Bachelorette dreams of ‘healing and rebirth’
The Plettenberg Bay beauty who is in the running for Miss Bachelorette SA, Ncumisa Madikane, hosted a healing and rebirth event last weekend which was aimed at helping bring restoration to victims of domestic abuse and families who lost their loved ones through it. Madikane said the event started out as "just a small dream" but one that came true on Saturday 23 November, and attributed its success to the unwavering support she received from the entire community, her family, church, friends and "not to forget my faithful God". "The event was more successful than I could have ever imagined and to be honest, it was an eye-opener to everyone who was there including myself. This event was about healing and the rebirth of us as a community, and we are definitely on that path of healing."
She also paid homage to the young girls and women who lost their lives at the hands of men in recent memory, such as Sandisiwe Mona, Simnikiwe Mfengu, Meghan Cremer, Felicia Oktober, Elsie Mowers and so many others.
Herself a survivor of rape in three different incidents, Madikane stressed the importance of seeking healing. "It is not only for victims of such crime but their families and the future generation. Holding on to such emotions can be toxic and I truly believe a lot of souls were healed and that rebirth is surely on the way. This is by no means saying they will get over the loss of their loved ones or forget about them altogether, but the healing is important."
Madikane said the event, which also touched on emotional abuse that has become "somewhat" normalised and justified in communities, was to raise awareness about all kinds of abuse "because some of these women have been in these toxic spaces too long for them to see what they truly are".
She confessed that she organised the event to raise funds for Thyrest Foundation Restoration Home in Plettenberg Bay, but she ended up not raising a cent. "I couldn't bring myself to ask people to pay for an event that is addressing social ills that are killing our community, our youth by the minute. This is a cause that is very close to my heart and I will find another way to raise funds for the foundation."
The Miss Bachelorette 2020 final pageant is on 25 April 2020 in Polokwane. To stay up to date with Madikane's journey, people are encouraged to follow her on social media, and to ensure she brings the title home, SMS "MBSA Ncumisa" to 33282.