It was supposed to be a fun night out, but the events of Saturday August 10 night changed Nokuphiwa’s (not her real name) life for good.
The 19-year-old Makhaza girl went out with a friend. She then met her ex-boyfriend and his friends. They were having drinks with these friends and her ex-boyfriend at another friend’s home when she met some people she knew.
But minutes later everything changed. She believes her drink was spiked because things became a blur – and she remembers being raped by more than one man, including her ex-boyfriend.
On Sunday around 4am, after her ordeal, her friend ran out to get help from Nokuphiwa’s father and brother. And when Nokuphiwa’s brother arrived at the house, he found his sister bleeding and dizzy, her clothes torn.
“I woke up at around 4 am. I was horrified and very confused with what my son and this other boy were saying. They were saying my daughter is being killed. She is being raped. I was so devastated and thought I would find her dead. She appeared to be bleeding, underwear hanging and clothes torn. I was confused but I had to be strong. She appeared confused. We then took her to the clinic. We were then referred to Thuthuzela Centre in Site B day hospital,” the father explained to Vukani.
He noticed that her underwear and clothes were ripped.
“She had blood all over her body. She was raped. What I saw was despicable. We have opened the case but we have not seen the investigator until today. We also need to arrange a counselling session for all of us. I am still horrified,” said the devastated father.
Standing outside the local clinic, the 19-year-old, who passed her matric last year, told Vukani she hoped that sharing her story would save others from similar trauma. Bruises were visible on her legs and other parts of her body.
A neighbour who alerted Vukani about the young woman’s ordeal cried uncontrollably when she spoke to us.
“This should be the end in Makhaza and everywhere else. Should they be arrested. Everybody should attend court to demand justice. We cannot be losing young girls to thugs. Her dignity should be restored by us. We should support her and every girl that has experienced this horror,” she said.
Harare police confirmed that a case of rape had been registered at the station.
Spokesman Captain Siyabulela Vukubi said: “I can confirm the case and the rape. The Thuthuzela Centre confirmed that she was raped. But we cannot confirmed whether she was gang raped. The case is under investigation,” he said.
On Wednesday morning Vukani was informed that two men had been arrested in connection with the incident.
