Saturday, May 24, 2008

Allison Botha


Alison was born and raised in the seaside city of Port Elizabeth. Her leadership qualities started showing in her youth, she was Head Girl of Collegiate High School for Girls in 1985. After studying at the Port Elizabeth Technikon for a further year, she worked for three years before travelling to London in 1990. She spent four years overseas working and travelling. On her return to South Africa, she took up a position as an Insurance Broker with a Port Elizabeth business.
In December 1994, Alison was abducted outside her home by two men who raped, stabbed and disembowelled her, finally slashing her throat 16 times to make sure she was dead. No-one could have believed that anyone with such severe injuries could live.
But Alison defied death. And more than that, she denied her attackers the satisfaction of destroying her life.
The courage which allowed her to move beyond severe physical and emotional trauma and to turn a devastating experience into something life-affirming and strong, is an inspiration to people everywhere.
The Noordhoek Ripper trial, as it was called, captured the country's interest with its confessions of Satanism and its exposure of random evil.
One of the first South African rape survivors to speak to the media, Alison has in recent years spoken to thousands of people around the country and abroad.
Alison's story "I HAVE LIFE - Alison's Journey", was one of the first books of its kind to be published in South Africa, a country where rape statistics are among the highest in the world and is an invaluable survival guide.
It has been classified as a best-seller in South Africa and has continued to be so since publication.
Alison has been speaking on the professional speaking circuit for several years. Her aim to 'make a difference' has been overwhelming as she has spoken to countless thousands of people which include large business corporations, women and social groups as well as several schools. She has addressed international audiences in over 20 different countries including the USA, Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Audiences sit in rapt attention as Alison speaks of the brutally cruel torture to which she was subjected and how she has overcome the challenge of that experience by applying her own ABC - Attitude, Belief and Choice.
Alison wrote another book: "For the tough times: Alison's Survivors".
The manner in which she survived, her inner strength and determination, her lack of bitterness, and her serenity and humility captured the attention of the whole of South Africa. In 1995, she was awarded the prestigious Rotarian Paul Harris Award for 'Courage Beyond the Norm'. In the same year she was the first recipient of the Femina magazine's 'Woman of Courage' award. She was also chosen as Port Elizabeth's Citizen of the Year at a glittering ceremony.

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