A 35-year-old woman, Sthembile Kubayi, is living in fear after surviving a horrific rape and violent assault allegedly at the hands of two men she once considered friends.
Kubayi’s ordeal began after a night out in a local entertainment area in Bushbuckridge. What was supposed to be a fun evening turned into a nightmare when she was allegedly raped and brutally attacked by the two men.
A Night of Terror
In a harrowing account, Kubayi recalled waking up disoriented, realizing she had been sexually violated. When she questioned the men, they turned violent.
“They tied me with a wire on my hands, legs, and throat,” Kubayi said. “They beat me with a hammer, poured paraffin on me, and looked for mesh to burn me. When they couldn’t find it, they used a sharp object to assault me further.”
The attack has left her deeply traumatized. “This incident is haunting me. I don’t have peace. I can’t even sleep,” she said. “I feel dead inside. They have stripped me of my dignity.”
Community Outrage and Calls for Justice
Community members who rescued Kubayi from the perpetrators’ house are demanding swift action. One resident expressed frustration over one suspect still being at large.
“We need the police to make sure the other one is arrested,” a community member said. “Justice must take its course.”
Local women echoed the sentiment, saying they no longer feel safe. “We want the police to find the other suspect and arrest him,” one woman said. “They must be sentenced so we can feel safe in our homes.”
Police Launch Manhunt
Authorities confirmed that one suspect is in custody and will soon appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court. Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway for the second suspect, believed to be in the Thembisa area.
“We have circulated the suspect’s details on social media and are working with the community to track him down,” a police spokesperson said.
As Kubayi struggles to recover, her case has reignited calls for stronger measures against gender-based violence in South Africa. The community remains vigilant, hoping for justice to prevail.
