glory lies in the fact that her sisters have also made their mark in the legal field. Her sister, Shanaaz Tiry Mahomed, is the first black woman patent attorney in South Africa. Her sister, Ayesha Tiry, has been an advocate and a member of the Johannesburg Bar for more than ten years. Her youngest sister, Taahira Tiry whose expertise differs from the legal eagles, has a BCOM RATIONUM Degree specialising in accounting and business management. Together they stand empowered, united and successful. Indeed, success is within our reach.