Exit!

by Grizelda Grootboom

Exit! is the story of Grizelda Grootboom life of prostitution and her ultimate escape from it all. Grizelda’s life was dramatically changed when she was gang raped at the age of nine by teenagers in her township. Her story starts there. It is a story about the cycle of poverty, family abandonment, dislocation and survival in the streets of Cape Town. She reveals the seedy and often demonised life of a prostitute; she describes the clubs and beds of the prostitution and drug industry over a twelve-year period. She moves to Johannesburg at age of 18 in an attempt to start a new life, but instead she is trafficked on arrival in Yeoville, tied in a room for two weeks and forced to work as a sex slave. What follows is a life of living hand-to-mouth, from one street corner to another, being pimped, being taught how to strip, and acquiring and using a variety of drugs – from buttons, ecstasy and cannabis to cocaine – to sustain herself. She speaks of how her prostitution gains momentum in city strip clubs and the sometimes tragic pregnancies that would follow. Grizelda’s harrowing tale ends with reconciliation with her family, while raising her six-year-old son. In writing this story she hopes to open a window on the hidden and often misunderstood world of prostitution, thereby raising better awareness and understanding about its harms and the horrors of trafficking and prostitution of women and children, and drug abuse. She hopes to heal and to set an example for others to follow.

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2016

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A haunting tale of a girl let down by her society and family, forced by societal conditions to live a nomadic life fuelled by drugs, prostitution and alcohol, launched by human trafficking.

Grizelda Grootboom starts off her life story with a tone which entraps the reader into wanting to read more. Then the tone takes a sentimental turn reminiscent of her childhood. Short and non-flowery sentences took me back to Grizelda's childhood. Up until the event that changed the course of her life, the delivery had such purity and innocence.

Grizelda chronicles her life of pounding the pavement as a prostitute, moving from pimp to pimp in search of security, both emotionally and physiologically, existing in a drug fuelled state numbing herself from herself, the forced abortion and eventually, finding herself.

This book is short, only 192 pages, but the story will leave you battered and bruised. You will shed tears for Grizelda and all those who are forced by social conditions to wonder from city to town to street to under a bridge and eventually to a dustbin.

Grizelda's story highlights the importance of shelters. She spent her formative years moving in and out of shelters that I couldn't help but commend the work that places such as these do. These transient homes need all our support. A commitment to them, however small, from the general public will go a long way.

Throughout the story, the language and tone were indicative of someone who was still undergoing the healing process. I salute her for embracing her past, dealing with her demons and now she is mending old and forming new relationships. She is not doing it alone and I salute her for seeking a support structure. She is working with organisations fighting against abuse of marginalized persons and through helping others, she has found her healing.

Next time you stop at a traffic light, instead of getting annoyed at the children begging, just spare a thought at the circumstances which drove them away from home to carve a little place for themselves out there against the elements.

BlackBird Books, the publishers, doing the most to bring these stories to us. Real stories by real people for real people.👌

[Zinhle Ngidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My transformation was never simple. Because of the world I knew, the skills I had and the demands of my life, I always had to make difficult decisions”

About the book:
After losing her paternal great grandparents, the home was demolished, both her parents abandoned her at the age of 8. That is how Grizelda’s life took a turn. At 9 she was gang raped by the boys in Khayelitsha. She had to find a new home, under the bridge with other street kids. This is after she had located her mother who wanted nothing to do with her as she was already married with another man and had other kids.

She was in and out of shelters of Capetown, started using drugs.
At the age of 18 she was trafficked by a friend to Johannesburg where she was raped, drugged and physically abused for 2 weeks then she was thrown on the Jozi streets

She learned how to survive and joined other street ladies on prostitution, drug abuse and many more other activities. She moved from pimp to pimp. These led to unwanted pregnancies. She moved from clubs to clubs, for prostitution, strip dancing, pole dancing and all.

Khayelitsha community did nothing to protect young girls though they knew the boys who raped kids in the area. Her being abandoned and with no food, no education, no protection she was forced to follow her friend to Johannesburg with the hope to start all over and get a job. Circumstances forced her to move, little did she know what to expect in the big city.
In her book she says her prostitution was not due to force but due to social circumstances that make kids like her ripe for exploitation.

She travelled from city to city, she has exchange sexual favours with truck drivers for her to reach her next destination, she has been forced to abort a child while drugged and thrown in another city and hospitalized for weeks... like it’s a lot that this girl has been through. Some parts you find yourself shedding a tear and realize how lucky you have been in your entire life.

Themes that are addressed in the book include human trafficking, sexual abuse, physical abuse, rape, abortion, drug abuse, adoption

Exiting was not easy for the author, there are times where you will be furious as to why are you going back, but without any support structure you do what you know best. - power to this girl because the day she left it all, she decided to tell everyone. She is still going through healing phase, now an activist.

50% proceeds from sales of this book are donated to organizations against sexual slavery. Big ups to her- let us buy the book just for this course. Human trafficking is escalating at an alarming rate so as killing of our kids and sisters. This book is for awareness and education of what happens out there while we are indoors enjoying ourselves. Some of the things in this book you will think “theres no way” but unfortunely it is true

Thanks to Grozelda. She is strong- some would have killed themselves long ago.

