Gruesome Attack Survivor Alison Botha Shares 2nd Near-Death Experience: “I Had To Learn To Walk”

• Alison Botha, who was brutally attacked and left for dead, shared how she experienced another life-threatening situation
• She revealed that her near-death experience forced her to learn how to walk, eat, shower, and use the bathroom again
• The Minister of Correctional Services revoked Alison's attackers, Theunis Kruger and Frans du Toit, the opportunity to live a life outside of prison

In 1994, a South African woman named Alison Botha survived a gruesome attack in Gqeberha. Two men, Theunis Kruger and Frans du Toit, kidnapped, raped and stabbed her multiple times, leaving her for dead.

Now, 20 years later, Alison endured another near-death experience after suffering from terrible migraines.

Taking to her TikTok account on 11 August, 2025, Alison revealed:

"I've suffered from headaches since my attack. My throat was cut during my attack. [My neck] muscle has always caused me problems. We thought it was a bad migraine, but my son eventually found me later that day, collapsed on the bathroom floor."

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A few days later, Alison was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that she had a burst brain aneurysm. She shared that her family was told many times that she wouldn't survive.

"I was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, where I underwent surgery. I had to shave my head, that's why I've got the short, grey hair. My vision was impaired, I couldn't speak or move, and I couldn't even turn myself over in bed."

The author stated that her other son admitted he felt like he was speaking to a vegetable, a statement for which he later apologised, but he knew his mother was still with him.

"People didn't give up on me, and I didn't ever give up on myself."

The survivor also noted that she had several brain surgeries while in the hospital, and later went to a rehabilitation facility to relearn things people "take for granted."

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She told the online community:

"I had to learn to sit again. I had to learn to walk. I had to learn to eat, use the bathroom, and shower. All those things had to happen before I could be released back home."

The inspirational speaker concluded:

"I have slowly gotten stronger at home. I am incredibly grateful for how I have recovered, once again."

Alison's attackers' parole revoked

On 4 February, 2025, Dr Pieter Groenewald, the Minister of Correctional Services, released a statement to inform the nation that he cancelled the parole for Theunis and Frans. They were initially granted parole in July, 2023. Alison was unaware that they were to be released.

The statement further read:

"This decision was made in accordance with the Correctional Services Act, which empowers the Minister to cancel parole for individuals sentenced to life imprisonment.

"The Minister's primary consideration is the imperative of protecting and securing the community, particularly in instances where acts of violence against women and children have been committed."

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Theunis and Frans were reincarcerated and will remain in custody.

Take a look at Alison's TikTok video below:

3 Other stories about attack survivors

• In another article, Briefly News reported that a woman named Kathryn Powell survived a brutal leopard attack while preparing for her wedding. She sustained life-threatening injuries.
• A young KwaZulu-Natal man claimed that he survived a black mamba bite while he was deep in prayer. Snake expert Nick Evans shared his scepticism.
• In 2022, a 24-year-old woman who escaped a tavern unharmed recalled when a crowd of teens died trying to leave the establishment.

Source: Briefly News