Former activist reveals childhood abuse, rape
More than 30 years after being sexually abused, a former child Struggle activist is the first in SA to speak out about the atrocities that were committed against him by a Catholic priest.
William Segodisho, 46, from Seshego in Limpopo, said he was raped, molested and forced to do sexual acts on a white priest during the period of 1985 to 1989.
“For the first time in my life, I felt hate for a person.”
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, he said it was time to break his silence.
“I have kept silent for almost three decades. I would hate for this to be taken to the grave.”
Segodisho said he ended up being under the care of a priest who was stationed at Christ the King Cathedral. He said the cleric was a figure of authority in the shelter to which he had fled after leaving his home over his involvement in anti-apartheid political activities.
He said the priest began to groom him for sexual interaction from the age of 13.
“He would buy me clothes. He would take me shopping and it was the first time I had gone shopping for clothes. He would take me out to restaurants and I was very excited about that,” Segodisho said.
He said towards the end of 1985 he was taken to a school in Roodepoort by the priest.
“Immediately after being taken to this school, I was invited to his church to celebrate my admittance to the school. He also told me that I was to sleep over,” he said. “When we were in the room, instead of offering me orange juice he offered me a glass of whisky.”
Segodisho said he was forced to drink the alcohol.
“I eventually got drunk and he started telling me about ev- erything he has done for me...
“All I had to do was give him a bit of pleasure.”
Segodisho said he had to touch the priest intimately to show his gratitude. He said it started with touching then went on to kissing and eventually led to rape while they were on holiday in KwaZulu-Natal.
“He made it known that I must never tell anyone about this. He told me I would lose my place in the shelter and not go to school. He knew I had a hunger [for] education.”
Segodisho said he was eventually molested by a second priest at the church and is concerned that other children were also abused there.
The father of seven said he has opened a case of rape against the first priest at the Hillbrow police station even though the alleged perpetrator was back in Europe.
Segodisho said he wanted acknowledgment by the Catholic Church of the abuse he suffered and hardships such as drug and alcohol addiction caused by the abuse.
Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said a case of rape was opened and was under investigation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday‚ Father Thabo Motshegwa‚ chairperson of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg’s Professional Conduct Committee‚ said the church took all cases of child abuse seriously.
“However‚ the first we heard about this case was in February. It was never formally reported to the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg or any of its professional conduct committees.”