By Buziwe Nocuze
A man who recently returned from an initiation school is behind bars awaiting trial after allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman.
The victim, from Debera village in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, was returning home with her brother on Saturday from a traditional family ceremony when she encountered the suspect.
“I was walking back home with my brother around 8pm when we met a guy who forcefully took me from my brother and beat me up while he was dragging me,” said the victim.
“The suspect started by attacking my brother, and he knew that he wouldn’t fight back because he was too intoxicated.”
The victim was allegedly dragged into the suspect’s house where he proceeded to rape her.
“I pleaded with him to use a condom, but he refused, saying that I think I am better than other people and he will show me who he is.
“After he was tired of violating me, I asked to go to the toilet. That’s when I got the chance to escape, even though he promised that if I ran away, he would find me and kill me,” she said.
When she finally made it home, she was told that her brother had explained to their family what had happened to them.
A suspect has been arrested and charged with rape.
“I am happy that he was arrested, and I pray that he stays in jail for the rest of his life so that he doesn’t abuse other women again. He ruined my life. I never thought that I would be raped,” she said.
Lusindiso Liwani, a 45-year-old resident, expressed concern about the suspect’s recent attendance at an initiation school, questioning the values taught at such schools.
He believes that initiation schools should teach boys how to respect and protect women.
Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed that a case of rape had been opened for further investigation.
“A preliminary investigation led to the arrest of a man, who briefly appeared in court on charges of rape. He was remanded in custody, and his case was postponed to Friday, 8 December for a bail application,” said Nkohli.
