Readers' Speakout

We would be pleased if your readers would be interested in taking part in an international questionnaire on the issue, with additional information.

If you would like the questionnaire in a different language (English, French, Spanish, Russian or Arabic) then please let me know.

We would be grateful if a response can be sent in as soon as possible as we are currently in the process of inputting the responses.

Thank you very much for your help with our project.
Kind regards
Gina Borbas
Non-consensual Sex in Marriage Programme Co-ordinator
CHANGE
Tel: 0044(0)20 7242 8972
Fax: 0044(0)20 7430 0254
Email: ncsm.change@sister.com

s.c.r.e.a.m. Stands for... Stand up, Cry out, Reach out, Eliminate Abuse, Make a difference today!!!!!

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for a wonderful site for women.

I am a 26 year old woman , fairly professional and very ambitious.
Ineed to inform everybody about my wonderful organisation for abused and raped victims. My organisation will not only look after women, but children,elderly people as well as men, do not forget they also get abused by us!
I started this organisation because Iwas trapped in an abusive marriage for 4 years.Iraised my daughter alone and in the process got raped twice.not by my boyfriends, but by men that I did not know. I was devastated and almost ended up in a mental hospital. I hide the rapes from my family as I am from a small town in the southern cape. People living there do not have the mentality to understand.

I started my own business in the security industry and what a mistake. I employed the wrong person in the wrong position and boom my business out the window.. Where do I turn to? To myself and my inner strength and power.
Idecided to start this organisation and build it to be the most powerful one around.
I qualified as a paralegal so that I can legally give advice. With my financial degree almost finished and my legal qualification I make ends meet to look after my daughter.

My business is called LadyLegals , my intention is to franchise this practice and with it a scream branch.
I need help as I need to make a success of this. At the moment I am funding everything personally as I do not know where to turn and how to do it.

We as the human race must stand together. Please help me.

looking forward hearing from you
monica heynes
moni@ananzi.co.za
0836817214

Several years ago, Prof.Brian Rees of the University of Cape Town published a treatise entitled 'COLOURED', which was based on comprehensive research into the culture of the coloured people of SA. In this book,he examined the criminal element and the high incidence of rape which plagued certain sectors of Cape Coloured society.What Prof.Rees discovered re criminals and rapists,was a common thread which later research has shown,applies to many cultures and societies.

In traditional African tribal society,rape was not regarded as acceptable behaviour and was rarely,if ever tolerated. Tribal societies traditionally provided young makes with "rites of passage" where they could prove their masculinity by undertaking difficult or arduous tasks,or enduring some form of hardship.The social status of successful candidates was elevated ... they had achieved some recognition from their peers.
The rape phenomena now sweeping South Africa as well as other African countries,has been liked to the manner in which colonial political behaviour caused a break down in traditional family structures.Though many books have been written about the rape phenomena,Prof.Rees's study on the Cape Coloured people stands out as he did his research before anybody else studied the phenomena ...... and everybody else has proven him right. If the problem of rape is to be resolved in a society,its root causes need to be identified ......... and Prof.Rees did exactly that(though he may not have intended to).

Based on Prof.Rees's findings,a profile and background of males who would be high pre-disposed to committing rape,now exists. The majority of them were born to single mothers,while their fathers were either physically or emotionally absent while they were young.Some had no contact with a father,or caring older male.Prof.Rees even cited the lack of nuturing by their mothers as being a contributing factor.
One experiment in the USA involved assigning male teachers to teach 6 and 7-year olds(the kindergarten levels),based on the theory that a male teacher would be a positve role model for young males coming from fatherless homes.

The result of the study was that young males whose introduction to school was by having male teachers between ages 6 to 10, was that they behaved quite differently to males in the same age group, who were taught exclusively by women and who also lived in mother-only families (no male contact).This latter group,it was found,were the ones who became uncontrollable and subject to a range of anti-social behaviours. The youngsters taught by male teachers during their formative schooling years, were by comparison, more socially and emotionally well adjusted.This included both male and female youngsters from single parent,mother-only homes.

The male teacher teaching kindergarten levels (The Kindergarten Cop) is a rare phenomena in North American schools,yet every report so far on the approach indicates positive outcomes.Perhaps this may be one method of reaching young males(from dysfuntional backgrounds) in South Africa ...... and in the long term future could reduce the SA rape phenomena.

