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Alison Botha health update — Reunited with family and fighting for recovery

Alison Botha health update — Reunited with family and fighting for recovery
Marianne Thamm
By Marianne Thamm
27 Oct 2024
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Rape survivor Alison Botha has been transported by helicopter to Gqeberha, where she will be closer to her family and will begin her road to recovery after suffering an aneurysm last month.

Air Mercy Services has transported Alison Botha to Gqeberha to be closer to her family.

On on 25 September 2024, Botha, who became a symbol of resilience to many after she survived a brutal rape and attempted murder in 1994, suffered a massive aneurysm and underwent brain surgery in Cape Town. After surgery, first to stop the haemorrhage and then to relieve fluid build-up on her brain, Botha was deemed stable enough to make the journey to Gqeberha on Friday. Air Mercy Services stepped in to help after learning of her predicament and transported her home on a helicopter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ2Ozd8z2UM

Alison’s mother, Claire Collier, who met her daughter on arrival, said she was thrilled to have her back, adding: “We can visit her and start the long road to recovery.”

“I am beside myself that my child, who was afflicted by a second death blow has exceeded all expectations and has lived, talked and remembered. I could touch her and hold her hand and she is still in this life with me. What would I do without her?” she said.

Initially, Alison, who does not have medical aid, was rushed to a public hospital where she remained for three days before being transferred to a Cape Town state hospital for surgery.

South Africans rallied to support Alison, who has become an embodiment of resilience for refusing to be a victim after she was abducted at knifepoint and viciously raped and butchered her outside her flat in downtown Gqeberha in 1994.

Her attackers, Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, were sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole in 1997, after leaving Alison for dead at Schoenmakerskop, a remote beach outside the city in 1994.

They were both released on parole in 2023 without Alison being offered an opportunity to object, as she has done for the past 30 years.

In 1997 Alison published her best-selling book, I Have Life – Alison’s Story, which has sold more than 90,000 copies and has been translated into multiple languages.

In 2016, Alison’s journey was turned into an award-winning documentary by Uga Carlini, simply titled Alison and currently being rebroadcast by Showmax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIvFTrJGWCY

Still I Rise


For the past 30 years Alison has toured the world with her remarkable story of survival, what it was she drew on that night and the “lessons” she had learnt.

In fact, one of the doctors who attended to Alison in Cape Town recently recognised her from a talk she had once given when he was in high school. Such has been her impact.

Botha has expressed her anxiety at the release of her two assailants, who were out on bail at the time of the attack in 1994. The men had also raped a pregnant woman at knifepoint and were setting out to kill another when they were arrested.

At the time of their arrest, they could not believe Alison had survived. She testified at their trial, which made national and international headlines. 

Meanwhile, a formal application for review of the parole decision has been launched. 

The health setback has cost Alison her career as she is unable to work. She faces considerable medical expenses on her road to recovery. The aneurysm has left her with a weakened left arm and leg, in need of speech therapy and with a permanent stent to drain liquid buildup in her skull. 

A trust account has been established to assist Alison, who has never sought compensation or damages as a result of the impact of two dangerous criminals being let out on bail on multiple occasions, enabling them to wreak havoc in the lives of women.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Alison Botha — small steps to recovery after aneurysm while parole for attackers faces review

The account has been established by well-wishers and will be managed by Alison’s legal team and other professionals who have come forward. DM

Donations to the trust can be made to:



  • Nedbank Trust Account No 1302230492

  • Alison Trust

  • For international donations, include SWIFT code NEDSZAJJ.

  • Payee Address:157 Cape Rd, Newton Park, 6001

  • Description:Donation

  • Purpose: Gifts (BOP Code 401)


Read more in Daily Maverick: Rape survivor Alison Botha’s attackers back behind bars after minister revokes parole

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