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Episode 12 - Gender Violence

There are alarming rates of domestic abuse in South Africa. 1 in 6 women have been abused verbally, physically or sexually and usually the victims are afraid to speak out.  This means that the culprits are seldom punished. Gender violence is under the spotlight on this week's episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! as our support group discusses how our communities can respond to the epidemic of gender violence - one of the key drivers of the HIV epidemic.  Rape is the most serious manifestations of gender violence. Joining our support group to discuss these issues is Noluthando Ntlokwana from the Women's Legal Centre.

Shalom Ncala: Sanibonani babukeli siyanamukela ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Lolu huhlelo lika noma hubani ophila negciwani le ngculaza abathandiwe babo, imindeni, abangani, abasebenza nabo ngitso mpela naba sebenzi bezempilo. Namhlanje sizokhuluma ngokudlukunyezwa ngoni. Ukudlukunyezwa ngokwakugcantsi kwabesimame kungubhubhane ngokwakho, Kuxhomene kakhulu nezinga liphezulu  lezigameko   zokuthelelwano ngegciwane lengculaza ezwni lethu. Samkela ithiza elikhuthazayo. Futhi samkela isihambeli sethu uNoluthando Ntlokwana wase Women's Legal Centre. Unjani ? (IsiZulu) Hello and welcome to Siyayinqoba Beat It! This is the show for everyone living with HIV, their partners, families, friends, colleagues and health workers. Today we are talking about Gender Violence. The abuse n rape of women is an epidemic in itself. It's closely linked to the very high incidences of HIV infections in our country. We welcome the support group, and we welcome our guest, Noluthando Ntlokwana from the Women's Legal Centre. How are you?

Noluthando Ntlokwana: Sikhona Shalom unjani?(IsiXhosa) I am well thank you, yourself

Shalom: Cha siyaphila kumnandi ukubanawe namhlanje ? (IsiZulu) Very well, thanks for joining us today.

Noluthando: Enkosi (IsiXhosa) Thank you

Shalom: Akhe sithiqhi ezintabeni zase Mpumalanga Koloni, sibheke i-insert yethu yokuqala. (IsiZulu) Let's go deep in the hills of the Eastern Cape now and look at our first insert.

Amanda Funani: Namhlanje dise Lusikisiki kwi lali yase Mgezwa, ndizakudibana no Nonmthandazo e femely  yakhe uzakusibalisela ibali lakhe. (IsiXhosa) Today we're in Mgezwa Location in Lusikisiki to speak to Nomthandazo and her family about her rape ordeal.

Nomthandazo Radebe: Ukuqala kwam ukudlwengulewa ndaqala ndihlala no makhulu ndisemncinci ngo 2003. Ndadlwengulwa ngumntu ongumngane ka makhulu wam. Ngokomqondo wam wayefuna ukuthi adle izidlo ezintle  wayefuna ukuwinner againe ngam. Ngoba xandisiva mna ndeva kuthiwa umakhulu wanikwa  uR3000. (IsiXhosa) The first time I was raped I was staying with my grandmother in 2003. I was raped by my grandmother's friend. I think my grandmother sold me out for her own benefit because I learned that she got R3000 from the man.

Amanda: Sibalisele nge rape yesibini? Ureyitswe nini ngubani kanjani? (IsiXhosa) Can you tell us about the second rape? When and how did it happen, do you know who it was?