The reason that I ended up on your web page is because I lived in Johannesburg for 5 years (1971-1976), I attended St Johns College and I wanted to check out any info on my "old stomping grounds".

Let me start by telling you how amazed I am at the way you guys discuss contracting HIV through rape, male rape (I had never heard of this one before) and the treatment that a person should seek out with in two hours after the rape takes place. I have to tell you that I understand that HIV is a devastating problem world wide and especially bad in Africa but I was totally amazed at the way rape is discussed. It seems as though it is "just one of those things" that happens in South Africa. I guess I am totally flabbergasted as reading your web page just came on the heals of a TV show I watched on The Arts and Entertainment network on Johannesburg and how badly crime has taken over your great city. By watching this show it seems like females (it appears to be white females) are prime targets for assault and rape by black men.

If I am misunderstanding what I have seen and now read please advise me as I do not want, by any stretch, to come across as a bigoted and racial crack pot. But if this is the case then please advise me what advantage the end of apartheid has had for South Africa. As well, what is being done about this problem, if it is a problem.

Miss or Mrs. Smith (not really sure which one)~ Thank you for sharing your story with 20/20 (abc.com).

It's midnight, and I've never looked in the archives of 20/20 before, maybe I was just supposed to read what you had to say. I am a college student in the US. Last year, I was raped when a man put something into my drink. I just appreciate reading what you had to say. Last week was my own year anniversary of what he did to me. The audacity of people never ceases to amaze me.

I encourage you in your struggle to fight the politics of your country. I know you are making a difference, because tonight you made a difference in my life.

Stay strong and rely on God, because ultimately, He is all that matters. ~Kathryn

It is really scary to be a single woman out alone in Johannesburg. And the self-defence courses recommended by POWA are only a slight confidence builder. In addition to the trauma of rape, the threat of HIV is even more frightening as rape is no longer a once-off incident but if the victim gets aids, is equivalent to murder. Cruel as it may seem, but drastic violation calls for drastic prevention.

Two months ago I conceived an idea for an anti-rape device, and have since found on the internet, a similar version which is patented. This device is worn like a tampon inside the vagina and ejects a needle which enters the male member upon forceful penetration. My opinion is that it should also release a dose of spermicide and the pack sold with an optional AZT (may become rather expensive). The patented version is withdrawn from the female, but I think the device should have the needle spring back taking a sample of the rapist's blood and dna for identification by the police and should stay in the woman's body.

It may be dangerous where multiple criminals are present as it could result in them killing the woman, and I am not sure how to prevent this risk. It may be an overkill for rape alone, but the addition of one HIV+ person in a country can lead to the exponential spread of the disease.

Sincerely Irene Chan peacechild49@hotmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS FROM CIETafrica
Fri, 10 Nov 2000

Congratulations on a very meaningful and user-friendly website.

Just one little correction: CIET is the acronym for Community Information Empowerment (not Education as it it is on the section about statistics) and Transparency.
It is not serious and the quality of your website overshadows this small mistake by far but I just thought I should mention it.

Congratulations once again!
Marietjie Myburg mmyburg@ciet,org.za Communication Officer: CIETafrica
Johannesburg: Tel: 27 (11) 648 0434, Fax: 27 (>011) 648 4712
East London: Tel / Fax: 27 (43) 722 0357

Thanks for the feedback Marietjie! Correction made and congratulations appreciated.

RAPE AND AIDS SURVIVOR COUNSELLING
Thu, 09 Nov 2000

Hello, I am a rape and violent crime survivor. I am currently infected with HIV as the aftermath of the rape. (I am female and 22 years of age I was gang-raped two years ago.)

I am interested in helping survivors in any way I can, including counselling, whether police action through to medical and living with HIV. I would correspond with anyone on any related subject or simply to talk confidentially.

adios, Shaz

***SpeakOut!: If you would like to communicate with Shaz please send your notes or emails to speakout@global.co.za and we will forward your letters to her

SITE COULD HELP THE SILENT
09 Nov 2000

Thank you!
I have just seen SpeakOut! and am most impressed! Well done, I'm sure it will be very helpful for all the "silent" people that want support and practical help.

My name is Vuyiswa Bongile Keyi. I am a South African living in Canada. I would like to keep in touch with your organization and maybe start some support work for your work. I think you are doing very important work.

At the moment I am looking for information on the latest statistics on Rape in SA. I am involved with an organization here called South African Women for Women (www.interlog.com/~saww). Our organization seeks to empower, support and honour South African women who have or are making contributions to our society at home. Our health project, this year, is focusing on the issue of Rape and HIV.

We would like to develop a twinning project with South Africa, working with the Women's College Hospital in Toronto. The hospital has a mandate to conduct forensic testing on women and children who have been raped. Part of their work involves training the police as well as providing immediate counselling and HIV testing of survivors. To raise money for the project we need to have South African partners and statisitcal information to use with potential donors.

Phase one of our project will involve facilitating a meeting here in Toronto with South African experts in rape intervention and treatment to explore the viability of the project. Can you help us with the names of good organisations working in the area of rape and also provide us with stats and other information about rape?

Take care
Vuyiswa
618-300 Queen's Drive
Toronto
Ontario
M6L 3E3
Tel: (416) 242 7252
Fax: (416) 242 9448

I live in Toronto, Canada and last night was watching a TV program, "Sex TV" shown on our local television station. I was tremendously moved by the stories the women interviewed were prepared to share. I commend all of you for your strength and bravery.

I wish you support, from your government, from your police and from each other as you continue to struggle to change things for the women and men of South Africa.
"Pape Apartments"

I saw a program on Canadian TV re rape in SA. Having once lived in SA, I was horrified by what was reported ..... all true events featuring the victims themselves. I'm some one who has had some experience running a support group for people rebuilding damaged lives ...... and played the role of an online counsellor for an SA rape victim, who due to circumstance, was unable to report the trauma to police.

The technique I used is written up in Alice Miller's DRAMA OF THE GIFTED CHILD ..... the 4-step process: 1)identify the deed that was done to you.
2)condemn the deed ..... express the thoughts about what was done.
3)express the feelings ..... the anger, the rage, the guilt, the powerlessness.
4)express what you want and need .... security, safety,respect.

I think I was priviledged to have made a contribution, over several online sessions, to helping some one in SA come to terms with what happened to them,accept it and begin to get on with their lives.

It is my belief that person to person counselling have great benefits, however I would like to congratulate you on this great new site.

It is an excellent tool for individuals that at first prefers to stay unidentified and it's possible for them to be more clear about expressing their emotions. It also assists survivors to work through their feelings at their own pace and in a completely non-threatening environment. It enables individuals to disentangle complex emotions and express these in ways that feel personally appropriate to them - because I think for many survivors that emotional expression proves a truly cathartic experience.

I however think that the site could be enhanced in many different ways - perhaps a more user friendly tool to empower survivors to express their feelings. Some individuals find it easier in certain circumstances to 'talk' openly to a computer. Although I think this is not the ideal, it is a start to building a relationship with such a person, and later drawing her/him into "face to face" counselling where one brings in the human element. My perceptions on how this already excellent site could be enhanced: - Probably a diary facility for free writing, almost like writing one's own personalised diary, for it's my belief that through writing one can express emotions more clearly - strictly confidential and can only be accessed by say for instance yourself. - A tool whereby the computer "asks" questions under certain sections for instance answering questions such as "what made you feel that way?" (As an example)

I feel that it's my turn to give back, for only if you give, you will receive, after all we're here on earth to serve others, and that is the greatest riches and it only makes us aware of how poor we really are. I've been involved with counselling others (mostly teenagers and women aged 20-30) in our church and believe me when I say I'm more prone to giving advice than receiving advice. It must be a gift from above as people always tend to come to me for advice and support. I don't believe experience is necessary, only wisdom and the ability to be able to share, talk, listen, sympathise, build, encourage and empower. And no, I'm not a rape survivor, however I don't believe you need to be one to be able to "feel" the other person's pain.

I just want to tell you that what you have done is such a great and corageous thing to the women of the world. To speak out and tell your rape experiences. Last night I watched the documentary on tv about rape in South Africa. I was shocked but wanted to help.I then came and looked up your web site and read everyones individual stories and I had never really known how bad rape was until this point of time.

Hi, Charlene. My name is Clorisa and I just finished reading your diary entries in the 20/20 archives. At first I didn't really know what to say to you, because I'm sure you've heard hundreds of people tell you that they are very sorry about what happened to you, but I decided to write anyway. What you went through is horrible. I can't imagine having gone through something like that and I hope no one that I love ever experiences it.

Being victimized is my worst fear in the world. I hate living in a world where animals are allowed to attack whenever and whoever they wish. I try to explain to my husband how terrifying it is to be a woman and to have to always watch where you go and what you do because there could be some sick person watching me. Our one year-old son will never understand that fear, thank God.

