Lebo M warns of blesser ‘obsession’

THE Lion King producer and musician Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake believes South Africa needs to undergo “national therapy” to address its obsession with the “blesser” culture‚ which‚ he claims‚ is simply a system of sophisticated prostitution.

The social trend‚ in which rich, often older men use their spending power to win over women with gifts and financial favours, has become a national phenomenon‚ leading to calls from social activists to stop such practices.

Morake‚ whose private life and multiple marriages have often become the subject of scrutiny‚ told reporters he was angered by how his lifestyle was condemned when those of blessers weren’t.

“We need national therapy. We are a society that condones and glorifies a blesser‚ which‚ in my view‚ is sophisticated prostitution‚ and then a guy like me who has only been married four times [he married the same woman twice], becomes a villain.

“Stop focusing on me and worry about blessers. I mean‚ look at me‚ who is married‚ and then look at a blesser. What are we teaching our kids? It is not about me‚ but if we want to make heroes out of people who destroy young women‚ something is morally wrong with us.

“It can’t be that a 12-year-old’s only view of women is to work hard to make money to buy one.” We are saying to young women‚ ‘Don’t worry about being a doctor or lawyer‚ just put on that dress and look good. A blesser will come and pay your bills’.” — DDC