27-year-old Alison Botha thought December 18th, 1994 was going to be just like every other day. Except this day would turn out to be the most traumatic day of her life. She was abducted near her South African home, raped, stabbed, disemboweled, and nearly decapitated by two men, who left her for dead. Incredibly, she saved her own life and was able to get help. Alison beat the odds and survived a heinous attack. Her two attackers are now behind bars for their brutal crimes against women.  

TW: rape, sexual assault, violent crime

Petition to sign against the release of Alison's attackers

https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petition-against-the-release-of-alison-bothas-attackers.html

Sexual Assault Helpline

https://www.rainn.org/resources

Sources

“Author of I Have Life, Survivor and Inspirational Speaker.” Alison, www.alison.co.za/assets/content-page.php?id=news.

“Biography of Alison Botha.” ZAR.co.za - Biography of Alison Botha, zar.co.za/alison.htm.

Check, Reality. “South Africa Crime: Police Figures Show Rising Murder and Sexual Offences.” BBC News, BBC, 12 Sept. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49673944.

Groot, Sue de. “Abducted, Raped, Stabbed and Left for Dead: Alison Botha's Incredible Story of Survival Remains Relevant.” TimesLIVE, Sunday Times, 13 Dec. 2018, www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/books/non-fiction/2018-12-13-abducted-raped-stabbed-and-left-for-dead-alison-bothas-incredible-story-of-survival-now-a-film2/.

Reddy, Tash. “Alison Has Life - and She Truly Cherishes It.” IOL, IOL | News That Connects South Africans, 2 Dec. 2006, www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/alison-has-life-and-she-truly-cherishes-it-305843.

Staff. “South Africa Crime Stats 2020: Everything You Need to Know.” BusinessTech, 31 July 2020, businesstech.co.za/news/government/421424/south-africa-crime-stats-2020-everything-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Murders%20in%20South%20Africa%20remain,35.8%20people%20per%20100%2C000%20population.

Thamm, Marianne, and Alison Botha. I HAVE LIFE: Alison's Journey. PENGUIN RANDOM House SOUT, 2018.

“U.S. Department of State: South Africa.” South Africa Travel Advisory, U.S. Department of State, 20 Apr. 2021, travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/south-africa-travel-advisory.html.

---

This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/melancholiapodcast/support