Nomthandazo: Kulonyaka uphelileyo  ngo June ndandilapha ekhaya athi kuphele umbanek usengo six amaxesha kulate. Bethi umama ndiyakucela Tania uyothenga uparrafin ne kandlela. Ndibe sendithatha  isiphakuphaku. Ndibe ndisithi kumama kukhona umntu ome apha ekoneni apha ngasekhaya . Ndinqwazile isikhafu apha entloko abe se uyandibamba ke andijijele ngesikhafu abesendivezela imela ndingakwazi ukukhala ngoba wayendibophe umlomo ngesikhafu namehlo. Abe sendi tshalela endaweni enengca ezantsi akhuphuke ahambe nam. Ukuba ungubani waka bani andimazi. Ndandingamboni ngoba nalapha kwakusemnyameni ndandingamboni ukuba ungubani. Waluvula uhlalo wandingenisa ngenkani. Xa esithi esusa isikhafu wathi ungakhali ngoba ukuba uthe wakhala ndizosuka ndikugwaze wena ndigwaze nam kuphelele ecaleni. Iphele yonke into ibithethwa ngam nawe. Alwe nam   silwe ebe  uyandibethe andodlule  ngamandla.Abese uyandihlwengula azenzele into yakhe le ebevele  eyifuna. Abe eyenza enze enze ke. Abesesithi ngo 3 abese uyandivulel a athi mandigoduke mandiphindele apho bendivela khona. (IsiXhosa) It was last year in June and I was at home. It was about six in the evening and we ran out of electricity. My mother asked me to go buy paraffin and a candle. I took the bottle and I noticed a guy standing by the corner of our house. I had a scarf on my head; he grabbed me and took out a knife. I couldn't cry for help because he wrapped the scarf around my face and mouth. He dragged me through the grass. I couldn't even see his face because it was quite dark. He opened a door and pushed me inside. He removed the scarf and told me not to make a noise otherwise he would stab me and stab himself then we would both die. I tried to fight him off but he overpowered me. He than raped me and got what he wanted. He did his thing over and over again. At about three in the morning he opened the door and told me to go home.

Amanda: Ingaba wayivula ikayisi emveni kokubana ureyitsiwe emapoliseni? (IsiXhosa) Did you go to the police to open a case after the rape?

Nomthandazo: Emveni kokuba kwe rape umama no sisi baka TAC bayebandithatha bandisa epolice station ndavika ndavula ikheyisi. Emva kokubana siyivulile  ikheyisi  ewe sisi wabanjwa yena wakhe wabanjwa wahlala usuku olunye sathi siyiva nengomso nosisi bakwa TAC kwathwa uphumile nge bail ye R500. Ikeyisi yethu ayiqhubeki okoko yaqgityelwa ngalamini ndadiyoku vula icase akaze ndibizwe. (isiXhosa) My mom and a couple of ladies for TAC (Treatment Action Campaign) took me to the police station to open a case of rape and the guy who had raped me was arrested. The next day we heard that he'd been released on R500 bail. There has been no progress so far; ever since I opened the case.

Amanda: Waya wayokwenza itest ye HIV emva koko? (IsiXhosa) Did you go for an HIV test?

Nomthandazo: Ngokusendidlwenguliwe? (IsiXhosa) You mean after the second rape?

Amanda: Ewe (IsiXhosa) Yes

Nomthandazo : Ngoku emva kokuba ngihlweguliwe. Ndaya sekukudala khona okwesibini ngoba ndakhe ndayenza before. Ndafika ndayenza itesti. Kwathiwa ndi HIV positive. Yabona ngoku ingathi ndiyintlekisa pha pandle ndifana nje  nomntu ongaphila kakhuhle. Kuba abanye abantu umntu o-HIV positive or owakhe wadlengulwa nje o-HIV ngaphandle nje ukuba ukhe wadlwengulwa abamthandi abakamthandi nangoku. (Isixhosa) Yes I did go but I had taken the test after the first rape. I took the test and I was told that I'm HIV positive. Now I just feel like everybody is laughing at me. It's like I am abnormal. People just hate you if you're HIV positive, let alone if you've been raped as well.

Shalom: Ayikho into evele ikwehlise umoya ngengokuthi ubone izinto ezifana njengalezi . And I have been on this progamme long enough to understand that there are so many things that are going on out there ezi violent ezihlukumeza umoya wakho to the extent  that you can't handle it anymore. Kodwa when it comes kwi sitori salo sisi, I still can't believe that a perpetrator can actually get out nge bail ye R500. What is with the judicial system?  Why is it u-magistrate uzokipha umuntu nge R500? (IsiZulu) Nothing breaks one's heart more than witnessing stories like this. I've been programme long enough to undersan that there re so many things going on out there. Violent things that'll disturb you to the extent that you can't handle it anymore. But when it comes to this particular story, I still can't believe that a perpetrator can get away on bail of R500. What is with judicial system? Why would magistrate release someone on R500 bail?

