NEWS & ANALYSIS

"Benni's cousin: Tell my rape story!" - Daily Sun

The front page and lead story of SA's largest daily newspaper, May 23 2013

Daily Sun (May 23 2013) - A YOUNG cousin of soccer star Benni McCarthy spoke out yesterday about her horrifying rape ordeal. Eighteen-year-old Nombulelo Mazibuko was raped at pistol point last Wednesday at Ezihlalweni Village, near Ulundi, in northern KZN. HER ATTACKER WAS ALLEGEDLY AN OFF-DUTY POLICEMAN!

Brave Nombulelo and her mother, Queen Dlamini, agreed to be named and talk publicly to Daily Sun to draw attention to the epidemic of rape ravaging Mzansi. They also wanted to hightlight the fact that since the rape case was opened at Emugudwini Police Station, they received no feedback from cops. A suspect was arrested, but was given bail.

Queen (37), who is an NFP official, told Daily Sun : "We see him roaming around. That is scary. Why give him bail? "Why does nobody update us? We're afraid he may punish us for opening a case." Queen said the family even suggested they go into hiding to avoid the suspect. Queen was due to phone her sister, Benni's mother Dora, to give her the news last night. Dora was expected to inform the former Bafana Bafana star.

The shocking incident happened when Nombulelo was on her way to the bus stop at Ezihlalweni to meet her aunt. The suspect approached her and allegedly forced her into his private car, pointing a service pistol at her. They drove to the suspect's house where he allegedly repeatedly raped her. Said Nombulelo: "When I refused to sleep with him, he said he will sleep with me just like he had done with prisoners. "I cried out loud but nobody came to my rescue," said the sobbing victim. After the rape, she said she was left stranded in the veld....

See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 330 000 and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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