South Africa: Betta Serebe

My name is Betta Serebe, and I am 37 years old. I have a son who is 11 years old now I am a single parent my son’s father passed away in 2014…. I have a place on my own. I stay with my son and my sister’s daughter… Both of my parents passed away. I have two sisters and one little brother. I met this guy in high school; he finished school in 2006; I finished school in 2007…. He went to work at the mine, but he never gave up on me. I decided to give him a chance in 2017. At first it was a good relationship. He was a caring and loving man. He was spoiling from 2017 till 2019. He lost his job at Limcras and came back home to stay with his parents. He then got his own place. He used to visit me, then went to his place. After the same time, he moved in with me at my place. It was great at first. He got a new job at Posman. Every time he is off, he will come home or I will visit him at Posman.

He started to drink too much coming home late. When I ask why he is coming home late, he will say he’s not cheating on me. Then one day he said to his coming home, I must wait for him in town… I went to town to do my hair and waited for him for a while till I decided to go home. When I called him, his phone was off. He came home late at 2am. When I asked him why he was late, he said, “Am I the man” Why are you asking many questions?” He started to beat me, pulling my hair. I ran to his parents, and his parents did nothing about it… He asked for forgiveness, and he said he wouldn’t do it again because I loved him and I forgive him.

He lost his job at Posman because he was drinking too much and always sent sick notes… He was drinking each and every day; he was even cheating on me when I asked if he denied. Got many messages on his phone chatting with other women… We would fight every day because he is now drinking every day, he says I am having an affair… One day he came home late and drunk as usual. He asked for my phone. I said no. He beat me. I ran to my sister’s place. He followed me there. He forced to enter my sister’s place. I m tired of this life. I’m don’t even know what to do anymore. I feel hopeless, useless, no purpose in life.