A new dawn for Obakeng

Rustenburg – In November 2018, Obakeng Rabyang from Rustenburg endured a terrible experience.

She was belittled and ridiculed on social media and made fun of in a vicious video that spread through social media like a disease, reflecting one of the darkest parts of the human condition. 
After the ‘likes and ‘re-tweets’ – finally, the social outrage had died down. 

Obakeng, like so many victims, was left with an immense feeling of shame about something that was done to her rather than something that she did. The contents of the video, and the cruelty it depicted, caused untold trauma to Obakeng. It also brought tears to the eyes of hardened law enforcement officers, who “have seen it all” during their careers. 

Touched by the trauma and humiliation the young woman had experienced, Susan Moolman decided to intervene. She orchestrated this project in cooperation with other senior SAPS representatives, as Susan realised that reconstruction surgery was needed. 

In the process, she knocked on Rustenburg Rotary Club’s door, who put her in touch with a well-known surgeon who could assist. 

The ladies from the Rustenburg Vryburgers Charity Organisation, the Department of Social Development – and especially the Phokeng Police department supported this drive to help Obakeng to put her life back on track. 

Thanks to Susan’s coordination of efforts, Obakeng received trauma counselling at the Phokeng Trauma Centre. The coordinated initiative also had Obakeng meet with Dr. Allan Visser, who arranged a renowned surgeon for reconstructive plastic surgery at no expense to Obakeng.

Dr Visser is part of Rustenburg Rotary Club and helped to make arrangements with the surgeon for the operation, as well as the arrangements at the Life Peglerae Hospital. From the get-go, the entire process was free of charge for Obakeng.

The now 20-year old Obakeng has put this horrible experience behind her and thanks to the goodwill of others and her own strong spirit, she can afford to smile once more. 

With a wide, beaming smile on her face, Obakeng expressed gratitude to everyone who assisted her to cope with the distressing experience and to undergo the operation.

“I am happy because I am getting better each day. I would also like to thank everyone who assisted me – especially Susan,” Obakeng told Platinum Weekly.  

 
“My ambition is to become a social worker one day, that I can also make a positive impact on the lives of people facing situations such as the one I experienced,” she added. 

As a token of her appreciation, Obakeng presented Rustenburg Rotary Club president George Zozo with a gift. 

The two people responsible for posting the offensive video on social media are being tried in court for charges related to indecent assault.    

They will have to face the music and live with the consequences of their actions long after the hashtags have faded.