I infected my rapists with HIV, says Mpumalanga rape victim

A 23-year-old Mpumalanga woman who was raped by two men has refused to open a police case because she believes she has infected her attackers with HIV.

Emelda Mathebula (23), from Justicia village between Bushbuckridge and Hazyview, was repeatedly raped after two unknown men abducted her on the night of on February 6.

“I don’t see the need to go to the police because the bastards already have HIV and STI’S. I believe that is the best punishment anyone who rapes people can get. It is far harsher than going to jail,” said Emelda, who did not want to conceal her name but asked not to be photographed.

She said that Friday night the men abducted her while she was on her way home from accompanying a friend.

“They took me to an abandoned house where I was instructed to strip or get hurt. I tried to fight them and I told them that I am HIV positive but they refused to listen to me, saying they had heard the same story before. They repeatedly raped me despite my pleas for them to let me go,” said Emelda.

Emelda showed African Eye News Service her latest HIV results, which confirmed that she was HIV positive.

However, her mother is worried that Emelda will soon fall very sick because she refuses to take her medication.

“My daughter needs serious help. I have to force her to collect and drink her medication all the time. I think after this incident she will sleep with other men and intentionally infect them,” said her distraught mother, Salfie Mathebula (42).

Salfie said Emelda kept the rape from her.

“I heard about the rape from her friend and when I confronted her she admitted that she was raped by two unknown men while she was on her way home. I convinced her to press charges against her attackers but she refused and said that her perpetrators already got their punishment,” she said.

Calcutta police invited Emelda to open a case against her perpetrators but warned that it would be illegal if she were to intentionally infect people who would have consensual sex with her. - African Eye News Service