Abongile Allessing’s (38) long and arduous journey to justice is finally nearing its end.
On Tuesday, November 19, the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court is set to deliver sentencing in the case against Lebohang Victor Sechefo, who brutally assaulted and stabbed Abongile multiple times with a broken bottle at her family home in Vosman on August 4.

Sechefo, Allessing’s sister’s ex-boyfriend and a Lesotho national, arrived at the family home, found Allessing, and demanded to know her sister’s whereabouts.

“I arrived home from the KG Mall with a friend when we saw him outside,” Allessing recalled in a previous interview with the WITBANK NEWS.
“I told my friend to ignore him and go. He appeared very drunk. I went inside the house and locked the doors. He started banging on the doors and windows, demanding to know where my sister was.”

Sechefo threatened to kill Allessing’s sister and her children, prompting Allessing to contact the CPF and the police. However, the situation spiralled out of control.

“He managed to break into the house, and the next thing I knew, he was in my room, telling me that if he couldn’t kill my sister, he would kill me instead,” she said, “I was sitting on my bed, and he took me completely by surprise. I was terrified and unable to move. He either hit me or threw the bottle he was carrying at my face, severely cutting my face and catching me completely off-guard. Blood started running into my eyes. There was so much blood.”

Sechefo continued his violent attack, stabbing Allessing multiple times with the broken bottle.

“He turned around, and I thought he was leaving, but then he came at me with the broken bottle and started stabbing me everywhere,” she said, “I can remember just holding my hands up and praying to God to protect me. I didn’t know what to do.”

The assault persisted, with Sechefo allegedly kicking, punching, and hitting Allessing with a Hi-Fi speaker and bricks.

“I started feeling weak from blood loss, and I was out of breath from screaming. He came back into my room, and I could just make out he was carrying a huge Hi-Fi speaker from our lounge. He started hitting me with the speaker, and eventually, after multiple blows, it broke. He then went to fetch bricks and started hitting me with them. I didn’t see the bricks, but there were bricks inside my room after the attack. I was sure I was going to die. I was certain he was going to kill me.”

Allessing’s 15-year-old nephew intervened, saving her life.

“He came at me again, this time with a cooking pot, and started beating me on the back of the head and the neck,” she said, “It was at this point that neighbours stepped in to help me.”

After Sechefo’s initial arrest and surprising release, Allessing turned to TikTok, sharing her emotional plea.

The community responded with overwhelming support, rallying behind her and demanding justice.
On August 15, a march against GBV united women, men, organisations, and political parties.

@witbanknews Badly beaten woman’s case back on Emalahleni court roll The gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) case from Vosman, Emalahleni, involving Abongile Allessing has been reinstated on the court roll. The suspect, a 42-year-old man, is scheduled to appear in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on September 6. The case concerns an assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, as reported by 38-year-old Allessing on August 4. fyp #emalahleni #witbanktiktok #witbank #gbv #gbvsouthafrica #southafrica #southafricatiktok #court #abongile ♬ original sound – witbanknews

A memorandum to the National Prosecuting Authority called for the immediate re-arrest of Sechefo, who was deemed a flight risk, and the suspension of the police officers, citing mishandling and case handling by the Provincial Officer or Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit.
Thanks to community pressure, the case was reinstated, and Sechefo faced court on September 6.

“I’m hoping for the best. I don’t know what kind of sentencing he will get, but I hope it’s heavy, as that person almost killed me.”

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