Noluthando: I think iproblem enkulu kakhulu is that i-judicial system yethu  is vey lenient towars abantu aba commit crime. Aandikhuseli i-State or something but you also need to think of the fact before umntu uba yi accused before he can be proven guilty. So at that time i-State simtreata njengomntu otyolwayo qha ayingomntu okuthiwa se reyipile. So I think zeso zinto ezibangela i-court inikeze abantu ibail. (IsiXhosa) I think the biggest problem is that our judicial system is very lenient towards those who commit these crimes. I'm not trying to defend the state or something, but you also need to think of the fact that he is an accused before he's proven guilty. So at that time the state treats him as just an alleged rapist and not as a guilty rapist. Those are some of the things that influence the passing of bail.

Luckyboy Mkhondwane: Mina ngokubona kwam its very unfair. Ngiyachabanga ukuthi uma ugcabanga itrauma adlule kuyo lomntwana. Uhlala naye e-community lomuntu loyo uzohlala ambona everyday and another thing futhi ugcina ethola ne HIVphezulu kwalokho . Kuba kanjani  kuye? I don't believe kuthi like i-State they are doing enough (IsiXhosa) I think our legal system is very unfair. If you think about the trauma that girl has had to go through. This guy is released back into the same community and she has to see him everyday, and another thing is she ended up contracting HIV. How does that make her feel? I don't think the state is doing enough.

Shalom: Futhi enye into endicabanga yimaphi ama interventions maybe eniwenza niyi Women's Legal Centre ukuthi ku pushwe i-system amalokunjana amakheyisis afana nalawa a- athendwe nendlela efanele in trems  of kube ne recovery process e faster than this particular thing. Because uhleli lomntwana lo manje nobody is calling her, nobody is saying anything to her ukuthi kwenzakalani ngale kheyisi. I (IsiZulu) What kind of interactions' are you coming up with as the Women's Legal Centre in terms of putting pressure on the system so that cases like these are attended to? So that we have a recovery process much faster than in this particular story. This girl is just sitting at home nobody's calling her; nobody's saying anything to her about any process on the case.

Noluthando: Thina into esiyenzieleyo siyi Women's Legal Centre siye si monitarishe ikheyisi lena. For instance if umntu uzakuthi athso ukuba unale kheyisi then we monitor i-process yalo khesi ukuthi izakuhamba iphelele phi. Like in one case i-State saye sasuwishwa because of ikheyisi enjena . Umntu wareyitswa then waphinda wabanjwa and then waphinda wareyipha then sakwazi ukuthi sisuwishe iState sa -assister icleient yethu to sue i-State. Yi responsibility ye State to make sure ukuthi  wonke (IsiXhosa) What we do as the Women's Legal Centre is that we monitor these cases. For instance if a person brings a case to our attention, we monitor it to the end. Like in one case the state was sued because of a case like this. A guy raped, he was arrested and released and then he raped again.  Then we assisted the client in suing the state because it is the state's responsibility to make sure that everybody is safe and free from any kind of violence in our society at large.

Nokubonga Yawa: If bana bekungekho abahlali abamileyo okanye i-organisation ziye zama zaphakama zi-campaigner on lonto yenzekileyo izakuthetha ixesha elide ukuba lantu makagwetye . Yinto lento yenza ukuba ithathe ixesha elide seyisazeka into yokuba nyani lomntu ureyipile? Sine experience thina  eKhayelithsa ka Lorna Mlofana owareyitswayo but yathatha iminyaka ngoku ske kume abahlali. Sane kheyisi ka Nandipha Makeke, ikheyisi ka Nandipha Makeke nayo isandula kuqhitywa ngoku ngomntu owaye reyitswe ngo 2006 ngo Desemba. If ukubana kange ume abahlali ba toy toye aba bantu ngebephumile . (IsiXhosa) If communities or organizations don't stand up and campaign on a particular case, it takes time to get convictions. Why do cases have o drag on for so long even when everybody knows the perpetrators? In Khayelitsha we saw with the Lorna Mlofaba rape case. The case dragged on for years. We also have the Nandipha Makeke ase, which has recently been completed, but she was raped in December 2006. If the community had not toy-toyied, those guys would have been released already.

