The bedroom where Thembi Mazibuko* lived with her baby

“We were living in a one-room flat so all the occasions happened in the bedroom,” says Thembi Mazibuko.

“One night he came back from God knows where, as he felt he was not accountable to me. It was in the evening and our three kids were in bed already. I was in my nightdress and getting ready to sleep when he arrived. I gave him his food and prayed for it. He then said: ‘Why are you disrespecting my God by praying while you are naked?’

“He then beat me up and insulted me. He would say I am a useless bitch who does not even know her father.

“I am a child of a single parent, by the way.

“I tried to run away but just after I got out, he caught me before I closed the front door. I was planning to lock him inside and get enough time to escape. We both struggled with the door. Him trying to open as he was chasing me, me trying to close and lock so I can get away.

“While he was pulling the door towards him, he balanced against a wardrobe that was near the threshold. The wardrobe fell on the bed where our five-month-old daughter was sleeping. He did not care that I was crying out, saying the wardrobe must have fell on the baby. He continued to beat me up. One of his fists caught me and I bumped my head against the wall.

“The neighbours were outside the door but nobody intervened. I think they did not want to interfere in people’s business.

“I fell and was out for some time. When I came to, people were talking next to me. He was there too and he was busy justifying his actions. Telling everyone how I deserved what he was doing as I was disrespectful. Fortunately the baby was not harmed.

“When everyone went away, we both went back inside and I tried to sleep. He started where he left off with the insults and he wanted to beat me up again. I went out of the room. He looked for me but couldn’t find me. I knocked on one of our neighbours’ flats and asked to sleep with her. This is one of many incidents.”