Nelson Mandela’s grandson Chief Mandla Mandela hailed his sister Ndileka’s disclosure of rape in her own home as an encouragement in every household in South Africa to engage in a bold dialogue to confront the scourge.
Mandla said for Ndileka to have kept the alleged rape to herself for more than five years proved that South Africa was a sick country, and thousands were yet to speak openly about their ordeals.
He said Ndileka drew on Madiba’s own example of disclosing their late father, Chief Zwelinzima Makgatho Lewanika Mandela’s HIV status, and used it as an inspiration to add her voice to the growing list of women worldwide joining in the #Metoo campaign.
“We call on the fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers of our nation – all of us – to end the silence and deal with this problem gnawing at the heart of our nation. Inkosazana’s 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 rape occurs largely in the home or familiar surroundings. 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,” he said. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Mandla hails sister Ndileka’s #MeToo disclosure of rape
Mandla said for Ndileka to have kept the alleged rape to herself for more than five years proved that South Africa was a sick country, and thousands were yet to speak openly about their ordeals.
He said Ndileka drew on Madiba’s own example of disclosing their late father, Chief Zwelinzima Makgatho Lewanika Mandela’s HIV status, and used it as an inspiration to add her voice to the growing list of women worldwide joining in the #Metoo campaign.
“We call on the fathers, brothers, sisters and mothers of our nation – all of us – to end the silence and deal with this problem gnawing at the heart of our nation. Inkosazana’s 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 rape occurs largely in the home or familiar surroundings. 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,” he said. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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