Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Rapper’s gig cancelled after outrage over indecent assault
SOUTH African rapper Simiso Zwane, better known as OkMalumKoolKat, was pulled from a youth-targeted event last night after unhappy students spoke out about a nightclub’s decision to host him although he was convicted of indecent assault in Australia earlier this year.
The Assembly hosted the event WAVES, in cooperation with Commission nightclub, Head Honcho Clothing and energy drink brand Hunter’s Extreme.
Zwane, 32, was jailed for a month in Australia after pleading guilty to entering a sleeping woman’s hotel room and rubbing her private parts. He had been on a five-date tour at the time, and his lawyer blamed jet lag, intoxication and confusion.
After the performers for WAVES were announced earlier this month, some young people took to the event’s Facebook page to express their dissatisfaction. Others defended Zwane, saying his apology was adequate. Yesterday afternoon Head Honcho Clothing’s Twitter account announced that Zwane would no longer perform.
Assembly manager Carl Williams said they had noted the responses on social media.
“There was a lot of negative responses from feminist groups and significant activists,” he said. “The brand ultimately decided that they didn’t want that image associated with them.”
Twitter users shared their concerns using the hashtag # NotOkMalumKoolKat.
UCT student Hannah Lubner said the message the club would have sent if it let him perform was disturbing.
“It’s very chilling that they would let someone who assaulted a girl in her sleep perform,” she said.
The event offered a student discount to attendees and was marketed as being for “rebellious, non-conforming and unapologetic youth”. This prompted some UCT students to take to social media with their dissatisfaction.
Rape at UCT has recently been at the forefront of campus life. UCT Survivors, a resource group on campus for sexual assault survivors, held an event last week that featured students speaking out about their assaults.
bethany.ao@inl.co.za