An anti-gender-based violence advocacy group is calling on women to report abuse, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator, following the sentencing of a KwaZulu-Natal man to life imprisonment for raping and assaulting his mother.
The 32-year-old was convicted in the Ngwelezane Regional Court for attacking his mother at their family home in Nseleni, near Empangeni, in 2024. Prosecutors said the man confronted his mother, accusing her of speaking about him to others. After she denied the allegations, he assaulted and raped her.
The victim later fled the house with her granddaughter and sought refuge with a neighbour before reporting the incident to police. The court sentenced the accused on charges of rape and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Faith Action to End GBV says the case highlights the often-hidden nature of violence within families. The organisation’s Merrishia Singh-Naicker said abuse by children against parents is more common than many realise and is frequently linked to power dynamics or substance abuse.
She explained that mothers who refuse demands, such as requests for money, can become targets of retaliation.
In a statement read in court, the victim described feeling horrified and deeply violated, saying she never imagined her own child would harm her.
Singh-Naicker urged survivors not to suffer in silence, noting that shame and stigma often prevent women from seeking help, particularly when abuse occurs within the family. She encouraged victims to access available support services, including government-run centres, stressing that protection and assistance are available.
Advocates say breaking the silence around domestic and sexual violence is critical to ensuring justice and preventing further harm.