Kimberly acid attack victim remains positive despite challenges

A 22-year-old man who was attacked with acid in Kimberley in Northern Cape last year, says despite the challenges and the trauma he endured, he remains positive. He sustained severe burns from the acid and was hospitalised for three months. It’s alleged that the acid attack followed an altercation between him and the perpetrator.

The acid attack victim says he is taking it one day at a time, and not letting what happened demoralise him.

The 22-year-old man, who wants to remain anonymous, sustained third-degree burns and spent months in hospital. He says the wounds on his neck and upper body were so severe that doctors had to cut the skin on his thighs to patch them.

He says the incident completely changed his life.

“Right now, I am just facing a lot of challenges with my life because my arm, I can’t do anything with it and I don’t have an ear. I can’t hear properly. Sometimes I am feeling like when people are talking, I am feeling dizziness. So, that is how I feel about my life,” he says.

The victim says it was difficult to come to terms with what happened to him, but having a supportive family and positive people around him motivated him to focus on his healing.

“Some people advised me just because I don’t have an ear, I must not care what other people are saying about me in the streets. I must just be like other kids. Sometimes, I take off my mask so that kids can get used to how I look. They also ask me in the streets how I got burnt and I tell them.”

Even though it has been the toughest year of his life, he remains hopeful and says he is grateful for the gift of life. His family say they are pleased with his progress, they are patiently waiting for him to get an artificial ear in March.

N. Cape acid attack survivor remains positive