Battered and bruised gender-based violence (GBV) victim, Abongile Allessing, joined scores of activists who marched to the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on Thursday to hand over a memorandum.
This was in support of Allessing, whose case was struck off the court roll, but has now been reinstated. Though the perpetrator is known, he is roaming freely and is only due back in court on September 6.
Allessing 38, of Empumelelweni, Witbank, shared with The Star her horrific attack allegedly by the boyfriend of her sister.
She said on August 4 at around 7pm, she was attacked in her room. She said upon returning from buying food, her sister and her boyfriend were fighting.
She said she wanted to call the police because he was shouting and refused to leave when he was told to. When she called, the CPF personnel picked up her cell and went to her home. Unfortunately, he left because the man did not listen to him.
Allessing said the boyfriend hit her sister with an empty cider bottle, that was when she grabbed her two children and hid in a chicken coop across the street.
He was visibly upset and kicked doors until he kicked her door and it opened.
“He asked the whereabouts of my sister, I said I did not know. He said since he is not finding her, he is going to kill me. He hit me a Black Label beer bottle in my face and it broke. He stabbed me over and over again with the top sharp part of the bottle.
“I was blocking with my hands, there was blood flowing down my face until I fell down. He used any objects, including bricks and speakers to hit me until my 15-year-old nephew pushed him away since he was on top of me.
“This man was killing me, the place was covered with blood. My nephew helped me to get up and run out of the room. He ran behind us carrying a saucepan until I reached my neighbour’s house. The neighbour told him he can’t beat me in their yard,” said Allessing.
She said community members came out and the police arrived.
Allessing said a female police officer went inside her room and said “Yoh, you are hurt.”
Allessing said the officer said they were not allowed to transport a badly injured person like her to the hospital.
Her family hired a car that took her to the hospital.
She said she was shocked to find the perpetrator, who is originally from Lesotho, in hospital getting medical attention.
“Police left me to die because they said they don’t transport injured people in a state vehicle, but they took the perpetrator to hospital. I was disappointed and angry,” she said.
Allessing said the perpetrator “got cut by the broken bottle he broke on my face and he bled because he was intoxicated”. He claimed he got injured when her nephew rescued her.
She was admitted to the hospital, and the following day she went to Vosman police station to get a J88 form and opened a case. The next day, he was arrested and charged with assault by GBH.
“Deep down I knew this is not assault but attempted murder,” said Allessing.
She received a text saying that the perpetrator was appearing in court. As she was feeling weak, she asked her father to go to court.
“My father said the perpetrator did not appear at all in front of a magistrate. I thought he would appear another day. I was shocked to learn the case was struck off the roll,” she said.
“Police failed me dismally, I could have died,” Allessing said.
Days later, she recorded a video and shared it on TikTok asking for help. The video was reposted by thousands of people until the Mpumalanga police responded.
Mpumalanga SAPS clarified the matter, saying subsequent to the opening of a case of assault GBH, members of the Vosman detective unit immediately began investigating, leading to the arrest of the suspect on August 7.
However, the case was struck off the court roll, a matter which is now a bone of contention.
“The SAPS did not abandon the matter but persisted with the hope to get justice served for the victim, hence the police collaborated and continued to work hand-in-hand with the prosecution to address this pressing matter as soon as possible,” said Mpumalanga SAPS provincial spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli.
He said GBV incidents are considered serious and are not taken lightly by the state.
“Following the ongoing engagement between the SAPS and the prosecution, the case is back on the court roll,” said Mdhluli.
A big march organised by anti-GBV activists and community members took place on Thursday, a day after Allessing had her first operation since her hand is not functioning.
“I was overwhelmed to see so many people coming to support me. The memorandum was accepted by Witbank Magistrate’s Court senior prosecutor Mavundla and court manager Mabena. All I want is justice. I may never ever be able to use my hand, this man must rot in jail,” said Allessing.
She said she is receiving support from her sister and her family as well as community members.
“I am still in pain but I’m keeping my head up. On Monday, I’m going back to the clinic to remove some stitches,” said Allessing.
She said they live in fear with her family because the suspect is still not behind bars.
“Police told me a person cannot be arrested twice, I would have to wait for him to go to court. What if he comes back to finish us off?” asked Allessing.
Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa confirmed the suspect was expected back in court on September 6.
She further said the prosecution instructed the police to investigate further and return the docket for consideration.
The Star