Busi: Ngoske kume abahlali bayimele lonto (IsiXhosa) Until the community stood up and fought

Shalom: Sisi Noluthando into bendifuna ukuyazi lo sisi lona si ceda kumbona khona manje ine kheyisi efana naleya yakhe whereby umntu uhlala in an under -resourced place , yiphi i-evidence ukufuneka i-administare before umuntu can go to trial wth such a case yerape? (IsiZulu) In a rape case like the one we saw, whereby a person stays in a under-resourced place, what kind of evidence  has to be administered before the case can go to trail?

Noluthando: What is suppose to happen kufuneka aye e-police station, then amapolisa amse kugqqirha ozothatha i-evidence like isemen yonke lonto leyo any evidence ugqirha anoyifumana. But into ebalulekileyo kufuneka umntu ongahlambhanga aye epolis station immediately nezampahla zirazukileyo nezapeyinti yonke lonto leyo. So that amapolisa azokwazi ukufumana ubunqina obu enough uku convictor lamntu umrayipileyo. (IsiXhosa) The rape victim must go to a police station ad the police will take her o a doctor to collect evidence, such as semen and any evidence that the doctor can get. The most important thing is that you must not take a bath. You must go to the police station immediately, in those torn clothes and all, so that the police can get enough evidence to convict he perpetrator.

Shalom: Sisathatha ikhefu, siyabuya khona manje (IsiZulu) Lets take a break, see you just now.

Shalom: Siyanamukela futhi ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Sikhuluma ngokuhlukunyezwa kwabesifazane emiphakathini yethu. I-insert yethu elandelayo nayo futhi eyase Mpumalanga Koloni make sibuke. (IsiZulu) Welcome back to Siyayinqoba Beat It! We are talking about the rampant abuse of women in our society. Our next insert is also from the Eastern Cape, lets watch.

Amanda Funani: Sise Lusikisi sithetha no Mama uMandaba othe wahlala emtshatweni wakhe e-abuzwa ngumyni wakhe iminyaka engamashumi amathathu anesixhenxe. (IsiXhosa) We're in Lusikisiki to talk to mama Mandabawo tayed in an abusive marriage for 37 years .

Nozuko Mandaba Mbhebhe: Kambe ke ndandisaziwa apha elalaini into bana ndokhala ngezithuba zo 12 nango 1 ndim. Ndavela nje ndashiya umntwana ndabaleka ndangena kwamakelwane. Xandingena kwamkelwane ukuba kuphuma utata wakhona xa endihlangabeza ezondilamlela, afike abize unkosikazi wakhe athi phuma makhanyayo kuba umzala lowakho akanxibanga phuma nengubo. (IsiXhosa) Most people in the village knew that in the early hours of the morning I would be crying because I'm being beaten by my own husband. I ran out of the house and went next door. The man came outside and told his wife to bring me a blanket because I'm half naked.

Amanda: Uqale nini uku abuzwa ngu mnyeni wakho? (IsiXhosa) When did your husband start abusing you?

Mandaba: Uqale ukundibetha ngo 1971. Oko ndedlula kulento ndabona akheke kubhethele ndithathe imithwalo yam ndihlale buchala naye ngo 2000 ukuba ndiphume geqhe wakhe. (IsiXhosa) He started beating me in 1971. I stayed with him all these years until I decided to leave him in 2000.

Amanda: Yintoni eyakwenza ungayi uyo repota emapoliseni le mpilo wawuyiphila? (IsiXhosa) Why did you not report the assault to the police?

