Gender violence: NUSA seeks justice for Nigerian woman allegedly debased by South African soldiers

The Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) has pleaded with the South African Government to ensure that justice is served in the case of a Nigerian woman debased by its military.

The woman, Mrs Aderonke Ololade Matsaung, nee Adegoke, is a Nigerian lady born in Osun State but married to a South African MK member, the military arm of ANC in exile Mr Richard Sonny-Boy Matsaung in 1995.

NUSA said in a statement from Pretoria by its President, Mr Collins Mgbo that the union was approaching the government for justice because “We have faith in the Justice system of South Africa and pray that justice be served irrespective of nationality and gender.”

Narrating the woman’s ordeal, he said that the couple met at Federal College of Education, Osiela, Abeokuta in Ogun State in 1990 and after their marriage, they moved  back to South Africa in 1996.

He added that they had three children and lived at a place called Massgrave in Durban, KwaZuluNatal. 

Mgbo said that in 2012, Richard left home and didn’t come back for over a month only for his wife to discover that he was transferred to Johannesburg where he was staying with another woman at Dornkop military base, South Gate.

According to the NUSA president, the woman said the development has made her depressed and under medication for blood pressure.

“At a point they decided to divorce and during the process of divorce, the family advocate had to interview the children as to where they would prefer to be, either with the mother or the father. The oldest child, 12, told the advocate that living with their father is a living hell. 

 She was given custody of the children. After the divorce, the court gave him an order to pay her R12,000 a month for maintenance of the children but he didn’t honour the court decision. On the 9th of February, 2022, a group of soldiers and police, numbering over 100, broke the house where they are staying and took everything in the house and chased the family out of the house.”

He added that today, the children have no place to stay, they are scattered in different places.

“They got into the house while she was undressed, with a gun on her head and took away all her clothes, curtains, underwear and her medication. She is under medication for blood pressure which she takes three times a day but for the past three days, she has not been able to take her medication. Unfortunately, when she went to the toilet yesterday, she discovered that she was passing red substance.”

 Mgbo alleged: “The army had taken away her dignity, they have intimidated her and her young children and grandchild which is only two years old. They have threatened to shoot her if she took pictures, now she is ill and we don’t know what will become of her and her children tomorrow. We are calling on the Department of Justice, Office of the Public Protector, SA Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Government and South African Government to intervene in the matter and restore the dignity of the woman who took care of a SA military personnel in exile and her children. We have faith in the Justice system of South Africa and prays that Justice be service irrespective of nationality and gender.’’