The devastating and long-lasting impact of sexual violence was laid bare in Cape Town High Court this week as three rape survivors detailed how serial rapist Sihle Makaula’s crimes fundamentally changed their lives.
In powerful victim impact statements read during Makaula’s sentencing hearing, the women described years of trauma, broken relationships, academic struggles, and ongoing mental health challenges stemming from attacks that occurred between July 2019 and August 2020 in Grabouw.
The first victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court how the attack “took my innocence away from me” and fundamentally altered her ability to form relationships.”I don’t trust men anymore. The only man I trust till date, is my father,” she said. “The case also affected my relationship with my boyfriend. I don’t want to be intimate with him anymore.”
The young woman described how the trauma derailed her education: “This incident also affected my studies, because I could not focus on my schoolwork. I started isolating myself from my family and friends.”
In her statement, the first victim revealed how she turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the overwhelming trauma.”I started drinking and smoking more than I used to before. I wanted to escape the pain and trauma that I was going through, but it didn’t help at all,” she said.She credited counselling and a strong support system for her recovery, while acknowledging the permanent impact: “I am much better now with the strong support system I have but I will never forget what happened to me.”
A second victim described living in constant fear following her attack, telling the court: “I felt scared because I thought this guy was going to kill me after the incident. I was even scared to walk around because I was scared if it could happen again.”
The psychological toll was severe: “I feel so depressed and distressed in the result I wanted to kill myself. I was always sleeping all day, crying and asking myself so many questions about why this happened to me.”
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While counselling provided temporary relief, she said fear continues to plague her daily life.
The third victim spoke of cognitive impacts that continue to affect her years later: “Before the incident, I was brilliant at school when I compare now and before. My mind is damaged because of the drugs from the clinic and the feelings. Sometimes I forget things, but I am fighting.”
She described the isolation caused by shame and fear: “I am scared to talk about what happened to anyone, I feel like they would laugh at me. Even my boyfriend doesn’t know about it because I am afraid he will leave me.”
The statements highlighted inconsistent access to effective support services. While some victims found counselling helpful, others struggled to access care that met their needs.The courage displayed by these women in sharing their experiences publicly underscores both the devastating impact of sexual violence and the strength of survivors.
With Makaula now sentenced to four life terms plus 63 years imprisonment, the victims can begin to find closure, though their statements make clear that healing from such trauma is a long-term process requiring sustained support.The detailed impact statements serve as a stark reminder of why gender-based violence has been declared a national disaster in South Africa, and the critical importance of both prevention and comprehensive victim support services.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, help is available through the National GBV Command Centre on 0800 428 428 or 1207867#
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