Honestly, it is so sad how sexual harassment is taking over in South Africa. A woman shared openly on social media that her friend is leaving South Africa, after she experienced sexual harassment. She reached the conclusion or decision of leaving South Africa after she realised that the harassment was starting to affect her mental health seriously.
The lady who decided to leave South Africa has apparently been to different countries previously, but has never before experienced harassment that is very much pervasive and severe, her friend said.
This is what her friend shared on social media:
“My friend is an exchange student who is leaving South Africa early because the constant sexual harassment here is harming her mental health. She’s lived in numerous countries & hasn’t experienced harassment this pervasive & severe. But South African women are gaslighted about that hell this country is.
It’s not limited to us not being able to walk alone at night because of crime. You cannot participate in public life as a woman in SA and feel safe or be left alone. You can’t take an uber / taxi or go to a restaurant/park or walk around your neighbourhood or campus in peace and safety.
Comparisons of SA to European countries may seem like a reach, but the people who have lived in countries similar to ours economically in terms of poverty/inequality, like other African countries, South Asia or Latin American countries will also tell you that something is wrong here.
I’ve been reading the stories of sexual harassment women have shared on this thread slowly throughout the day and I don’t know what else to say except that it hurts. Like my heart really hurts for us and what we’re subjected to here and the rest of me just feels enraged.”