I want to do something; to stand up for myself and for other women. Is there anything that I can do to help you? Please write me back and let me know what I can do to get started with an issue like this. How can we get people to HEAR us? I am very sorry that you experienced what you did. I believe you were right when you said that God has challenged you. He knows that you are a strong person and He has faith that you can change the way things are. I think He kept you calm during the rape to help you get through it. And you WILL get through this.

In a 2 year period I had been raped twice in the same apartment by 2 separate men. Prior to the rapes I was an alcoholic. After the rapes I felt dirty, depressed, worthless I felt like the scum of the earth. So I drank more and more. Between the pain I was in from the rapes and the pain I was in from the bottle, I was in terrible shape. All that pain made me want to do was drink more and more. I didn't understand that the drinking just intensified the pain. Not only does it intensify the pain, but it makes sleeping very difficult. So I had a hard time sleeping not only from the drink but also because of the fear and nightmares of the rapes. People have said, "You can't stop drinking." Well, I didn't want to.

I needed help. I needed to get into a recovery program. I needed to stop drinking and drugging. I needed to take nothing that was mind or mood altering. I needed to see everything straight. I needed to work through the pain sober and clean. That is the only way to LET GO and GET ON WITH MY LIFE. That sounds good now I only wish I had known that much earlier. By the time I realised that I needed recovery it was almost 15 years later. I don't remember how many suicide attempts later.

One of the major mistakes I made was; I refused to move out of the apartment where all the pain emanated from. The place where the rapes happened. The last time I was raped I lived in a quiet town. I had been out that night and drinking rather heavily. This was prior to my recovery as an alcoholic. A man I didn't know followed me home. He got access to my home under false pretences. He said I had left my keys and cheque book at the bar, but I had never taken them out of my jacket. He got cozier and cozier. I tried to stop him but to no avail. I went into my room and pulled out a 22 rifle. He grabbed it from me, smacked me down on the bed and placed the barrel into my privates. I think the only thing that saved me was I said "If you shoot you won't be able to get any". He changed his mind about the shooting but proceeded to take me. Afterwards he laughed, zipped his pants and started to leave. When he got into the kitchen I was right behind him. I grabbed a big mug, called him and as he turned I smacked him across his head. Blood was all over the kitchen. BUT HE LEFT. At this point I was in shock.

When the police arrived I was hysterical. Later I went to the hospital. I had calmed down slightly. Then the degrading ordeal of samples and exams after I had already been defiled I felt as if I was being defiled again. They caught this man. He worked at the same company as me. He had bragged about raping me. When we went to court they dropped the charges for lack of evidence. Later I would see him at work. He would sneer. I was filled with total hatred. I wanted his death.

Now came the part of trying to get on with my life. As I had said earlier I was a drunk at that time. I had also been raped in that same apartment before by someone who sneeked in through a window. I had decided that I was better than those rapists. I would stay in that house. I would stay up afraid to sleep listening to noises, wondering if anyone was in my apartment. I lived on the first floor. I then moved to a second floor apartment. I stayed in that hell hole for about 6 years. The walls always seemed to be closing in on me. The air seemed to be evil. yet I refused to move. Those rapists would never force me out of my home, I told myself. What they did force me to do was live in self imposed prison. Finally circumstances forced me to move.

For a little while after I moved things seemed to be going much better. But I still drank. I had had no counseling what-so-ever. The pain, depression, worthlessness, and total despair returned, worse than ever if possible.I wallowed in that for a good time.

Finally I looked for help. I started to go to meetings of NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). I also started therapy. I found out for myself that the longer I took to get help the longer it took for me to work through the pain. For me I found that having a woman therapist was best. I had lost all trust in men. Men weren't good for anything except to go to bed with. You see if I used them first, then they couldn't hurt me.

If you have been raped I suggest, that you get help. Get counseling. If you do not drink or drug, don't start. If you do drink or drug (even over the counter or prescription drugs) get help! Please do not abuse chemicals. Make sure your doctor knows what has happened to you, so that he or she can help you appropriately. Reach out to someone. A friend, a priest, a minister, self help groups, some kind of professional whatever you can find to help you through the pain, except drugs or alcohol. As I have said they only intensify the pain. I have had multiple suicide attempts, pills, razors, car accidents and once I even shot myself.

But I am living proof that YOU can survive. I am not saying it is easy. It's not.

