The rose that grew from concrete

Katlego Supang is a 23 year-old young woman who hails from Tamasane Village in Mosojane Ward. She stayed there with her family before moving to Gaborone.

She emotively opened up on a haunting story of her troubled childhood in an interview with Woman

to Woman magazine at her workplace on the 3^rd of September, 2019. She said that she was only seven years old when her mother passed on, so she was raised by her aunt who seemed kind at first, but ended up very emotionally abusive at her. She oftentimes thinks about her late mother who warmly took care of her. “I sometimes sleep without eating, as well as go to school hungry”, Ms Supang said sadly.

She continued her narrative by saying that in life, we assume everything is smooth-sailing, but there are numerous difficulties and challenges. Her father was not there to give her comfort throughout her struggles while he was still alive.  He later passed on as well, which added to her moldering pain.  In her heart, she always wished that one day, she would find someone who would give her true love, and she thought she found that in her first boyfriend that she had moved in to stay with, only for him to turn into a beast. He started physically abusing her and disrespected her feelings. The young woman bravely stood up to him and called on God, but everything remained the same.

To add to her woes, she fell pregnant and her boyfriend chased her away from his house. She got solace from her best friend, who gave her shelter after being thrown out by her abusive boyfriend. The sad part of her story that still haunts her to this day, is that her boyfriend has never apologized, left alone tried to make amends with her. Ms Supang unconditionally said that having a baby is not a curse but is a blessing in disguise. “Ladies, you are beautiful, be strong and bold, do not let any man take advantage of you, believe in yourselves and follow your heart. Be ambitious and do what is best for you”, she remarked.

Women, do not put up with domestic violence, you are worth more, if someone is making your life hell and miserable, do not put up with it. Women cannot fix an abusive relationship, the only way is to get out of it, and it is important to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel.