Mentally Disabled Women Endure Abuse in South Africa

Residents of Ikhaya Loxolo, or "Home of Peace," sing and dance. (VOA / D. Taylor)

The home is run by a highly trained mental health therapist, Alex Gunther [right] and her husband Michael (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lungiswa Xangase suffered intense abuse before she arrived at Ikhaya Loxolo (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lungiswa was burned when she was younger, but she has since overcome her fear of fire and cooking (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lungiswa eats in the background, watched by her daughter, Lulama (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lungiswa warms at a fire at the home, with a fellow resident. (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lungiswa and her daughter, Lulama, share a meal at Ikhaya Loxolo (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lumka Zenani is paralyzed and has cerebral palsy, but is always joyful and exuberant. (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lumka proudly displays a page on which she’s written her name. (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lumka must walk with the aid of a crutch, but she often falls and hurts herself (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lumka must walk with the aid of a crutch, but she often falls and hurts herself. (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Lumka colors in with a few of Ikhaya Loxolo’s younger residents (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sinesipho Makala writes her name, watched by her grandmother, Nozinzile (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sinesipho displays her name (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sinesipho performs household chores admirably at Ikhaya Loxolo (VOA/ D. Taylor)