Mandaba: Ukuze ndingayi emapoliseni ngelaxesha lakudala, ngelaxesha lethu sasi ngena lwazi lwamapolisa njengalamaxesha anamhlanje. Umgcimbi yokuba inkosikazi xa ibethwa ngumyeni wawuthetha nabantu bomzi uxelele abantu bomzi wakho ukuthi ndihleli lentlalo ingekho enye into ozakuhlulela kuyo ngaphandle kokuba  ugoduke xa kungathi umgcimbi wakho awuchotselwa apha emzini wakho. Hayke ndabakhulisa abantwana ndabafundiswa kwelosizi. Bafika abanye ko 8 no  9 amakwenkwe laa. Athi abona ukuthi ubunzima bukho akho opasileyo bayembulelwa izihlangu, neplukwe bayombhulelwa . Wathi lo umdala xa eku 9 wathi mama angekhe mandiyeke kufunda. Ngoba yonke lento izakwenza  ezi zi school fees ne ncwadi ukunxiba asinxibi kakhuhle siyintsini esikolweni wayeka. Ndahlala lontlalo. Hayi ndahlala kunjalo ndaqonda ukuba ndonwabe emoyeni mandingene enkonzweni. (IsiXhosa) The reason I didn't go to the police was because back then we weren't as informed about the police as we are today. The topic of a husband beating his wife was discussed amongst the in-laws, and there was no other place to go except back home, even if the matter wasn't resolved. I raised my children in this suffering. All of them attended school. When they saw it was difficult and none of them passed ... their shoes were broken they had no uniforms. The eldest dropped out of school. He complained about school fees, books, uniform and people were laughing at them. I stayed in that situation and told myself if I wanted peace of mind I should attend church.

Amanda: Ungabacebisa kanjani abanye oomama abahleliyo emizini yabo kodwa bayahlukunyezwa ngabayeni babo? (IsiXhosa) What's your advice to other woman that are being abused?

Mandaba: Omama abahleli intlalo ebuhlungu kubayeni babo ndibacebisa mna okona kuhlala kubethele kakhulu kukuzimela udede umshiye, uzimele uhlale nabantwana bakho. Wakhe uzame wakhe umzi uhlale nabantwana bakho uze ufumane ukonwaba. (IsiXhosa) Women who are living with their abusive husbands, I advise them to leave and try to build a home so you can live a happier life with your children.

Shalom: Sisi Noluthando ikheyisi ka Mama uMandaba i-difficult kakhulu ngoba yenzeke ngelaxesha kwakune apartheid moss. With ilokhunjana Domestic Act njengokuba seyi pasisiwe wapasiswa ni ni? Yimaphi i-recourse bekanayo under ama provision e Act leyo? (IsiZulu) Mandaba's case is really difficult because it happened back during the apartheid era. Now with the Domestic Violence Act, when was it passed and what resources does she have under the provisions of the Act?

Noluthando: I Domestic Violence Act yaqala uku operater ngo  1998. Umama uMandaba into anoyenza or omnye umama okula situation kamama uMandaba osekuyo nangoku it doesn't necessary kufuneka  ibengumntu otshatileyo ungayo reporter ne boyfriend yakho ne partner wakho kwamntu nje oku abuzayo ohlal a naye endlini. Uya eMaagistrate's Court apho uhlala khona. That is inkundla kamantyi apho uhlala khona. And   then into eyenzekayo unikwa  i-Interim Order that is i-order ezakukhusela ukuqala ngoku upha kwamantyi de unikwe idate youkuya ecourt normally iba  yi two weeks. Apho kuyekubekwe ukuba ipartner wakho okanye umyeni wakho angaphinde akubethe. Oko kubana ukubethile ufowunela amapolisa uveze  i-interim order yakho then azobanjwa ngokukhawuleza. Then uye unikwe idate yoku ba uphinde uye ecourt whereby nizakunikwa ifinal protection order, nomyeni okanye iparttner wakho izakube ikhona phaya ecourt. Uyakwazi nokuya for  ifinancial abuse mhlawumbi umnyeni wakho akakuniki mali not necessary abe uyakubetha . Then inkundla izakwenza iprotection order ukuba umyeni wakho makakunike isixa semali noba yi R500 mhlawumbi nge nyanga kujongwa umfuzo wakhe ne lifestyle yenu. (IsiXhosa) The Domestic Violence Act started operating in 1998. Now what Mandaba or any woman in her situation can do, you don't necessarily have to be married, you can report your boyfriend, partner or anybody abusing you at home. Go to your local Magistrate's Court. They will give you an Interim Order that will protect you from the day you get it up until you're called to appear in court. It normally takes about two weeks. They will state that your partner or husband cannot beat you again. If he does beat you, just call the police produce your interim order and he will be arrested on the spot. They will call you again to court for the final protection order.  Your husband or partner will also be present on the day. You can also go report financial abuse, it's not just for physical abuse. The court will issue a protection order stating that your husband gives you money. It can be R500 a month, depending on his salary and your lifestyles.

