A 20-year-old man from Hammarsdale in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, is seeking justice after he was allegedly assaulted by his girlfriend’s family, who demanded that he end his relationship with their sister. Xolani Gwala claims he was attacked on Sunday, 2 February, by three members of his girlfriend’s family, who accused him of using a love potion to keep her close.
Xolani said he was with his 22-year-old girlfriend in his rented room when the incident occurred. “They first knocked on the door, but we didn’t open for them. They kept banging on the door, demanding that we open. We didn’t open until they started breaking windows. I was worried because this is a rented room,” he explained.
When the couple finally opened the door, Xolani’s girlfriend fled the scene, leaving him alone to face her family. “They came into the room and started beating me,” he said. The attackers allegedly told Xolani they were assaulting him because they wanted him to end the relationship with their sister.
“They said they don’t want me in their sister’s life, and I should stop taking her into my room. I told them she came at her own will, and we were both happy. We’ve been together for three years,” Xolani recounted.
The family also accused Xolani of giving their sister a love potion, claiming that the couple’s closeness was unnatural. “They even accused me of giving her a love portion as we’re inseparable,” he said.
Xolani revealed that his girlfriend’s family had only recently begun disapproving of their relationship. “They were okay all along. They started to disapprove of this relationship late last year,” he said.
During the attack, Xolani’s belongings were also damaged. “They’re trying very hard to break us up. They’ve even taken her cellphone. I can’t get hold of her, and she can’t come to me,” he said.
Xolani’s girlfriend managed to contact him using a different phone number and informed him that her family had confiscated her phone. “My girlfriend called me using a different cellphone number and informed me her family members took her phone. I didn’t force their sister to come to me. We fell in love,” he said.
Determined to seek justice, Xolani reported the matter to the police. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed that the Hammarsdale police are investigating cases of assault and malicious damage to property.
“The cops in Hammarsdale are investigating cases of assault and malicious damage to property following an incident in which a 20-year-old man was assaulted allegedly by suspects known to him,” Ngcobo said.
The incident has left Xolani shaken but determined to fight for his relationship. “They’re trying very hard to break us up, but we love each other. I just want justice to prevail,” he said.
As the investigation continues, Xolani hopes that the authorities will take swift action to ensure that such acts of violence are not repeated. For now, he remains committed to his girlfriend, despite the challenges they face from her family.