A local organisation that supports survivors of rape and sexual assault has called on men and boys to break the silence and come forward, following the sentencing of a man to life imprisonment for raping another man in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The Ingwavuma Regional Court this week sentenced a 48-year-old man to life behind bars after he was convicted of raping a 22-year-old man on three separate occasions in Mbazwana. The court heard that the perpetrator threatened the survivor with a knife and warned him not to tell his family, threatening to kill him if he reported the attacks.
Despite the threats, the young man confided in his mother and subsequently opened a case with the police, leading to the arrest and prosecution of the accused.
Sibusiso Mthethwa from the Jes Foord Foundation welcomed the conviction but said stigma and societal attitudes often prevent male survivors from speaking out.
“It is the duty of everyone, especially departmental stakeholders, the police, the Department of Social Development, social workers and the NPA to recognise that these incidents do happen. The question is how best we can deal with this collaboratively,” Mthethwa said.
He added that greater awareness and coordinated support are needed to ensure that all survivors of gender-based violence receive the protection and assistance they deserve.