Shalom: Kuma kheyisisi eni deal nawo sisi Noluthando into ebingi ngathanda ukuyazi ukuthi don't you ever come across i- high domestic violence rate endityaniswa endaba ze HIV and that? (IsiZulu) From the cases you deal with don't you find the high rate of domestic violence somehow linked to the issues of HIV?

Noluthando: Iresearch esiyenzileyo  isibonisa okokubana apho kukhona iviolence there are more changes of HIV because ngoku akusa negotiate ne sex ngoba kukho lotata usixheleleyo ukuba nguye nguye therefore xa efuna ukulala nomfazi wakhe okanye igirlfriend  uzakulala naye noba uyayifuna icondom noba awuyifuni nah. (IsiXhosa) Research shows that where there is violence, there's more HIV prevalence because there's no platform to negotiate sex if this guy says he's the man of the house therefore he can sleep with his wife ore girlfriend with or without a condom.

Nokubonga: Xana umntu enomtwana kuloo mntu uyazibuza athi andifuni ukumshiya lomntu kuba ndinomntwana naye and andifuni umtwana wa akhule ngaphandleni kotata. Ndifuna akhule nathi sobabini? (IsiXhosa) Women do say that they didn't want to leave these guys because of the kids. They say they don't want their children growing up without a father.

Busi Maqungo: And But if uyenza lonto leyo if uhlelele i-sake yomtwana, umtwana akhonwabi xa umama wakhe engonwabanga .Then what's the point? (IsiXhosa) But if stay because of the kids, they are also not happy if you're being beaten

Shalom: Njengomtwana wapha ude wayeka iskole lamfana makabuya ekhaya ubuya kunale mpi. Ubaba no mama mayalwa akuna peace. (IsiZulu) That woman's son even quit school because there was no peace at home.

Busi: So akhonwabanga naye umtwana, so why would I stay for i-sake yomntwana xa umntwana naye ongazuko nwaba naye ngoba ndiyabetwa ke lemihla ndiyathukwa phambi kwabantwana ndenziwa zonke izinto ezi. (IsiXhosa) The child s not happy either, so why should I stay for their sake if I'm beaten and sworn at everyday in front of their eyes.

Luckyboy: Kodwa into eyenzakalayo le uNokubonga ayikhulumayo like mawuthi uyabheka ema communities ethu amaningi like especially abantu abahlala bebonke other than batshatile. Abantu besifazane besifazane esikhathini esininzi azitsele ukuthi uza ku sacrifice for the sake of abantwana bam. (IsiZulu) What Nokubonga is saying really does happen in our communities, especially if you look at the people who live together without being married. The women will sacrifice a lot for the sake of the children.

Busi: But do you call that sacrifice?

Luckyboy: Usuka azitsele lokho ukuthi uzaku sacrifice andinalo the direct word engingalisebenzisa. (IsiZulu) That's what they tell themselves.

Shalom: Naku lo mama usacrifice for 37 years. After 37 years kokhona abantwana yibo ngokwabo who decided yazini ma this is enough kufanele uphume kule ndawo ukuyo. (IsiZulu) Mandaba sacrificed for 37 years. After 37 years her children said mom this is enough get out.

Shalom: Ninganyakazi siyayabuya khona maduze. (IsiZulu) Don't go away, we'll be right back.

Shalom: Siyanamukela futhi ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Sikhuluma ngokuhlukunyezwa kwabesifazana. I-insert yethu elandelayo yi story esaba ngundaba zekwayo elizweni lonke. Makhe sithi ukubuka. (IsiZulu) Welcome back to Siyayinqoba Beat It! We're talking about the abuse of women. Our next insert s one that made national news. Let's take a look.

Tumi: Namhlanje sise Zondi sizokhuluma no Nwabisa owahlukunyezwa ngabo Taxi Driver  eNoord Street taxi rank. Le Langa uze uhlukunyezwe ngalo eNoord street sicela ukuthi usitsele kwenzakaleni? (IsiZulu) Today we're in Zondi speaking to Nwabisa who was harassed by taxi drivers from Noord Street Taxi Rank. Please tell us what happened to you at Noord Street.

