Gender-based violence survivor shares her horrific story

The month of August marks a significant time in our country in which we remember more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in protests of the extension of the pass laws to women in 1956.

Following a gang rape she survived in 2005 at Temong Section, Phindile Ngcobo refuses to be silenced in honour of all the women who have been victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and those who have lost their lives to femicide.

The 43-year-old, who now resides at Emoyeni Section, said the ordeal has changed her life for the worse and has affected the relationship she has with her family.

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Ngcobo was gang-raped in front of her friend by eight young men when she was 27 years old during a burglary at the home she was renting.

Her perpetrators later dragged her to a nearby informal settlement where they proceeded to rape her and inserted a plastic bag in her genitals.

“Even though it happened years ago, I recall the whole incident as if it was yesterday. An elderly woman from the area where I was raped rescued me,” Ngcobo said.

She also added that she reported the assault to the police and her perpetrators informed her that they know that they will not get arrested.

“On the day of the hearing, the magistrate informed me that the case had been dismissed and that the boys would be released.

“At the time, I did not understand legalities; seeing the boys out on the streets tore me apart. My life was never the same again because I had to live with the misery of seeing them roaming the streets, free as if nothing had happened.”

After a representative from People Opposing Abuse (POWA) offered to help ensure that justice is served, Ngcobo’s case was moved to another magistrate’s court, which gave her hope for justice.

A new delay occurred, causing the case to drag on for another five years and in 2011, the perpetrators were sentenced.

“I am dissatisfied with the sentencing because of having to relive my trauma during the court proceeding.

“I was directly examined by eight lawyers on the stand, some of them wanted to know the direction in which streetlight was facing when I was raped as if one would be able to pay attention to such. This made me reliase that we are not protected even in the court of law, it felt as if I was being victimised again.”

Ngcobo is still recovering from the ordeal, which resulted in her having to endure five abdominal operations; her health has sadly borne the brunt of the operations resulting in various health complications including infertility.

“Every day, I look in the mirror and wonder what I did wrong because I do not deserve this and no one will ever understand why I am furious. I am angry at myself, my body, my perpetrators, and the South African justice system.”

The trauma inspired her to speak for women and children’s rights and provide support to victims of abuse and their families.

In 2018, she was one of the panellists at a presidential summit on GBV and femicide, which was held at the St George Hotel in Centurion.

During the summit, Ngcobo lowered her dress to show President Cyril Ramaphosa the scars from the horrific sexual horror she endured in front of a live audience, leaving everyone in shock.

Ngcobo is working as a survivor supporter for the One-in-Nine Campaign, which helps victims and survivors of GBV.

“Out of every 10 women who have been victimised, only one may have the guts to come forward; this is due to the discrimination that women face in their communities before they ever have the guts to speak up, they are already silenced.”

When asked what she would say to her perpetrators given a chance to face them, she replies with “nothing, I just want them to die.”

“I am dealing with so much rage and pain as a result of the incident and nothing can possibly change this feeling,” Ngcobo concluded.

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