*Noko Pure

My name is Noko Pure, I stay in Lulekani Village. I was born in Selwana Dinoning Moshate Village on the 24 November 1978. I am the fifth born in my family and when I got married I had 2 daughters.

I was staying with my Mom, Dad and my siblings before I got married, 3 girls and 2 boys. My father passed on while we were still young but when he was still alive he used to abuse my mom. He used to beat her up day and night but when he had gone to work we would enjoy those moments with my mom but by the time he came back from work we all got scared because the lion was back.

My father left to work in Johannesburg and he told us that he will be coming back at the end of every month. When he left I was only six years old and after twenty years of not seeing him I wrote to Khumbule Khaya looking for him. I found him at the police station and I was told that he was staying with his mistress but he beat her up and shot her. It did not surprise me as he was doing the same to my mom, abusing her and the children.
I joined the Gender Links (GL) 09 February 2015 and I had miss I story workshop. And the trainings that I have be part of have been very helpful in my life and with my attitude towards my life and men has changed. I have made peace with the past and trying to leave it in the past the abuse.
Unfortunately my dad passed on. I am pleading that when a person sees a man abusing his wife and children he must be reported.

I have started a business of selling sweets and snacks and I am also involved with TAC. And thinking of doing other people laundry for money and even babysitting when parents go to work, anything to survivor.
My husband was the person who was abusing me since I have reported to the police him I have peace in my life before he would go and stay with a mistress and if I dare to say anything he would grab me, beat me up and stab me. I wish I could help the police with fighting the gender violence in my community.

The Gender Links workshops has taught me how to do a business plan and also making me understand why I should become an entrepreneur instead of waiting for someone to come and help me. The future looks brighter now. One day I was my own things in life, like a house, car and lots of money.