Nwabisa Mgcukana: Ok bekuyi Sunday afternoon half pass three. Bengihamba nama friends besisiya eWynberg besiyi four. Then bona they were wearing pants miniskirt. Si jumper singene etaxini. Mangingena etaxi rank qhambuke omunye ema kwam aphakamise  iskirt, isi skirt sihlale la kulendawo ye figerbelt. And immediately ba floker in baza ke baba baningi. Babe bengidontsela iskirt nama hempe ebengithela ngotywala ukeyabona. So ngilwile nabo for a certain time cause ke bebe baningi . I am taking about more than hundred. So I couldn't bangi overpowerile and eventually there was a point laa by the time kufika ama security  guard isandla zam bezi so. Am I was so helpless, they were picking at me benzelonto until kuze kufike ama security. (IsiZulu) It was Sunday afternoon at 15:30. I was going to Wynberg with three of my friends. They were wearing pants but I was wearing a miniskirt. At the rank, a guy came from behind me and pulled up my skirt. My skirt was where my belt is supposed to be. The men at the rank came closer, some pulling my skirt, my shirt and pouring alcohol on me. I could only fight for a while because there were too many guys, more than 100. So I couldn't I was overpowered. Eventually when the security came, I was laying there with my arms open like this. I was so helpless, with them all picking on me until the security guys came.

Taxi Driver: Angekhe sikuhloniphe vele thina. Zihlniphe uma ungu nkosikazi uqhoke isiskirt esitsaya amaqayi phantsi uyathola. Hayi izinto eziveza amathanga ma uveza amathanga zizaku gobha wayawaya for life. (IsiZulu) We won't respect you. Respect yourself as a woman and cover yourself, don't wear revealing clothes. Don't wear clothes that reveal your thighs. If you reveal your thighs we will harass you.

Tumi: Yini wena ekwenza ukuthi ukhulume ngalento uyi expose lento yenzakalile kuwe? (IsiZulu) What made you want to talk about your experience?

Nwabisa: Ngiyatshela lama security la phaya ukuthi you now what namhlanje basukele owrongo and ndizakubabonisa ukuthi ngingubani. Ama security guard angitsela ukuthi ayiqhali ngam am not the first one this thing ihlala isenzeka most of i-weekend and na early kukho a girl abayi strippile. So ayiqhali ngam and amapolisa they wound do anything. So rather I go public and I thought ukuthi going to the media at least izakubakhona into eyezakalayo. (IsiZulu) I was telling the security guards these guys picked on the wrong person. Then they told me I was not the first, over the weekend, a girl had been stripped naked. So I'm not the first and the police won't do anything. I decided to go public and talk to the media at least they would speak out about it.

Am here to support my sisters. We are sick and tired of these taxi drivers.

Redi Direko: I used to use taxis a lot when I was a little girl. And they did that all the time, they just grab your breast, hit our bum, call you all sorts of names make suggestive comments. So this is something that I have experienced myself and I am thinking enough is enough. At some point we need to take a stand

Nwabisa: Iproblem ibekukuthi these men base Noord bafuna ukwaziwa ukuthi bona banamandla amangakanani bafuna ukuba nesithunzi. Its not about miniskirts. (IsiZulu) The problem is that these men from Noord want to show they have some sort of power. It's not about miniskirts.

Shalom: Uyabona uNwabisa kuphela komntu onesibindi kunathi sonke I think njengokuba sihleli la. I know I have me and it's not about miniskirt, it's about man's ego at the end of the day. Why should yena ku glorify umthetho wakhe athi kufuneka uqhoke kanje ungaqhoki kalendlela le . Why should thina si ownwer ngabantu besilisa? (IsiZulu) Nwabisa is the bravest of us all sitting here because I think as a woman we've experienced that at some point. I know I have and it's not about the miniskirt, it's about the man's ego at the end of the day. Why should we glorify his rules when he says no short skirts? Why do men think they own us?

