More than 40 per cent of women in South Africa have been raped, but only one rape in ten is reported.
Vanessa
“Singing was associated with the suffering, the violence and the fear.”
Name: Vanessa
Age: 33
When he disappeared from my life, so did my great joy: music. I had been singing more or less professionally since I was five years old. My boyfriend and I had performed together, singing and playing in bars and at weddings. Outwardly, we were that perfect, sweet couple who made a living from their music.
Bushra, Rihana, Parveen and Mary
“We woke up in a room filled with flames and smoke.”
Name: Bushra, Rihana, Parveen and Mary
Age: 16-23
Monique
“I made my mind up when he started beating our son.”
Name: Monique
Age: 26
He didn’t want me to leave the house for anything, suspected me of all kinds of things, and when he had beaten me he used to lock me in the house so no-one would see my injuries.
He didn’t drink and he didn’t take drugs. He was just crazy. He threatened to beat me to death if I reported him to police.
Evgenia
“I was unconscious for three days once after he banged my head against the toilet.”
Name: Evgenia
Age: 26