Forms of abuse

I took a friend to the police station to help her to open a case of abduction and attempted murder.

She was under major stress as a result of this incident but the SAPS officer treated her as if she were to blame.

He interrogated her and made her feel that she was the bad person. His interrogation was aimed at her as he seemed to feel she didn’t make an effort to get away from the abductor and potential murderer, who held her at knife point in her car, threatened to kill her and ordered her to drive to Johannesburg.

It’s reprehensible that the women of our country have to endure this sort of abuse by the very people there to protect us. LES PETERSON, EMAIL

SMy ex-husband is an office manager for the maintenance court. Daily he dishes out advice to people on how to be better parents and assists with maintenance cases and domestic violence.

But let me just share the reality with you: this man, who gives such beautiful advice to the public, abused me in every way for 15 years. We’re divorced but he pays the bare minimum for our kids and spends barely any time with them – perhaps an hour once a month. He’s an excessive drinker and drug abuser.

I feel the need to bring this man to book because he’s destroyed my life and damaged my soul to a point that I’m afraid of everything. All I do is work and see to my kids: no life, no me time, nothing. He caused me to have a nervous breakdown, beat me badly, raped me repeatedly when he came home drunk and humiliated me countless times.

Why did I not go to the police? Well, when you’re in an abusive relationship it’s as if you’re possessed. You’re so afraid. Ladies, or even gentlemen, I urge you if your partner abuses you to seek help immediately. There are mean people in this world. DOORMAT, EMAIL