A man from Mfuleni in Cape Town says he was left bleeding and humiliated after allegedly being stabbed with a broken bottle by his girlfriend during a heated argument at their home over his phone password.
The victim claims that after the attack, he went to the local police station to report the incident but was shocked when officers allegedly laughed at him instead of assisting him.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community and raised questions about how male victims of violence are treated when they seek help from authorities.
Night out ends in violence
According to the victim, the incident happened late at night after his girlfriend returned home from a nearby tavern. He said she arrived at their home shortly before midnight and asked him to join her for a drink. However, he refused because he needed to wake up early the next morning for work.
What started as a disagreement quickly escalated into a serious argument. The man claims his girlfriend then demanded the password to his cellphone, accusing him of hiding something from her.
He initially refused but eventually entered the password in an attempt to calm the situation and prevent the argument from getting worse. However, things allegedly spiralled out of control after she began going through his phone.
Bottle attack leaves victim bleeding
The victim claims his girlfriend accused him of cheating, and the argument soon turned violent.
According to the man, the woman had brought a bottle home from the tavern earlier that night. During the confrontation, she allegedly broke the bottle and used the sharp glass to stab him.
The attack reportedly left him injured and bleeding.
“I was shocked when she stabbed me. I was left bleeding and she disappeared,” the victim said.
The man said he was left shaken and in pain after the incident.
Allegations against police
Hoping to get help, the victim went to Mfuleni Police Station to open a case and report the assault.
However, he claims the experience left him feeling even more humiliated.
According to the man, when he told an officer that his girlfriend had attacked him with a broken bottle, the officer allegedly laughed at him.
He further claimed that another officer who was nearby did not intervene or assist him either.
“The cop just laughed when I told her my girlfriend stabbed me,” he said.
The victim believes that if the situation had been reversed and he had attacked his girlfriend, he would have been arrested immediately.
“If it was me who beat up a woman, I would already be in jail,” he said.
Police respond to allegations
Police have responded to the claims, saying that allegations of poor service from officers should be reported directly to station management so that they can be properly investigated.
Authorities say complaints against police officers are treated seriously and must be formally lodged before action can be taken.
Officials have encouraged the complainant to approach the station commander if he believes officers failed to assist him.
Debate over male victims of abuse
The incident has sparked conversations about how male victims of domestic violence are treated when they come forward.
While gender-based violence against women remains a major issue in South Africa, advocacy groups say men can also experience abuse and may struggle to be taken seriously when reporting it.
Community members say all victims of violence deserve equal protection and support from law enforcement.
Victim wants justice
The victim says he is still determined to seek justice and hopes the matter will eventually be investigated properly.
He believes that victims of violence should be able to approach the police without fear of being mocked or dismissed.
For now, the man says he wants authorities to take his complaint seriously and ensure that those responsible for violence are held accountable.
Source: Daily Sun