Just remember tomorrow is another day. It can be better and brighter if you want it to be. Remember get help, don't drink or drug, don't try suicide. I have been there too. I know the pain. But take one look at me. In November I will have 11 years clean and sober. I am a single Mother of a 15 year old son. In May I graduated from college. I have an Associates Degree in Machine Tool and Die Technology. I am relatively happy. I mean in life shit does happen. You just need the tools so that you can do what is necessary to be able to go on with your life.

Since I have worked through the depression through counselling and psychiatric help. I have put one foot in front of the other, living one day at a time and getting on with my life. I want you and others to know that there is sunshine behind that cloud. If you are willing to look for it. You are. Try to right the injustices you and so many other feel. Keep on fighting. It is not only a way of healing yourself but hopefully preventing it from happening to others. When I had been raped, women were still the guilty ones. They were asking for it, by the way they dressed, walked and talk.

I'm researching the effects of violent crime for my Honours thesis at UCT, and am using the Internet to collect the data. I need participants living across South Africa to make this a representative study.

Would you support this study by participating? Please take 10 minutes to complete the online questionnaire at http:www.uct.ac.za/depts/psychology/hijack.html. This website tells you more about the study and has links to the questionnaire and a support and contacts page of useful info. Please forward this email to all your online contacts. Even if they have not been hijacked, mugged, assaulted or robbed themselves, they might know someone who has.

RAPED AT WORK:Tanya's story
Date: 04 October 2000 09:28

"When the future you took for granted is rudely interuppted by rape, one is forced to re-evaluate fundamental values.

The divide between life and death we all like to avoid. But if we allow it, facing the isolation of your own private terrors, results in triumph.The only power is the present moment. Compassion is different from pity. Pity is a fearful distancing response to something you hope will never happen to you. It erodes dignity and removes hope of recovery. Compassion is healing,understanding and a connecting response. If there is a single thing that I can take with me from my journey to recovery is that "Ignorance is contagious."

The general apathy among our sisters is that rape and abuse happens to other females & not us, as we do not mix with that type of man. How many times have we heard the statement out of both male & female associates;"She must have been looking for it, the way she dresses"or "She drinks too much in the company of men, therefore she deserves to have been raped!" Rubbish, it's time we drop these ridiculous cliches and attitudes towards survivors of rape. Attempts to excuse rape and "blame the victim" are common practice in the post rape experience. Friends almost make you feel guilty that you have survived! Death in my case would have been physical proof that I was raped...

Is it a factor of how one dresses or acts socially that evokes rape? No, you never know when it is your turn and who the rapist will be. Call me naive but how many times have you innocently placed yourself in the compromising position of becoming a likely rape victim.
Think about it hard,when you read the account of my blind trust...

I manufacture children's clothes for a living and we had rented premises in the Parkwood -northern suburbs area of Johannesburg. We all have deadlines to meet in the industry and sometimes have to burn the candle at both ends to survive. How many times do you work late alone in your office, before you become a rapists target! You will never know, so what I'm saying is we have to remember the number one rule: "Be prepared". A security guard was responsible for looking after the building at night and had a room attached to the premises. I would often greet him in his own language and oblige his occasional requests for financial assistance. Even though I was warned by my husband not to work late alone, I had built up this false sense of security that there was someone on the premises.

That particular night, I heard him arrive and as usual, went to inform him that I was working late and to keep an eye on things. Only this time he followed me back into my workroom, before I could even close the security gate. He became suggestive. I noticed he had a strange glazed look about him( it looked like he was on drugs).In a situation like this, you automatically call up all your mental defences and survival tactics that you can think of. I had a memory flash of a television program on rape I'd seen, where they advise you to stay calm and not anger the person by fighting back, as things normally become violent if you do.

'Stay calm' is so easy to say, unless you have experienced such a horrific violation yourself. How do you keep calm??With tears of horror pouring out, I decided not to retaliate,as I had visions of my child landing up without a mother as life has become so cheap in this country. I was menstruating and had a tampon inserted. Please tell me, how could this moron say to me in this condition "Your'e enjoying this" over and over? The pain inside hurt from the force and I later discovered that part of my inside had torn. The deed done. Numb with shock,my first feeling was that now I could escape and drive home to my husband & child. It does not enter your head to dash to the nearest panic button and summon help when the rapist is watching your every move.You just want to get out of there and keep running...Nothing else matters or is relevant, or logic at that terrifyng moment in your life. I was trapped. The main security gate was locked so I could not drive away. He continued to kiss me, obviously with the intention of assaulting me again. He kept saying:"Tell me you love me" .I repeated this trying to negotiate my way out. How I ever negotiated my way out and into my car, I cannot remember. I was playing for time. Obviously, his low intelligence and sick mind thought that I had enjoyed what had happened and I would become his "play-thing" at another time.

