Zethu

Zethu is 16 years old and lives in CatoCrest, a rural area just outside Durban. When she was 6, Zethu's mother brought her to her father and then took off for good.

Life with her father was tough for Zethu. Her father's family disliked the girl and treated her badly. They considered Zethu an extra burden to an already large family. They told her that she was not a part of the family. Even now she is not sure if the man she lived with is her biological father.

Her father was a vicious man that treated Zethu as his peronal slave. Shortly after she moved in with him, he started raping her in their shack. He manipulated and threatened Zethu and told her that he would kill her if she ever told anyone.

For years Zethu suffered alone. Too embarassed and too scared to share her terrible secret, she told no one what her father did to her. In the end however, the abuse became too much. After gathering all her courage, she confided in her grandmother. Her grandmother however didn't believe her and accused her of lying. She thought Zethu to be ungrateful for everything her son had done for the girl over the years. Zethu felt terribly alone and did not know what to do anymore.

A few months later Zethu though about running away and she told a friend that she wanted to kill herself. After constant questioning Zethu finally told her friend why she was so upset. Fortunately, Zethu's friend immediately went home and told the story to her mother, who had heard about Bobbi Bear that same week.

As soon as Mildred, a Bobbi Bear Child Safety Officer, heard the story, she made plans to meet Zethu in school. When Mildred met her, the girl collapsed and told everything that had happened to her over the past 10 years. Mildred comforted her and assured her that she believed the story and would do everything she could to help.

Mildred took Zethu to the local police station and supported Zethu throughout the recounting of her story. After that, she took the girl to the hospital to have her examined and tested for HIV/AIDS. Zethu's father was arrested that same night and taken into custody.

Zethu now lives with her friend and constantly receives support and help from Mildred and Bobbi bear. Her father's family refuses to talk to her and continues to believe she is lying. The trial against her father will be held in November. Supervised by Bobbi Bear, Zethu prepares to testify against her father, so he may be convicted.