This woman was called Tsasa. She had an abusive boyfriend who would come at midnight, drunk and beat her up for no reason. Mandisa had to witness this every day. This happened until the day Mziwethu beat Tsasa such that she was admitted to hospital. She stayed for days with Mandisa left with the abusive boyfriend.

Mandisa was never free around him.

One day she went to the hospital to check on her how her new mother was doing. She found her recovering and she told her to report her boyfriend or else he will beat her to death someday. At last Tsasa reported this matter to the authorities and Mziwethu was served a restraining order. While Mandisa was witnessing all this, her mother’s friend showed up. She fostered Mandisa, promising that she will treat like her own child. Mandisa fell for it.

This is the time when Mandisa turned into a slave in Lindiwe’s house. Not just a mere slave, a sex slave! She was only 19 when the husband of her mother’s friend repeatedly raped her. She did not know what to do. She was afraid. She was afraid that if she reported this wrong doing she would have no place to stay.

This happened for two years until Mandisa fell pregnant. The man denied having impregnated her. He said that Mandisa was accusing him as a result Mandisa was then kicked out of the house again.

Poor child! This time she took a brave decision to report this to the social workers.

The social workers found her a home and the culprit was arrested. This matter of a young girl being raped by a grown man was published in the newspapers. This paper ended up in Sizakele’s hands. She saw this paper from an old man who was seated next to her in a taxi. She quickly asked for it.

The social workers also searched for Mandisa’s relatives and indeed they found her older sister still working at the super market. However, she was now promoted to a supervisor. She was so happy to find her little sister. They moved in together in Matatiele. Mandisa gave birth to twin boys. They were named Likuwe and Likuye, and lived happily ever after.

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