A 20-year-old woman from Ga-Mokgolobotho in Tzaneen, Limpopo, has spoken out after enduring a brutal assault in which her boyfriend allegedly attacked her with a tombstone and held her hostage.
Mogau Letsoalo says she is finished with her abusive partner, 34-year-old Josias Letsoalo, and vows never to return to him. “If I had died, I would have died bitter and angry. I’m not going back to him. This time, he will kill me,” she said.
According to Mogau’s family, this was not the first time she had been attacked. Her sister, Prudence Letsoalo, revealed that Josias had a history of violence. “He used to beat her and keep her at his place until she was healed so that no one would find out,” Prudence said.
The most recent incident took place on Saturday, 18 October. The following morning, Mogau’s relatives became alarmed when she didn’t return home. They followed a trail of blood along the street, which led them to Josias’s house. When they entered, they found Mogau severely injured, bleeding, and in desperate need of help.
She was rushed to hospital with serious injuries to her head and face, allegedly inflicted by Josias using a tombstone fragment. After spending days recovering, she was discharged and returned home to her family, who are now determined to protect her from further harm.
Mogau says she will never reconcile with her abuser. “He has done too much to me. I can’t go back there again. This time, he will finish what he started,” she said, adding that she has realized the importance of walking away from an abusive relationship before it turns deadly.
The case has since been brought before the Ritavi Magistrates’ Court, where Josias appeared on Tuesday, 28 October, for a formal bail application. He is expected to appear again on Thursday, 6 November, for further proceedings.
Authorities have confirmed that charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm have been opened against him. Police investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Mogau has indicated her intention to open an additional case against Josias’s current girlfriend, who she alleges was involved in the assault.
Community members in Ga-Mokgolobotho have expressed outrage over the incident, calling for justice and stronger action against gender-based violence. Local leaders have also urged women in similar situations to report abuse early and seek help from the police or support organisations.
The assault has reignited conversations in Limpopo about the alarming rates of domestic violence and the need for better protection for survivors. Social workers have emphasised that cases like Mogau’s highlight how victims often endure prolonged abuse before escaping.
As Mogau continues her recovery, she hopes her story will serve as a warning and inspiration to others facing abuse. “No woman deserves to live in fear,” she said firmly. “It’s better to leave than to stay and die.”
About the Author
