'I was terrified'
2008-02-21 08:19
Pretoria - Razelle Botha, who was gunned down at her parents' home in a robbery, is determined to make her doctor eat his words by walking again.
She was hit in the chest, lung, spinal cord, arm and stomach when she was gunned down at her parents' home in Moreleta Park during the robbery.
While she says capital punishment should be brought back and that no mercy should be shown to cold-blooded, calculating killers, the 18-year-old matric star pupil has absolute faith in the police.
Razelle said: "Immediately after the shooting I was terrified of all black people, even the porters at the hospital. But I no longer see all black men as potential murderers.
"The black nurses here are angels. They give me hugs and shower me with sympathy. I realise now, that it's as dangerous in the townships as anywhere else."
At first, Razelle's doctor gave her a 30% chance of being able to walk again, but she's determined to make him eat his words.
"I'm exercising hard, and it's great. On Tuesday, I was exercising my arms and on Wednesday we began working on my legs. I'm determined to walk again," she said excitedly.
Wants to be in SA with boyfriend
Razelle, who got eight distinctions in matric last year, told Beeld newspaper on Monday that as soon as she could walk again she intended leaving South Africa, for her own safety.
But, she added on Wednesday, she wanted to qualify in Canada as a doctor before returning to South Africa to be with her boyfriend.
"He wants to study and work here, and that's why I intend returning home. I also want to come back to help the people of our country."
Razelle is likely to be in hospital for another eight weeks before being discharged.
"I'm getting stronger and better every day," she said.