Fikile Mbalula emphasizes the importance of respecting women in relationships
Following the tragic murder of Nontobeko Cele, her friends and family have revealed disturbing details about her toxic relationship with her boyfriend, Sibusiso Lawrence Mtaka.
Cele’s life came to a horrifying end when she was found with multiple stab wounds in Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal. Mtaka later confessed to the murder in a video that went viral on social media, before taking his own life by hanging himself on a tree in the Malangeni area.
During a memorial service for Cele, a woman known as Nonjabulo shared that Mtaka had a history of attempting to kill Cele on multiple occasions. She described Mtaka as a violent man who controlled every aspect of Cele’s life, showing no respect for her well-being.
Nonjabulo recounted a chilling incident where Mtaka had dragged Cele through the streets like a dog, causing her immense distress. Despite the warning signs, Cele had accepted Mtaka’s proposal of marriage, believing that she was giving everything to God.
However, Mtaka’s possessive behavior escalated when he discovered that Cele was about to receive a significant payout from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) due to an accident he was involved in. In his video confession, Mtaka accused Cele of ruining his life and insinuated that she was leaving him for financial gain.
Mbalula condemns gender-based violence and ownership of women
In response to Cele’s tragic death, Fikile Mbalula, the secretary general of the ANC, spoke out against Gender Based Violence (GBV) at a media briefing in Johannesburg. Mbalula expressed deep concern over the prevalence of GBV in society and stressed the need to address this issue urgently.
Mbalula specifically called out the toxic mindset that some men possess when they believe that buying gifts for women entitles them to ownership over them. He emphasized that women are not commodities to be bought or owned, and that gifting someone does not give them the right to control or possess them.
As the nation grapples with another tragic murder in crime-riddled KwaZulu-Natal, where a man killed his girlfriend and young son before taking his own life, the urgent need to combat GBV and toxic relationships is more apparent than ever.
It is crucial for society to challenge harmful beliefs and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women, and to create a culture of respect, equality, and empowerment for all individuals.
