With South Africa celebrating Women’s Month, a gender-based violence survivor from Limpopo has been using her experiences to advocate for change.
During her stay, Mokwena alleges that she was sexually assaulted by a close relative. She says she tried to speak out, but the allegations were dismissed and ignored by the family. Her relatives then forced her into a marriage with an older man who proved to be abusive, further perpetuating her suffering.Mokwena says she suffered years of verbal abuse at the hands of her husband. Mokwena eventually left the marriage with two children.She says she turned to drugs as an escape from her reality, and became a drug addict.
“So they took me in the car, we went to the industrial site that’s when I found other guys … and know I was selling . They were exchanging and I think I passed out. I don’t know how many times did I pass out. Then the most moment that I remember is when they were saying she’s so … I don’t know what time it was but it was early hours in the morning.”“Being away from everything and everybody did help. I was able to concentrate with a sober mind. I didn’t go to a rehab but I stayed at the center.