Hearing Qomdeni's Story

Qomdeni, Nonceba and Jennifer in eShowe women's prison

Qomdeni's pattern has trees.  She hopes to work with the soil in the future.

As a child she sold plants with her grandmother, who has since passed.  Her hands are strong, and as I painted them, she told Nonceba her story.

Qomdeni is 32 years old.  She did not go to school.  She is one of eight children.  Her parents are gone.  One of her sisters left their homestead and married their cousin.

Qomdeni's cousin/brother-in-law came to their homestead demanding to make all the other sisters his wives, too.  She said no.  He raped Qomdeni.  She fled to Durban where she lived homeless on the beach.  A social worker returned her to her home, and she was raped by her cousin/brother-in-law again.

Qomdeni reported the rape to the police.  They came, took him away, and returned him the same afternoon.  Her cousin/brother-in-law taunted her for thinking she could stop him.  She fled again to Durban. 

A sister died so she returned to the homestead for the funeral.  Her attacker raped her again.

Qomdeni and her brother killed that man.

Qomdeni's sister reported the crime but the case was dropped.  Two years later the case was somehow re-opened.  This year she begins her 15 year sentence.

That is how she got in prison.