“I am living in fear of my life …,” says Tshiisaphungo Mudzielwana, who survived an acid attack from her ex-lover.
News Date: 04 August 2006
A woman who narrowly escaped death after an acid attack, said she is living in fear of her life after an ex-boyfriend threatened to kill her.
Ms Tshiisaphungo Mudzielwana (31) of Sokotenda, Sibasa said she opened a case of attempted murder against the man in November last year, and he is making her life a living hell and now she lives in fear. “I was in love with him, but due to several differences, I decided not to continue with the relationship, because he was always accusing me of having affairs with other men. He also threatened to kill me and to serve the sentence if I die,” said Mudzielwana.
She said that the jealous lover did not want her to work, because he felt that, once she ventured from her home, she would be propositioned by other men. After she had refused him, he allegedly took acid and threw it into her face.
“He found me while I was at my friend’s work place. Afterwards, I wanted to join my friends for tea and he demanded that I had to go out with him. I declined because I was afraid that he would stab me with a knife, as he had threatened to do so,” she said. After I had left my friend’s workplace, he took out a small tin and poured acid over me and said that no one would ever love me again.”
After the acid attack, she reported the matter to an organization working for the protection of abused women, but they could not help her. “Yes he was arrested, but he was granted bail and always when he passed me on the street, he kept on saying that he wanted to finish what he had started,” she said in tears
Last week, a protection order was issued against the suspect.
“Now, because I am afraid of him, I have even asked two boys to stay with me so that they can help me if necessary and to get through the long evenings,” she said.
She said that, previously, he used to beat her and lock her inside her room for a week.
Thohoyandou Police’s Communication Officer, Insp Nkanukeni Raedane, said an attempted murder case had been opened and the accused was going to be tried soon.
Mudzielwana told Mirror said that she was still experiencing a lot of pain, and was looking for assistance to cure the pain. “The way I feel, is that the acid is still burning, because the pain is escalating,” she said
People who want to contact and help her, can phone her on 072 010 8000.