Alison Botha’s story is one many South Africans have shed tears over, felt indescribable rage about, and become inspired by — often in one sitting.
Now, as Botha faces a medical mountain, SA and people across the world are uniting to help her push onward and upward.
Botha is known across the world as someone who went from survivor to warrior. In 1994, she faced unimaginable horrors when one December night changed her life forever.
Two men abducted Botha and took her to the outskirts of Gqeberha. She was raped violently, stabbed more than 30 times, and left with her throat slit from ear to ear in the bushes, where she was as good as dead.
Except, Botha didn’t die. With every last ounce of strength she had left, Alison dragged herself to the road where a passing car found her. When she eventually received medical help, she had so many wounds doctors could not count them.
Botha’s decision in that moment was to deny death and to continue pushing on day after day, not simply as a survivor, but as a source of immense strength for countless women.
No one would’ve blamed Botha for losing herself to trauma. But, she chose a new life; one where she would help so many other women become warriors instead by seeing the power of choice to triumph over life’s hardships.
Today, Alison is a champion for GBV victims. Her book, I Have a Life — Alison’s Journey, became a best-seller and the epitome of courage. She inspired WomanInpowered — an initiative that helps women protect themselves and won the Rotarian Paul Harris award for ‘courage beyond the norm’ among many other accolades.
While she might be a formidable warrior, Botha is also a human. And right now, her body is in a terrible predicament.
As her collaborating ghostwriter, Marianne Thamm, explained in Daily Maverick, Botha endured an aneurysm in late September where bleeding on the brain ensued.
She underwent surgery to stop the haemorrhage in Cape Town and is currently in and out of consciousness.
She is scheduled to undergo further brain surgery to help with the fluid that has built up.
But, as Lynette Oxley of Girls On Fire explains, Botha does not have the medical aid to cover all this.
As such, her legal team have stepped forward to help Botha climb this medical mountain via a trust fund, and the support has been significant!
People from all over the world and country have sent their support, love and contributions. Botha has touched so many lives, and now people are paying it forward to ensure this battle is one she won’t go through alone.
Everyone who wishes to support this incredible South African can do so via the following:
Tania Koen Attorneys
Nedbank Trust Account No. 1302230492
International donations include SWIFT code NEDSZAJJ
Tania Koen (legal representative): tkatt@mweb.co.za.
– GOODTHINGSGUY
