My name is Sithelo Shozi. I am a mother of one boy and two baby girls, and I have been abused physically and emotionally, and am constantly intimidated by The father of my children. 

I was in a two and a half year relationship with the father of my children, and we have two beautiful daughters and a son together. While in the relationship I was beaten mercilessly and consistently.  I did the best I could, and stayed silent, but now I feel that I have been through enough. I feel that I have been abused and pushed far enough by the father of my children. 

The father of my children beat me to a pulp while I was pregnant with our last child, and I had to wait 3 days to find out if my baby would survive. The last draw was when the father of the children started questioning the paternity of our last child - after everything that I silently withstood. My children are far too young to live with a mother who is being bullied, intimidated and still facing abuse. I am a human being too and this kind of abuse has gone on for too long. I want freedom and justice. 

The father of my child still calls threatening to kill me. Even though I’ve moved out of our joint home with the children, he has managed to find out where we now live. 

I have filed for a protection order against the father of my children. The hearing for the granting of a final protection order against him will be heard on the 31st October 2022 at the Point Waterfront Magistrate’s Court. 

• I have started this petition to plead for justice to prevail; for the protection order to be granted so that me and my children are safe. 

Whilst this will put me against a powerful, well connected and wealthy individual, I am also a person with rights and my children deserve a fighting chance. I deserve a chance to be free too; to have the justice system of South Africa protect a woman and a mother; to protect me.  I don't want to be one of the statistics - a number - or one of the women who die at the hands of a man, like many women do in this country. I don't want cries for “Justice for Sithelo” when my body lies dead and cold. I want to live. I need protection. Please sign my petition.