'Rape destroyed my life'

2008-05-22 09:48

Marietie Louw-Carstens

Polokwane - A man who was apparently repeatedly raped in police cells, had to give up his work due to the emotional trauma and now delivers pizzas to make money.

Nico Bouwer, 25, said his life had been destroyed after the alleged rape earlier this year.

The police investigation into the attack has not been completed, almost six months after it was reported.

His ordeal was recently spread around the web through a chain letter, and is being widely talked about.

"I don't know who put my story on the internet but I'm happy about it, now more people can learn the truth".

Tyre burst

Bouwer decided to talk openly about what had happened to him to help others who might have gone through the same nightmare.

Bouwer is involved in a civil claim against police as he says police did not allow him to make a call after he was arrested on January 6 on a charge of reckless driving. He was driving home from a friend's place when his car's left tyre burst and he hit a lamppost and a traffic light outside the city.

"I was definitely not drunk. I still gave the tow truck company all my details".

An ambulance took Bouwer to hospital with a broken rib, cuts to his face and head as well as a chest injury.

"Next thing I knew, police fetched me. I was still full of cuts and blood." Bouwer was taken to the city's police cells.

"I repeatedly asked if I could make my one phone call but they refused".

He said there were about 25 detainees in the cells. According to Bouwer, a group of about eight attacked him and gang-raped him. Some of the detainees held his arms, sat on him and pushed his head into a pillow while they raped him. "I couldn't do anything, because I was curled up in pain due to my injuries".

Ongoing investigations

His cries for help went unheeded. Bouwer could only call his lawyer the next morning and was released on bail.

He had to take antiretroviral drugs and recently heard he was HIV negative.

"I still get nightmares and sometimes I just get annoyed. My life is a mess." He is receiving psychological treatment and because of the trauma, lost his job at a courier company.

He was also ill for quite a while due to the antiretroviral medication. Bouwer managed to get married in March to Rose-Mary. "Now I deliver pizzas just to get food on the table for my wife and son".

According to Bouwer, his medical bills are costing thousands of rands. He said he had been contacted by people from Dubai who had seen the mail.

Police spokesperson inspector Lesiba Ramoshaba said the investigation into Bouwer's allegations was continuing.

The case of reckless driving against Bouwer was still ongoing. He said the charges of rape and sodomy that Bouwer had made, were also being investigated.

- Beeld