THE Eastern Cape department of social development and special programmes has made a landmark called asking for on convicted rapists to come forward and tell their stories.
Last week, hundreds of men from Mdantsane and surrounding areas attended a special event organised by the department to recruit men in the fight against rape and the abuse of women.
Speaking at the event, MEC Pemmy Majodina (SUBS:CORR) said it was time that men who abused women and children were exposed in order to build a better country where women could move around freely without fear.
“It is time now for perpetrators to come forward and be known.
“They must assist the country in dealing with this rape pandemic which has left many women and families reeling. We need their help to heal this situation,” said Majodina.
Among the guests and speakers were the Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa, Xolamzi Sam, Mandla Makubalo and rape survivor Nomana Ntshakaza (SUBS:ALL CORR).
“Those thugs were looking for money and car keys but when they couldn't find any, raped her. Ntshakaza today is not afraid of telling her story as a rape survivor.
“We need 500 men to make a pledge to stop this and after that they will recruit more men who will fight this,” said Majodina.
Majodina said Ntshakaza, a nurse by profession, had been raped while at work by thugs who, when they could not find any money, assaulted her.
Speaking about her ordeal, Ntshakaza said she was raped in a maternity ward by two gun-wielding thugs who were looking to steal money and a vehicle from the clinic in Mthatha in 2001. And as if the rape was not enough, she heard them dis cussing killing her and a colleague.
This was all done in a hostage situation. Ntshakaza said after the incident she hated men and felt as if she had “invited” them to rape her.
“The trauma, the pain you feel inside you, the fear of telling your spouse or a person close to you that you have been raped is yet another pain because you wonder, will they believe you, will they support you,” she said.
Ntshakaza addressed the men who attended the event, which was part of a human rights month programme organised by the department.
“Those thugs held us hostage for three hours before one of them told me that since there was nothing to steal, they were going to rape me.
“I cried – there was deep pain inside me. They pushed me under a table in the labour ward and raped me.
“They repeatedly raped me.
“Then I heard them saying they want ed to kill us. I prayed and prayed. Why they spared our lives I don’t know,” she said. “I need men to come forward and make themselves known. The pain inside a rape victim is unbearable.”
The second nurse who was with her at the clinic was not raped and was also present at the event.
Reverend Sam said the event was part of an initiative to encourage men to stand up and “say no” to the abuse and rape of women and rape. “It was a good platform for us men to understand what women go through when abused or raped.
“Also to help perpetrators to get help to overcome that anger and rage. There will be more such events in the future,” he promised. —
Men ‘must be part of solution’
Last week, hundreds of men from Mdantsane and surrounding areas attended a special event organised by the department to recruit men in the fight against rape and the abuse of women.
Speaking at the event, MEC Pemmy Majodina (SUBS:CORR) said it was time that men who abused women and children were exposed in order to build a better country where women could move around freely without fear.
“It is time now for perpetrators to come forward and be known.
“They must assist the country in dealing with this rape pandemic which has left many women and families reeling. We need their help to heal this situation,” said Majodina.
Among the guests and speakers were the Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa, Xolamzi Sam, Mandla Makubalo and rape survivor Nomana Ntshakaza (SUBS:ALL CORR).
“Those thugs were looking for money and car keys but when they couldn't find any, raped her. Ntshakaza today is not afraid of telling her story as a rape survivor.
“We need 500 men to make a pledge to stop this and after that they will recruit more men who will fight this,” said Majodina.
Majodina said Ntshakaza, a nurse by profession, had been raped while at work by thugs who, when they could not find any money, assaulted her.
Speaking about her ordeal, Ntshakaza said she was raped in a maternity ward by two gun-wielding thugs who were looking to steal money and a vehicle from the clinic in Mthatha in 2001. And as if the rape was not enough, she heard them dis cussing killing her and a colleague.
This was all done in a hostage situation. Ntshakaza said after the incident she hated men and felt as if she had “invited” them to rape her.
“The trauma, the pain you feel inside you, the fear of telling your spouse or a person close to you that you have been raped is yet another pain because you wonder, will they believe you, will they support you,” she said.
Ntshakaza addressed the men who attended the event, which was part of a human rights month programme organised by the department.
“Those thugs held us hostage for three hours before one of them told me that since there was nothing to steal, they were going to rape me.
“I cried – there was deep pain inside me. They pushed me under a table in the labour ward and raped me.
“They repeatedly raped me.
“Then I heard them saying they want ed to kill us. I prayed and prayed. Why they spared our lives I don’t know,” she said. “I need men to come forward and make themselves known. The pain inside a rape victim is unbearable.”
The second nurse who was with her at the clinic was not raped and was also present at the event.
Reverend Sam said the event was part of an initiative to encourage men to stand up and “say no” to the abuse and rape of women and rape. “It was a good platform for us men to understand what women go through when abused or raped.
“Also to help perpetrators to get help to overcome that anger and rage. There will be more such events in the future,” he promised. —
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