Boitumelo Tshehle

A North West pensioner has accused her mentally disturbed son of repeatedly raping her.

Mary*, 62, of Mafikeng in North West said her son, Ronald*, 33, had regularly raped her since 2004.

She said when she asked him why he was doing this to her, he said: "I want to taste what my father tasted."

Now Mary does not want to keep it a secret anymore and she wants her son Ronald out of her house.

She also accused him of demanding sex from other family members and demanding her grandchildren's grant money, which he spent on alcohol.

"Ronald is a pain to my family. Wait until he is drunk or if he did not take his medication, you will see all hell breaks loose," she said.

"He breaks the windows and the furniture. He also fights with everybody."

Mary said she was granted a protection order against Ronald, but her son continued to rape and harass her.

Ronald's behaviour has caused tension in the family.

His younger brothers always fights with him in an effort to stop him from abusing Mary. They also want him to leave.

His brother, 22, confirmed that he constantly fought with his brother for abusing their mother.

Mary said she could not find a job because she was blind in her left eye, deaf in her left ear and her fingers were deformed. She also suffered from cervical cancer.

Mary said she had no source of income because she did not receive a disability grant or pension.

Lehlogonolo Direko, a North West University psychologist, said because Ronald was mentally disturbed, he was not criminally liable.

"He is mentally ill and does not know what he is doing," said Direko.

"He must be taken to a place where he will receive treatment."

Simon Mmope, a provincial social development spokesman said his department would provide counselling for Mary.

* Not their real names