ZUZEKA NOMVALO

AN UMZIMKHULU woman (77) described the night of August 30 as the most terrible in her life. She saw herself on the verge of losing her life after facing the life-threatening situation that left scars on her buttocks, fingers, ear and neck.

The woman from the rural village of St Paul in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal, said she was attacked at around 8pm by a balaclava-clad suspect who is still on the run.

She was sleeping alone in her rondavel when the attacker broke the door open and asked for water.

The attacker later strangled her. When the woman fought back, the attacker took a bush knife and attempted to cut her neck.

The woman was later raped and the suspect inserted an axe in her private part.

“The suspect covered his face with a balaclava and a long jacket. He informed me that he was sent to kill me,” said the woman.

The suspect tied the woman’s hands and legs with shoelaces and a phone charging cable. The suspect further set alight the woman’s mattress and blankets and left her in the burning house.

The woman said she used her teeth to cut the shoelaces that were used to tie her hands, and freed herself. She said she broke the door open in the midst of fire and smoke, and then ran to her neighbours.

She said R600 cash and her cellphone were stolen.

Police spokesperson Mosa Hlaki confirmed the case of rape and robbery. 

“A case was opened at Gowan Lea SAPS and the suspect is unknown,” said Hlaki.

The distraught woman is currently suffering from trauma and sleepless nights. She left her home to live with her neighbours. Her attack occurred while she was recovering from the loss of her daughter who was killed in March. On Sunday, September 7, a group of community members joined by MK party members visited the troubled woman to offer support.

They cleaned her yard and garden and donated food parcels. Ayanda Zindela Tshazi, the local MK party convenor said that the community has been extremely horrified by the incident.