Once in the safety of your matrimonial home,your numbed mind gives vent to all pent-up emotions in your shattered body & spirit.I cried...non-stop , feeling so,so dirty.There are no words to describe the feelings of filth a female who has been violated experiences. Try explaining this to an enraged husband who is emotionally hurt and is doing everything in his power to give you support. Does the rapist really care about how many people's lives he destroys from his act of savagery? I'm fortunate to have a loving & caring husband, but how do you explain to your child, why mommy is in such a hysterical state after such a traumatic upheaval in our lives.

We drove to the hospital in the early hours of the morning. This is the beginning of when the rape survivor in South-Africa really feels how isolated and helpless she is. With South-Africa having the highest daily rape statistics in the world one would imagine that there would be adequate support & medical services. Stop dreaming, even the private hospital I was taken to, had a doctor on duty who had no idea how to treat a rape survivor. With the high incidence of HIV and AIDS in this country you would expect that there would be standard procedures followed. No such thing! You have to fight all the way to be treated with dignity and as a person . I had to do all of my own research. I recommend that survivors of rape must insist on answers from doctors. No-one could tell me the name of the anti-retrovirals available in S.A. I insisted on a douche & anti-septic (Yes,they agreed as an after thought!) Two hospitals later and a weekend had passed -until I received the anti-retroviral drug (3TC & Retrovir) from my daughter's teacher, her husband worked at one of the companies that distribute the drugs. I felt I had been given a death sentence because blood had exchanged between me and the rapist. I lived on water mixed with a formula to prevent dehydration for a month as I couldn't stomach food.

Coping with rape has led me to believe that there are so many misconceptions and too little information available for the rape survivor.You have to fight to be treated with respect as you get asked the most pathetic questions from friends like: "Why didn't you fight back?"; "Where ARE the bruises?"; "Why were you working late?"; "Why???......"

Myths about rape must be challenged. When a person is raped people should not imply that it only happens to bad people and if you are good and worthy it won't. I implore people to stop trivialising our experience by trying to make sense of this disgusting act by explanations and ignorant belief systems. This makes excuses for the rapist. Stop this unacceptable complacency towards the survivor. One of my darkest moments was dealing with people & "friends" who asked these stupid questions.

Society excuses the rapist by stigmatizing and blaming those raped. What does it say about society's standards?? Have we all buried our heads in the sand - until it happens to somebody you know??

Humane acts of tenderness and support is what a survivor needs. Not a "tough love" approach. Recovery follows:"As long as there is life, there is always hope..."

I am confused, maybe misinformed ...
A family member (cousin) was raped 5 months ago. The rapist is a well-known and prominent businessman with a lot of friends in high places.

I am not sure that the correct legal procedures are being followed. Up to now my cousin does not know anything about the case, the investigating officer has kept her in the dark regarding the proceedings, has not given her any legal advice and what path to follow. She was not even allowed to attend the preliminary hearing. She was told after the rape that she need not worry and that a state attorney will be assigned to her. The court case is scheduled to take place in two weeks time, the investigating officer told my cousin (now, with two weeks to go) that it 'might' be a good idea to get a lawyer (after initially telling her it is not necessary). It will obviously be expensive and if she cannot afford a lawyer the state will still provide a state attorney and she will be introduced to him/her half an hour before the actual court case...!

This cannot be right! The attorney surely cannot prepare a case in half an hour's time to defend my cousin. Surely he needs to spend quality time with her to prepare her for the court case because the rapist's attorney are going to pull her apart. Am I wrong with my assumption that the correct procedures were not followed (or that my cousin did not receive the best possible advice right from the start) and that because of this the rapist stands a much greater change to be set free???

SPEAKOUT RESPONSE:
Regrettably this case is pretty typical John. Your cousin should lodge a complaint with Thoko Majokweni or one of her staff at the Sexual Offenses Unit at the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Pretoria (number is in the book under Justice).
If she contacts us direct we will also give her advice. She does not need an attorney.
Please keep us posted.
Artus Malherbe