Mentally disabled man allegedly impregnates his mother

“He started raping me ever since my husband died three years ago, but I could not get him arrested because he was my only son. He is the only person I call my family,” the woman told Mpumalanga News.

Initially, her son asked to share her bed a month after the burial of his father. She thought sharing a bed with him wasn’t a big deal and didn’t once think her son would harm her, hence they slept together to comfort each other while still in mourning.

“We slept together for some time. I felt comforted. I expected nothing but protection from him,” she added. Things took a turn for the worse when he started touching and holding her tightly, and calling her pet names. Surprisingly, she thought it was just a mother-and-child love, yet there was more to it.

“On the first night my son raped me, he made strange comments about my body, he then asked me to kiss him. I then kissed him on the forehead. He said that was not enough and said: ‘Let me show you how to do it, Mummy’. My son then forced himself on me and when I yelled for him to stop, he continued and kept on saying, ‘I am occupying my father’s space’,” she emotionally explained.

She alleged after fighting him, her son threatened to leave her alone in the house. She then said she would allow him to have his way because she could not lose her only son. When asked how she could allow such a thing, the mother said she was powerless and suffered from back pains, therefore she failed to fight for herself. When asked why she could not report the matter, she said: “He is my only son and I could not report him”.

The woman emphasised she would not lay charges against him because he would suffer and she couldn’t bear to see him behind bars.

According to Zethu Makhubo, a neighbour and traditional healer, the community members tried to intervene after learning what was going on between the mother and son late last year, but people were apparently stopped by the mother who told them her son only acted in such a manner due to his mental illness.

“I am pregnant now and I do not know what to do, but because I only have one son, I think I will have to save the baby so that we can grow the family,” said the mother.

Other community members said they would not get involved because they had tried to help out, but the mother refused help and kept siding with her son.

In January, a man was arrested in Mpumalanga after he was allegedly found to have repeatedly raped his 74-year-old grandmother.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Jabu Ndubane said a case had been opened.

“We have arrested a man after he was found raping an elderly person. The suspect is expected to make an appearance in court very soon,” said Ndubane.

It was alleged the 51-year-old perpetrator had used his grandmother as a “sex slave”; he had allegedly carried the woman into his bedroom and raped her repeatedly.

Ndubane urged community members to be vigilant and report such incidents.

– Caxton News Service