A gender-based violence survivor, 37-year-old Lebonang Molaletsi has lived to tell the tale.
Recounting her constant horrific experience of living with an abusive man for 11 years, Molaletsi revealed how she finally gathered the courage in June this year, and left the volatile relationship, and saved her life and that of her unborn child.
“He would be a sweet and loving partner when sober but he would turn into a raging animal after drinking. He would accuse me of cheating and eventually beat me until I lose consciousness,” said Molaletsi.
Molaletsi was speaking at the Launch of 16 days of activism against Gender-based violence at Maun main Kgotla on Monday.
The survivor went on to reveal that even after moving out of her abusive boyfriend’s house he still followed her to her parents’ house and continued to torment her. The last straw was when he gave her a serious beating that landed her in the hospital during her pregnancy.
“One day he came back from the drinking spot drunk, claimed that I was disrespecting him by sleeping around while pregnant with his child, and beat me so bad that I woke up in the hospital. I did not do all that he was accusing me of,” added Molaletsi.
According to Molaletsi, it is after the incident that she decided to report the matter to Dikgosi who later referred her to the police and the police took her to women against rape. Around June 2020 women against rape took her to their shelter to protect her from her violent baby daddy who seemed to follow her wherever she sought refuge.
Although Molaletsi has managed to free herself from the claws of gender-based violence, she also wants to pursue a child maintenance case because the man has refused to support their child.
Molaletsi has called on all gender-based violence survivors to join forces and help in the fight against violence. She also urged women to walk out of abusive relationships while they still have time because it could save more lives.
