How Asanda Zincume transformed her life from despair to determination
Image: Xoli Mtembu/IOL
In 2024, I met Asanda Zincume, a homeless woman from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal who was addicted to drugs, deeply traumatised and without drive in life. However, a year later she has transformed, is sober and beaming with purpose.
At the time, I was assigned to connect and interview unhoused women for IOL's Elevate HER campaign. In our first encounter, Zincume first beheld me with eyes full of uncertainty and hesitation.
I was, after all, a journalist, asking to stick a camera up to her face and question her on the tragic series of events that left her destitute and sleeping rough in the city's notoriously dangerous streets.
Yet, in explaining my request, I saw her uncertainty and unsaid questioning of my intentions fade. Zincume, like countless other homeless women, can determine one's sincerity or lack thereof, which is an instinct needed to survive in the streets.
What first struck me was that she was wearing high-heeled ankle boots and had subtly done her makeup. This, I subsequently learned, was armour she wore to protect herself from society's prying and often predatory eyes.
Addicted to whoonga and taking methadone to counteract the effects, Zincume told me a story of a tumultuous upbringing, sexual grooming by an older man and the pain of contracting HIV.
I recalled trauma specialist Dr Gabor Maté saying: "Don't ask why the addiction, ask why the pain."
Zincume told me that at the age of 17, she encountered a 20-year-old man selling whoonga in Durban. In exchange for sexual encounters, he gave her the drugs and a place to stay.
However, the man was subsequently caught for drug selling, and she was unexpectedly without shelter. "I was terrified of being attacked and raped while I was sleeping and killed, with my body probably being disposed of like rubbish," she said.
She also faced gender-based violence (GBV) where a man tried to coerce her into sleeping with him and beat her within an inch of her life because she refused.
With quiet confidence, Zincume also shared the horrors she has seen on the streets and how they had moulded her into the woman she is. Yet, her strength was palpable; she had weathered impossible storms and come out.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
Listening to her, I sensed that a dam had broken, and she had longed to speak about this chapter of her life to someone without a vested interest in it. I felt honoured that she entrusted that I would tell her story, with all the dignity it deserved.
The image of the homeless in contemporary media is one of filthy, reeking, drug addicts and criminal. In writing about Zincume ,I sought to challenge this vilification and humanise her in a society where she is seen as less than.
In her, I saw many facets of women in my life, those who fight battles on their own, the 'strong' ones and those who don't suffer fools. I walked away from the interview emotional, a fact which I tried to conceal.
Upon the completion of the campaign, IOL delivered dignity packs to women from the Strollers Women's shelter. At the back of my mind, I kept thinking of Zincume who was not at the event.
For that reason, I went and bought soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and sanitary pads for her. She had been among the first homeless women I interviewed, and she had given me the strength and courage to approach others and request the highly sensitive interviews.
So, when I saw again, I was elated to see the progress she had made. Her skin was glowing, and she was excited to let me know that she is studying to be a plumber. Hers is a story of perseverance, self-belief and faith. I can't wait to see what wonderful things the future has for her!
IOL News Get your news on the go. Click
here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
High Court denies bail for fisherman accused of violently attacking wife on anniversary
The Western Cape High Court found the accused wife abuser would endanger the life of the complainant, and it was not in the interests of justice to have him released. Image: IOL A man who allegedly violently attacked his wife on their ninth wedding anniversary, and faces possible life imprisonment, will remain behind bars after his second bail attempt was denied by the Western Cape High Court. The 37-year-old father of four was a fisherman in Mossel Bay up until his incarceration in May last year and faces a charge of attempted murder. He sought to appeal against his bail application, which was heard and denied in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court. The lower court found that the man would endanger the life of the complainant, and it was not in the interests of justice to have him released. According to court documents, on May 18 last year, the couple celebrated their anniversary when the man accused his wife of infidelity and began beating her with his fists. This was then followed by him telling his wife to undress, and after she fell to the ground, he proceeded to hit her multiple times with a hammer all over her body. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The attack resulted in her arm being broken. The woman sought help from neighbours, and her husband was then arrested and charged a few days later. During his second bail hearing, the man, adamant that he could only afford R300 bail, denied the charges against him and claimed that he caught his wife in bed with another person. The man is expected to go on trial on November 7. Court documents read: 'The State led evidence that the appellant had assaulted the complainant, including by striking her with a hammer so hard that her arm was broken. The medical evidence suggested that the injuries were life-threatening, and photographs put up by the State revealed severe harm to the complainant's face and body. 'Not only this, but evidence was led to show that he had previously assaulted the complainant, and that the complainant had been raped by the appellant's brother in the presence of the appellant and thereafter he had asked the complainant to withdraw charges against his brother. The State also adduced evidence that the complainant is very afraid of the appellant.'
