DAANTJIE – Domestic violence is still a problem that is experienced by women in society. A 37-year-old woman was assaulted by her husband three times recently but has refused to lay criminal charges against him.
He hit her with a hammer on the head while her two children were watching last Wednesday and she had to be rushed to Rob Ferreira Hospital by her neighbours using public transport.
She suffered severe cuts to the head.
She stated that she still couldn’t believe she had survived.
“I thank God that He saved my life. I still don’t believe that I am on planet Earth, I thought I was not going to see my children again. I never thought that one can become a monster.
He wanted to kill me in front of my children and they are still traumatised as they remember everything that happened,” she said.
Mpumalanga News learnt that the attack came after the man wanted to buy alcohol on credit at a certain tavern, only to find out that the wife had told the owner to no longer serve him.
“I thank God that He gave me power to open the door and run to my neighbours who took me to hospital.
I could not believe my ears when my in-laws called me and said if doctors asked me what happened, I must tell them that I just fell or got in an accident, but I told the doctors what exactly happened,” she related.
She said she had not opened a case against her husband and has moved to a safe place.
She said she suffered from severe pains in her head, especially when it is too hot.
Doctors have advised her to go for regular check-ups.
Spokesperson for the local police, Lt Jabu Ndubane said, “Apart from the fact that we are commemorating the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, we always encourage women to report incidents of abuse.
“We have met with her and she stressed that she was not keen on opening a case against him. We then referred her for counselling and the Commission for Gender Equality is helping her.”