Pholokgolo Ramothwala: (SeSotho) I don't think people should be owned and just to relate to something I mentioned earlier, as a woman you have your rights and men respect those rights. The same way men want their rights respected. You mentioned something about lobola. Don't think because you paid lobola for somebody, they became your property. It shouldn't be working like that.

Nokubonga: But kwelinye icala kutheni xa umntu xa athe waya epolice station eyo repoter ikheyisi ye rape uqale ukhe ubuzwe ukubana ubunxibe ntoni? Uyayiqonda into yokuba lomntu use kulantlungu  yokuba kwenzeke lento kum. But kukho umntu osakubuza ukuba ubunxibe ntoni. Yintoni ewrongo ngokunxiba isikethi sakho esifutshane? Kutheni lento umntu ezakurhalela uku kureyipha xa ezakubona unxibe iskeyiti sakho esifutshane? (IsiXhosa) But why is it that when you go the police to report a rape case they first ask "what were you wearing?" You're still in pain because of what just happened and yet there's someone asking your choice of clothing. What's so wrong with wearing a miniskirt? Why should a miniskirt be an invitation to get raped?

Busi: But the  good thing about nge kheyisi ka Nwabisa is that uyiphakamele yena okokuqala lonto leyo kange ayihlalele. And the community got involve, wafumana isupport into yokubana this is bull. I was also happy to see kulamarch again lento ye miniskirts yoku reyitswa kwabantunenxyokuba banxibe imini skirts into yokuba kukho abantu abangamadoda. I think lonto leyo inika inka intobana asi ndoda yonke. We don't have to paint all men nge brush eyi one. Amanye amadoda aye resinisha anayo inqondo (IsiXhosa) But the good thing about Nwabisa's case is that she stood up and fought and the community got involved and supported her to say that this is bull! I was glad to see some men in that march. I think that reinforces the fact that not all men are like that. We don't have to paint all men with one brush. Some men actually act within reason.

Luckyboy: Izinto ezinjena like ukuze sikwazi ukuthi mhlawumbi sizinqobe fanele sihlangane siyibonile i-example sisonke singumphakathi ayazwi siza ukubonisa into enje asiyi funi . Cause if mina ngizokuthi ayikho into engayotso ayenzakalanga kumina yezakale ku Nokubonga and andihlobani no Nokubonga. Awazi ukuthi at the end of the day yivili lento le izakwenzakala nasekhaya that is when ndizakufuna khona isupport from the community .  So kufanele ukuthi siphakame singumphakathi ingekafiki nakuwe into and so. (IsiZulu) The one way we can beat these things is to come together as a community to show that we don't want these things. I can't say no it's not my problem because it didn't happen to me, it happened to Nokubonga and she's not my friend. What goes around comes around, it might happen to me tomorrow and then I will need support from the community. That's why we need to stand together, even before it happens to you.

Pholokgolo: (SeSotho) Another thing I've notice is that some men, especially leaders are misusing what our culture as men allows us to do. If you look at quite a few prominent figures in this country, their behavior suggests that they still believe in undermining women or the rights of women. I think we're at a point now where we have to move on from that and we shouldn't be coming up with our own cultures or trying to justify  our actions as part of our culture.

Shalom: Ukuhlukunyezwa kabesifazana kubhebhethekisa ingculaza. Kuyenzeka ngoba abesilisa abanandaba. Esikhathini esiningi abesifazane abakubiki ukudlwengulwa nokuhlukunyezwa ngo ba besaba ukuthi ngeke basaluthola usizo lwemali. Kuyoze kubeyilapho abantu bonke babambisane basizane nabesifazane futhi befuna umnyakazo emapoyiseni yilapho izinto ziyokushintsha kona. Umasiqhoke lama bhengele sibonisa ukuthi sizichina siphilile futhi silawula izimpilo zethu. Zivikele ufikele nabanye . Size sibonane kwiviki elizayo nisale kahle emakhaya. (IsiZulu) Violence against women spreads HIV. It's happening because men are getting away with it. Women often don't report rape and abuse they are afraid of losing financial support. It is only when people stand together to empower women and demand action from police that things will improve. These bangles show that we're keeping it safe and taking responsibility. Protect yourself, protect others! Until next week, goodbye