Maniacs behind closed doors: Former victim opens up after years of abuse

After years of relentless abuse, *Sarah and her family are finally free to live without fear.

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Sarah, along with her three young children and her parents, endured a life filled with verbal and physical abuse. Today, thanks to the intervention of the SOS Women and Children Foundation, they have escaped their nightmare.

Sarah’s ordeal began on the East Rand, where she suffered abuse at the hands of her children’s father. Though she managed to leave that relationship, she soon found herself trapped in another abusive environment – this time at a farm where the owner and a new partner continued the cycle of violence, even targeting her little boy.

When Sarah first met the father of her children, he showed no signs of aggression. But after their daughter was taken from them at just eight months old, he turned violent, blaming Sarah for the loss. She was beaten, choked, thrown through glass, and forced to beg for food and cigarettes for him. Though he concealed his brutality in public, behind closed doors, he was a maniac – even in front of his own family.

During this time, Sarah worked as a car guard. Any questioning about the money she earned would result in another beating. They lived in an abandoned house, where her partner would lock her and the children inside, setting traps to prevent their escape. Ironically, these very traps led to their rescue – the property owner discovered their plight and helped them break free.

Seeking safety, Sarah moved to a farm on the East Rand. But her refuge became another prison. On her first night there, she sensed something was wrong. She found her son had already been bathed by the farm owner without her knowledge. Soon, they were moved to a separate house on the farm, and Sarah began working for the owner. It was there that she and her children suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from both the owner and a man she had started a relationship with.

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Threats became a daily reality. The farm owner claimed he could take her children away at any time. Out of fear, she stayed. Her children were also subjected to cruel punishments – beaten with a wooden spoon until it broke. Surveillance cameras were said to monitor their every move, keeping them under his control. The most chilling moment came when he taught her son how to use a gun and a knife, taking him into the veld to practice shooting.

Sarah faced constant accusations of theft, of prostitution – anything to degrade her further. Forced to work long hours without pay, she was even blamed financially for farm losses. While pregnant, she continued to work. When she went into labour, the owner refused immediate help, making her walk back to the farm before calling an ambulance. She gave birth before medical help arrived and was granted only a single day of rest before being forced back to work.

The torment did not stop there. The farm owner sought control over her children, attempting to register them under his surname despite having no relation to them. And then came the worst violation – Sarah was sexually assaulted by the farm owner, while her son suffered abuse at the hands of her partner.

But this time, Sarah knew who to call. She reached out to SOS Women and Children, who swiftly removed her and her family from harm’s way.

When the farm owner learned she was leaving, he threatened once more to take her children and destroyed her phone to cut off her contact with the outside world. Throughout her time there, she had only been allowed to leave for church, shopping, or medical visits. But finally, she was free.

After enduring years of abuse from different men, Sarah now hopes that other women in similar situations will see her story and realise that escape is possible.

“People are willing to help, and no abuser should stand in the way of your safety. Don’t just stand there – ask for help, scream for help if you have to.

Save yourself so you don’t end up in a grave. Get out before you lose your children and your life. Always trust in God,” Sarah urges.

Today, she feels safe. She feels alive. She can finally enjoy time with her children – something that was stolen from her for too long.

*Pseudonym used for safety reasons.