Effects Of Rape In South Africa

Rape, one of the most powerful words in the world. It carries a heavy meaning, and an even heavier burden when describing South Africa. Rape is rampant throughout South Africa with at least 27 women being raped per day just in West Cape. Although the horrors of rape are widespread in South Africa, little to no action is ever taken against rape cases with only 1% of reported cases ending in conviction (“About Rape”). Even more prevalent in South Africa is the never-ending racism. Apartheid, the Afrikaans word meaning separateness, brought legislated segregation to the secluded country. For nearly 50 years, black South Africans dealt with suppression by powerful white South Africans. After being abolished in 1994, black South Africans felt the

IN Bitter Fruit, Lydia had the the weight of being a rape victim on her shoulders along with her entire family. Lydia did her best to avoid the subject at all costs, even though it had been 19 years since she was raped (Dangor 15). The rape committed by a white police officer was ignored because it was a weapon used against anti-apartheid activists (Frenkel 9). Rape was not seen as a violation of the human body or a crime, but rather a war tactic meant to instill fear in black South Africans. Lydia was not able to report her case to law enforcement, and had to survive the best she could given her circumstances. Lydia dealt with her agonizing pain in complete silence. She revealed in her diary that she could not even turn to her husband for comfort, and she had to suffer alone (Dangor 127). Lydia’s rape is symbolic of the violence unspoken in South Africa (Miller 1). Disgrace and Bitter Fruit acknowledge the rising rates of rape cases being reported, and are very open about it. Dangor’s character Mikey, a child of rape, has a moment of epiphone when he thinks “It explains everything...even the strange ‘upsurge’ of brutality against women” (32). While the ‘upsurge’ isn’t recent, Mikey notices the excessive rape crimes throughout the country. He also notices that the memories of his parent who lived through apartheid hold deeper meaning for the country’s significant history. Their memories being revived create a domino effect of grief and anger throughout the