Mandla Mandela salutes Ndileka
Call for dialogue into scourge of sexual abuse
Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela says his sister Ndileka’s disclosure of alleged rape in her own home must be an encouragement in every household in South Africa to engage in a bold dialogue to confront this scourge.
Ndileka set social media abuzz recently when she revealed her secret on Facebook. She said she was raped five years ago by her former boyfriend in her bedroom.
Mandla said for Ndileka to have kept the alleged rape to herself for more than five years proved that SA was a sick country, saying thousands of other alleged victims are yet to speak about their ordeals.
He said Ndileka drew on Madiba’s own example of disclosing their late father, Nkosi Zwelinzima Makgatho Lewanika Mandela’s HIV status and used it as an inspiration to add her voice to the growing list of women all over the world joining in the #MeToo campaign.
The campaign encourages victims to disclose abuse.
“We call on the fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers of our nation – all of us – to bring an end to the silence and deal with this problem gnawing at the heart of our nation. Inkosazana’s [the princess’s] bold disclosure must spur every home to create a safe space in which victims can muster the courage to speak about their ordeal and get the psychological support that every victim of rape deserves.
“We know that rape occurs largely in the narrow confines of the home or familiar surroundings and is often perpetrated by people well known to the victim. We must break the silence and tell the cowards that we will not be passive bystanders and, as with our struggle against apartheid, we shall overcome,” said Mandla.
“We salute #MeToo as it has given victims the power to tell their suppressed stories. There are thousands of other women like Ndileka out there who might have been sworn to secrecy for fear of embarrassment, reprisal, social ostracism, loss of perceived power or self-esteem. We must not allow criminals to usurp our power and right to dignity.”
He called on Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to embark on the largest and boldest awareness campaign in history in the build-up to this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
Directing his words at Ndileka, Mandla said: “I salute you MaDlomo for giving power back to that little girl in the village who has been hiding in shame and silence.
“I salute you my sister for the courage you are giving to the many men who fall victim to rape in our jails. I salute you for saying #MeToo – our voices will be silenced no more!”