Overcoming adversity: the inspiring journey of Nazreen Ally
FROM being abandoned as a baby, molested by her caregivers, raped by a police officer and joining a gang, Nazreen Ally decided to keep on fighting for a better future.
The 45-year-old Durban woman recently featured in an international documentary, where she spoke of her childhood trauma and how she went on to become a bodybuilding champion, a motivational speaker and CEO of a security company.
Ally, who was born in District Six, Cape Town, said she was abandoned by her mother when she was just a few months old.
“She had left me with neighbours, while my father, who worked as a seaman on fishing trawlers, was away. My mother was a drug dealer, who had married a gang leader. She had met my father when her husband was imprisoned. However, when he was released, she returned to him and left me behind.
“My father, who was away for long periods of time, decided to take me to Durban to stay with his parents in Phoenix. I was then taken to the child welfare society and was thereafter officially fostered by my grandparents. My grandparents showed me love, care, compassion and most importantly God,” she said.
However, at the age of seven she was molested by people who were her caregivers.
“This would happen while my grandmother was at work. My grandfather was ill and constantly in hospital. However, somehow as a child, your brain tends to block out such incidents. I continued to excel in academics and sport.
“At age 13, I remember I was weeks away from participating as a 100m sprinter where I was going to receive my Natal colours, when I was raped by a police officer. He was feared in the area we resided in.”
Ally said the police officer thereafter accosted her on three occasions, and raped her twice – in full view of his friend and two of her schoolmates.
“My world came crashing down when he raped me in front of the two boys from my school. I became the total opposite of the vibrant, energetic and fun-loving high achiever I once was. I refused to leave my room, stopped eating and just cried constantly.
“One day, the social worker who would visit me on a monthly basis, found me in this state as my grandparents had no idea what to do. I could not speak about it to anyone as my rapist threatened to kill my grandparents. She immediately removed me from the home for urgent assessment at the children's facility in Fort Napier Hospital. My nightmares then began.”
Ally said all she wanted to do was find a way to escape.
“A child psychologist assessed me daily. Still, I did not talk. I was fearful. I clearly remember how I saw patients outside through my room window in straight jackets and shackles accompanied by nurses in the garden area.
“Everyday I looked at the concrete fence with barbed-wire and tried to figure out how I was going to escape. I was desperate to get out. Eventually, I received my first telephone call. It was from my father. He said he was coming to get me out.
“However, when he eventually came, he took me back to my grandparent’s home and then left for Cape Town. The fears were still there and the feelings of being ashamed and embarrassed had overwhelmed me. I refused to go to school. I was too ashamed to face the boys that witnessed the incident.”
Ally said at age 14, she dropped out of school and joined a gang, who were car thieves.
“I was almost shot on many occasions, while running from the police. It was a world of chaos as I was living on the edge, constantly being picked up by the police and still being abused by men of the law as I was an easy and vulnerable target.”
The mother of one daughter, aged 26, said after being held captive by the gang leader and later beaten for escaping, she knew she had to change her life.
“However, when I was 16 I met a policeman, who is now my ex-husband, and had my daughter three years later. This was the break in my life or so I thought. Weeks after giving birth, I battled severe depression where all the flashbacks of every incident from childhood flooded my mind. During this time I was also doing my matric through the SAPS, which I went on to pass with a distinction.
“I was then taken care of by a team of doctors and underwent 12 years of cognitive therapy. It was also through the timeous efforts of the doctors and hospitalisation, I was able to recover.”
Ally said she later moved to the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal where she opened a rape crisis center, The Haven of Hope.
“I had assisted by counselling and empowering victims as well as creating a safe haven for victims of rape and abuse until they were strong enough to cope in their own capacity. Rape statistics, especially child rape, remains a growing concern.”
Ally said she also achieved a diploma in exercise science through the Health and Fitness Professional Association and opened a gym.
“I also decided to apply my skills to my body and did my first competition with the International Federation Bodybuilding Association South Africa. I was the Bodyfitness Champion in 2016. I have also assisted many women in achieving their fitness goals and motivated them further in other areas of their lives.
“I also became a motivational speaker. I was often invited to speak to women and empower them using my experiences and traumas. I encourage them that it takes willpower in order to achieve anything you set your mind to. I also teach self-manifestation and tapping into one's inner strength - taking negative and turning it into positive.”
Ally added that at 18, she had security training and worked as an officer at various companies.
This, she said, encouraged her to open her own security company, Falcon Protection Services.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic I had to close my gym. The struggle was real and being in this position made me vulnerable to ‘sick’ men who offered me assistance, in return for sexual favours. However, I was not going to choose the easy way out that would have ruined all that I worked for. I was also not going to ruin my walk with God.
“Therefore, having gained experience in various positions as a security officer, this was the next best thing for me to do. However, the men in the security field told me it was not going to work as I would get ‘eaten alive’ and I needed to throw in the towel.
“But I knew I had what it takes to take on the streets. I prayed to God about this path and slowly things started falling into place, I got my answer. I went on to become a bodyguard for a well-known woman and have since started to build my skills and portfolio. I am now a range officer and have decided to empower women tactically for safety reasons.”
Ally added that a person’s purpose or character was not defined by their perpetrators actions
“Do not give power to what you have experienced. Do not allow that experience to shackle you from moving forward. They might have violated you, but they have not taken away your willpower. As long as you are breathing, you have a chance to persevere with consistency towards your dreams and aspirations.”