[Puleng Hopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

At a tender age of eight Grizelda's world came tumbling down. This, after having lived with her dad's family in a warm and loving home in Woodstock Capetown. She lost her pregnant pet cat,Ginger. Her great grandparents passed away, one after the other. Their home was demolished by the then government. Both her biological parents abondened her. She lived as a street kid, under a bridge and at various shelters. She was gang raped at nine. Human trafficked to Johannesburg at the age of eighteen.

From Gauteng, a horrifying curtain opens on a gruesome nomadic life of survival, deception, unwanted pregnancies,drugs, prostitution, night clubs, strip dancing, theft, gangsterism, pole dancing, police arrests , pimps, exploitation and human trafficking.

A story of overcoming that Grizelda was lucky to have lived to tell. Via the NGO Embrace Life, she continues to raise awareness about sex slavery and related activities.

How beautiful that she is contributing fifty percent of the sale proceeds of her book to Embrace Life.

An extremely sad,heart wrenching and numbing real life account , narrated bravely with the clear objective to inform, educate and assist. An ideal read for all, especially for teenagers and young adults.Stuff that sheros are made of.

[Claire Hondo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very sad story and so traumatizing for me as a reader😭😭😭 so can only imagine what about her who experience it all🤦🏾‍♀️😭. It's a true-life story of the author on how family and society let her down, hustling as a kid guys at 8/9years she was just a child up to the journey of prostitution and being a drug addict. This was such an eye-opener for me: how much human and sex trafficking is happening in this country, levels of prostitution and pimping, drugs and its trafficking but also how they are so many shelters out there taking people off the streets(it might not be much but at least something is being done). I am glad she finally had an Exit and is on the continuous path of healing and self-discovery. If you thought you have had it tough, read this book and you will see what life can deal you.

[Avery Dille]

Very intense and graphic depictions however it opens up your view of the current violated human rights.

[Lesego · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is one of the most eye opening books I have ever read. The struggles that women face in a male dominated and patriarchal society are just immense. This real life story of Grizelda gave me new perspective about what it means to be a woman in a world that treats women as second class citizens.

Grizelda exposes the underworld that exists in modern societies, where drugs, human trafficking and abuse occur at the expense of women and children. She experienced trauma from a young age through rape along with neglect that spiraled her journey into the trap of a dark life of the underbelly of society.

I am grateful for her life, her journey and her story, for had it not been this book, my perspective on what is happening right under our noses would not have been expanded. I now have empathy and understanding for the women caught up in the life of prostitution and drugs who genuinely want out of the life. Thank you very much for this moving, brutally honest and heart wrenching story. Wishing you all the best on your journey to recovery.

[Zozo Mogoera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about how resilient the human spirit is. But for me also saw the hand of God in how she managed to survive so many instances of abuse which could have easily lead to death and disease.

I think that, Both these reasons are exactly why she wrote the book. In the right hands, the book will inspire, encourage & comfort.

[David Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Exit! to get some background for a project I’m involved in within the area of sex exploitation, prostitution and trafficking. I cannot fathom what some humans can do to others. What this person has gone through is shocking, brave, appalling and true.

Amazing lessons, education, courage and honesty in this book.

[BC Rocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

(TR) Traumatic age-old story of young Coloured girl who is forced into prostitution due to challenging family circumstances. True story, sometimes harrowing read - but important to understand what goes on in society.

[Magda w RPA · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s both a very sad and empowering book. I think it’s important for people to read it and recognize the author’s courage to speak up. No child should have to deal with what she went through.

[Marion Roux · Rating 1 out of 5]

Young life of prostitution and drug use.
Not great reading, writing, nor content

[Megan Woodhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality check 101

[Lerato Boshigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book.

[Bronwen Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.... absolutely gripping, found myself in despair weeks after reading the book.

[Hannah Farrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Grizelda, for sharing your story. A true testament of strength.

[Abdullahi Mursal · Rating 2 out of 5]

If it wasn’t a true story i would say it too repetitive

[Enkosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young woman in South Africa living in These trying times this book helped me and taught me.

[Yolandi Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not crazy about the writing style, but giving it 4 stars, because it must have taken Grizelda major guts to tell her story. Thanks for sharing your story and spreading awareness.

[whynnot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting, harrowing expose of sex slavery, human trafficking and patriarchy. It's remarkable how Grizelda makes it through and has the courage to tell her story. Thank you for speaking out

[Florah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Painfully penned, the author’s story is one of heart break as well as courage and hope.

Reason you will not find me in a train at night…😢

[Carla Guedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a powerful book and yet so simply written. The challenge with biographical stories and memoirs is that the outcome is always known. There are no surprise endings per se, so the power is in the tale itself. This is especially true of this book where the author's limited education has left her with a simple vernacular with which to write. This is ideal. The story that she has to tell is powerful and does not need any 'decorating' with fancy descriptions or academic language. Telling the tale of being trafficked into the sex trade, a fate that began with a rape at the age of 9 and the ongoing battle against the addiction to drugs, does not require fancy words, does not require imagery or plot line or characterization. Sometimes "life really is stranger than fiction" and this gripping tale of survival does not need fictionalizing to engage the reader. I completed this admittedly short book in a short space of time but I suspect that I will be going over the details in my head for a long time. Some people's lives truly serve as a reason to be grateful for the lives that we are living.