It was early Decmber 2001I can’t remember the exact date, but I do remember a feeling of elation,a gladness,joy of being alive and well like the song ” Summertime and the liiving is easy”
The song was playing in my head as l dreessed in a new outfit. I had discovered the material at a special price in my favouvourite Indian fabric store. It was white and cool with with a thin bronze stripe. I was chuffed with the results of my labour.
I had a class that morning, so l had to get up early. To eke out my income I gave English lessons to pupils who were struggling. I never had more than 2 people at a time so that I could give them my undevided attention.
Thandi, my stuent that morning, arrived at nine.We battled for an hour of very basic English reading. Thandi was in grade 6, nearly 12 years old and on the threshold of puberty. I could see her mind was elsewhere.She was starting to think about boys , trendy clothes and parties. English was not a priority even though she was attending a school in the city where English was the medium of education. After 1994 it became fashionable for black children to go to the city schools {traditionally white} to get a better level of education.
Most of these children only spoke Sotho and a little Afrikaans as Bloemfontein or Mangaung metro, was then a predominantly Afrikaans area.
The parents themselves were in so-called affirmative action posts and spoke very little English.
I was appoached for help by parents at the library where I worked.
I kept my fees very low , knowing that the parents already paid high school fees and were living above their means!
After the lesson I walked Thandi down to the security gate where her father was waiting for her in his brand new Mercedes. I had to go to the supermrket down the road to get fresh bread and fruit for the weekend. I took my purse and locked my flat.
Before Thandi and I came to the gate I saw a young black man in a bright blue Golf shirt and jeans passing the
complex on the other side of the road.He looked like a student and he was staring at us.My gut tightened in a sudden premonition of danger..I dismissed the feeling for there were many students living in the area as it was close to the university and technikon. I greeted Thandi’s father, spoke a few words.
Ubuntu was still a buzz word then and it required more than just a casual greeting.
As I crossed the road on my way to the store,I heard footsteps on the pavement behind me.. Again I felt that creepy feelinng I had earlier and I started walking faster to get away from the person behind me.
The street was quiet. Many of the flat dwellers had gone out for Saturday morning shopping. I slowed down down then. I wanted the person behind me to overtake me. I was surprised to see the student in blue whom I saw before. He crossed the empty, rather neglected stand before you came to the parking area of the shop.I byfelt relieved, could now look at the colourful gardens of the complexes lining the road.The whole flatland area was built against a hill and close to the entrance of the supermarket was a tree with a huge boulder underneath.It looked like a resting place for pedestrians on their journey.
My heart sank for the man in blue was sitting on the boulder. He gave me an insolent look when I walked into the shop.I then felt real fear, tried to shrug it of.
I did not linger in the supermarket filled with the aroma of freshly baked breads and cakes. After paying for my purchases I had R30 left in my purse.
The boulder was empty now and I felt happy again as I crossed the empty stand on my way home. I hurried as I always did, and there was the incentive of fragrant bread in my shopping bag.
A white concrete wall seperated the stand from the first block of flats and I could not see beyond it into the street before I turned the corner back onto the pavement.
As I set foot on the pavement, I almost walked into my stalker. He was waiting for me. Shock streaked through my body! Suddenly he stood very close. He grabbed my purse.It was like a scene in slow motion.I froze,something inside my head told me to scream..But that was a mistake.. Anger blazed across his face. He put his his hands around my waist, picked me up. I saw pure malice, disdain on his face.. I got the pleasant smell of soap and deoderant, he was no vagrant.. He then thrust me away from him , throwing me onto some rocks next to the white wall.. I felt no pain, heard his footsteps on the pavement as he ran away.I lay there for moments that felt like eternity..
Suddenly I was surrounded by concerned faces looking down at me.. A lady helped me to my feet
“Are you ok?” , they all wanted to knwow..A young couple were phoning the police. I had only one thought in my mind: I must get home! When the shock wore of I could be in pain, perhaps not be able to walk!In a daze I thanked them, gave them my address and phone numbeer. The group watched me till I enterd the security gate to the complex.
Fortuatnely I dropped my keys into the shopping bag. When I finally locked my front door behind me, waves of intense relief washed over me.. I changed into a dress, my whole body shaking and cold.. My new outfit was ruined, marred by ugly grass stains and dirt . I dropp it into the kitchen bin, knowing thatI would never wear it again.
I phoned Bob, my closest friend , who arrived witin minutes. He alwys had a calming affect on me. He made me some strong ,hot coffee. I was shivering, pain was starting to throb in my buttocks just beneath my lower back. The police arrived, took a statement soon after.
That was the beginning of a nightmare of physical, emotional pain I had to live through for many years.
Nothing was broken’ but I could not get into the bath for weeks!
I was booked of from work to recuperate.
The mugging changed my whole life. It stole my freedom, filled me with pain and fear!
I bought pepper spray, carried it in my hand whenever I walked. I had to walk that route every day, it was on the way to work!
The police said even if they caught him’ I could end up losing the case and he would then file a civil suit agaist me!
I lived alone and had to put this behind me, move on..
I had no sense of safety left, fear was now my stalker..
Today, after almost 15 years, I am still suffering from chronic pain.. Always a reminder of that awful day!!