JOHANNESBURG – Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has joined many other people who are horrified at a video showing musician Babes Wodumo being assaulted by her boyfriend and fellow artist Mampintsha.
The attack was broadcast by Babes, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, on her Instagram live feed late on Sunday night.
In the video, Mampintsha can be seen repeatedly slapping Simelane, who asks why he keeps hitting her.
It’s not the first time Mampitsha’s abuse of the artist has come under the spotlight.
Mthethwa says abusive relationships must never be tolerated.
“Gender-based violence in our society is so endemic, it is time that we act on it and not just talk about it because if we can’t act now, we will never act. Our society has to move forward [and] people should understand that we are building a non-racial and non-sexist society.”
1. We’re absolutley horrified by the actions of Musician Mapmpintsha @MampintshaNuz caught on video where he brutally abuses Internationally celebrated Artist @BABESWODUMO. We do not only condemn this senseless act but call on @BABESWODUMO to immediately press charges against him pic.twitter.com/K7W1cyO0aO
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) March 4, 2019
