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Nikita Kalubi (25) lost her eye, and her nose was fractured after a man attacked her outside a food outlet.
Despite the fact that she could identify her attacker to the police, he has not been arrested three months after the incident, which took place on 26 August 2023 in Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
According to Xoliswa Kalubi, her mother, Nikita, had to undergo several operations before doctors confirmed that the damage to her eye was too severe and they could do no more.
On the day, Nikita was waiting outside the outlet for her boyfriend when a man approached her and started touching her. Her boyfriend intervened and chased him away.
After they left the outlet, Nikita was hit with a brick in her face. Her boyfriend saw the attacker running away.
“I could not believe that my daughter’s life changed so drastically only because she had no interest in a man she barely knew.
“I want justice for my daughter,” says the mother.
According to Xoliswa, police confirmed that he had run to the Eastern Cape, and his mother is one of the people whom he had been violent to, and he feels that women who are violated in South Africa are on their own.
Nikita’s life changed, although she has recovered, not 100%, but it has been a nightmare.
“I had to be strong for my daughter and be there for her every step of the way.
“I am very angry; we are trying to be law-abiding citizens, even after the incident, yet nothing is done at all. It was hard having to watch my daughter go through so much pain, feeling helpless as a parent,” says Xoliswa.
She received counselling, and before the incident, Nikita wanted to open her own business within the beauty industry; she has persevered and recently did just that.
The only thing wanted by her mother is justice for her daughter. She fails to understand why it is so difficult to arrest the perpetrator.
Martlé Keyter, Chief Executive Officer: Operations of MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, says the police are failing to effectively help victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and rape by not arresting suspects.
According to a report from the Commission for Gender Equality, this is partly attributed to the high number of victims withdrawing cases. At the same time, there is not enough expertise in using rape kits, and the process of analysing DNA takes years.
“Reports show domestic violence is rising, with the highest levels being recorded in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. The police are most victims’ first call for help, but if they are discouraged, they won’t return,” says Keyter.
The commission found a lack of standardisation across provinces on resources, training, staffing and processes, during its assessment of 66 police stations nationwide, between March and September last year.
“Findings also depicted the alarming withdrawal of cases by victims, high levels of poverty and distances from police stations and courts as some hindering factors for victims’ to access justice,” the report states.
ISSUED BY MOTOR INDUSTRY STAFF ASSOCIATION (MISA)
- As part of our contribution to the 16 days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (25 November to 10 December 2023) PE Express will be publishing the stories of women and were victims of violence. The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign is a United Nations campaign, which is held annually from 25 November (International Day for No Violence Against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). According to www.gov.za this year marks the 25th anniversary since South Africa initiated the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign. The 16 Days campaign focuses on raising awareness to the devastating impact that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has on women and children, and the social fabric of our society. The campaign was launched on 25 November 2023, in Mpumalanga Province, and the theme for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for 2023 is: “Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence & femicide: leaving no one behind”. The sub-theme for this year is: “Safe access for women to clean water: a basic human right”. The theme speaks to the importance of ensuring an all-society and multi-faceted approach to fight GBVF. The sub-theme seeks to address barriers women face in safely accessing water and sanitation in South Africa.
