Former mission members break down telling of virginity tests

WITH tears running down her face a former Kwasizabantu ( KSB) member has detailed how she was allegedly raped numerous times at the Kwazulu- Natal- based Christian church mission which has been brought into the spotlight following allegations of abuse and fraud.

Maritjie Bothman was one of several witnesses who took the stand on the second day of hearings as part of the CRL Rights Commission’s investigations into allegations levelled against KSB.

The mission, which has been described as a cult, is based in KZN and has hundreds of members who mostly live on the mission’s massive estate.

Bothman started living at the mission in the 1980s along with her adoptive family. Her family lived with the mission’s leader, Erlo Stegen. She said that’s where the abuse began, when she was sexually assaulted by Stegen’s children and her father.

Bothman said she experienced physical abuse from several people at the organisation and even at school, where she was beaten for minor issues. She was forced to undergo a virginity test along with other girls.

Bothman said her sister and brother were forced out of the organisation. Her mother worked as a head nurse there, but was never paid for her labour.

Bothman’s testimony was halted when she struggled to hold back tears as she recounted how she had lived on the street for two years after leaving KSB.

She told the commission that she only wanted justice from the leadership of KSB and for them to acknowledge the pain they caused her. Her sister still lives at KSB, and Bothman said she believed she was being forced to stay there.

Another person who took the stand was Nduduzo Mtungwa, who arrived at the church as a young child to attend school. Her parents were supporters of the church.

She detailed how strict and abusive the schooling system at the mission was. Mtungwa also cried during her testimony as she recounted how she was forced to undergo a virginity test.

She was forced to clean her blankets at the age of 9 when she started urinating in bed because of her traumatic experiences.

“There were rules that we were not allowed to talk to boys. If you are a woman, young or old, you had to cut your hair. For black girls, they did virginity tests. From the June holidays, we would be taken to three ladies and were made to lie down for a virginity test.

“The rules that applied to the mission, they made sure our parents apply them at home. We were not allowed to have a relationship with family members who were not part of the church. I have family members now that I do not have relationships with,” Mtungwa said, as she wiped tears from her eyes.

Mtungwa and Bothman were able to leave the mission.

KSB’S lawyers have walked out of the Kwazulu- Natal part of the investigation. They accused the commission of being biased.

It remains unclear whether the church’s leaders will ever appear before the inquiry to answer the allegations.