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
How Asanda Zincume transformed her life from despair to determination
Asanda Zincume: A year of transformation from homelessness to hope. Image: Xoli Mtembu/IOL In 2024, I met Asanda Zincume, a homeless woman from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal who was addicted to drugs, deeply traumatised and without drive in life. However, a year later she has transformed, is sober and beaming with purpose. At the time, I was assigned to connect and interview unhoused women for IOL's Elevate HER campaign. In our first encounter, Zincume first beheld me with eyes full of uncertainty and hesitation. I was, after all, a journalist, asking to stick a camera up to her face and question her on the tragic series of events that left her destitute and sleeping rough in the city's notoriously dangerous streets. Yet, in explaining my request, I saw her uncertainty and unsaid questioning of my intentions fade. Zincume, like countless other homeless women, can determine one's sincerity or lack thereof, which is an instinct needed to survive in the streets. What first struck me was that she was wearing high-heeled ankle boots and had subtly done her makeup. This, I subsequently learned, was armour she wore to protect herself from society's prying and often predatory eyes. Addicted to whoonga and taking methadone to counteract the effects, Zincume told me a story of a tumultuous upbringing, sexual grooming by an older man and the pain of contracting HIV. I recalled trauma specialist Dr Gabor Maté saying: "Don't ask why the addiction, ask why the pain." Zincume told me that at the age of 17, she encountered a 20-year-old man selling whoonga in Durban. In exchange for sexual encounters, he gave her the drugs and a place to stay. However, the man was subsequently caught for drug selling, and she was unexpectedly without shelter. "I was terrified of being attacked and raped while I was sleeping and killed, with my body probably being disposed of like rubbish," she said. She also faced gender-based violence (GBV) where a man tried to coerce her into sleeping with him and beat her within an inch of her life because she refused. With quiet confidence, Zincume also shared the horrors she has seen on the streets and how they had moulded her into the woman she is. Yet, her strength was palpable; she had weathered impossible storms and come out. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Listening to her, I sensed that a dam had broken, and she had longed to speak about this chapter of her life to someone without a vested interest in it. I felt honoured that she entrusted that I would tell her story, with all the dignity it deserved. The image of the homeless in contemporary media is one of filthy, reeking, drug addicts and criminal. In writing about Zincume ,I sought to challenge this vilification and humanise her in a society where she is seen as less than. In her, I saw many facets of women in my life, those who fight battles on their own, the 'strong' ones and those who don't suffer fools. I walked away from the interview emotional, a fact which I tried to conceal. Upon the completion of the campaign, IOL delivered dignity packs to women from the Strollers Women's shelter. At the back of my mind, I kept thinking of Zincume who was not at the event. For that reason, I went and bought soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and sanitary pads for her. She had been among the first homeless women I interviewed, and she had given me the strength and courage to approach others and request the highly sensitive interviews. So, when I saw again, I was elated to see the progress she had made. Her skin was glowing, and she was excited to let me know that she is studying to be a plumber. Hers is a story of perseverance, self-belief and faith. I can't wait to see what wonderful things the future has for her! IOL News Get your news on the go. Click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Judge throws out explosive allegations against ANC veteran Mathews Phosa
Dr Mathews Phosa cleared of harassment allegations by North Gauteng High Court Image: Cindy Waxa The North Gauteng High Court has dismissed a case against ANC veteran Dr Mathews Phosa, which included serious allegations of harassment, unlawful surveillance, and manipulation of the legal and media systems. Earlier this week, the court rejected a claim brought by Jan Hendrik Stephanus Venter, who described himself as a former employee of Phosa. Venter sought R25 million in damages for alleged emotional trauma, reputational harm, and ongoing threats to his safety and dignity. On Tuesday, Judge Amien J ruled in favour of Phosa, with no order as to costs. Speaking to IOL on Thursday, Phosa said he would not dignify Venter with a response, stating that the matter lacked relevance. He added that he had previously warned Venter, who is currently serving a jail sentence in Pretoria. 'My comment is no comment. I will not give this matter any relevance, because there's no relevance at all,' said Phosa. In an urgent application filed with the court, Venter detailed what he described as a pattern of malicious conduct. In his founding affidavit, he recounted an incident that he claimed marked the start of this behaviour. 'Before a meeting at the offices of Phosa's colleague, Ulrich Roux, I was taken into a bathroom and forced to strip naked under the pretext that I might have been wearing surveillance devices,' he stated in the court papers. 'I was in tears, traumatised and emotionally destroyed. Others saw my condition in the boardroom immediately afterwards, including Mr Roux.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Venter claimed that despite laying criminal charges against a second respondent, the case went nowhere, which he attributed to Phosa's alleged legal connections and influence. He further accused Phosa of orchestrating damaging media campaigns, including arranging for legal papers to be served on him while he was incarcerated. He alleged this was done to falsely implicate him in a defamation case linked to the book Predator Politics. He also claimed that Phosa facilitated the publication of an article that falsely described him as a 'secret weapon' in Phosa's legal battles — a portrayal he called a 'malicious manipulation of facts' designed to discredit him. 'Only Dr Phosa could have supplied that false information to the journalist, as I had no access to media or communications while incarcerated,' Venter alleged. Additionally, Venter said Phosa made unfulfilled promises of financial and legal support, which he believed formed part of a pattern of betrayal and exploitation. 'I have lost all income, assets and savings; I cannot find meaningful employment due to the reputational damage. I have been left without food, transport, housing security or medication,' he said, adding that his mental health had severely deteriorated as a result. IOL News
