Last week,Mzansi Magic came under fire for their insensitive tweet when promoting Gomora's storyline. Currently Gomora has created a storyline which forces their viewers to engage in a much needed conversation about males being sexually abused. A topic that is shunned upon by society and rarely addressed.
With the introduction of a new character, Gomora High's newest business studies teacher, Ncebakazi Manzi, played by Sihle Ndaba, her character has caused quiet a stir on the show. She has her eyes set on a high school learner Teddy, played by Sicelo Buthelezi, who is a minor. The two have taken their teacher-scholar relationship to a whole new level and they even shared a bed.
Seeing how Sihle is an adult and Teddy a minor, statutory rape is what many label it, and rightfully so.
Gomora has been hailed as one of the most authentic shows which tell stories that resonate with their viewers. The topic they have introduced recently proves why they are at the top.
When Mzansi Magic commented on the show's current storyline, they seem to have missed the mark. Their comment "Snack attack" did not land well with viewers seeing how young the child who was raped is. After the backlash they received, they quickly removed the comment but technology dominated as per usual.
The Queen actor Loyiso MacDonald slammed the program for that comment by asking them to "delete, try again." Loyiso is also a victim of rape as he had opened up about being sexually violated by a woman in his neighborhood when he was young. His sexual harassment ordeal did not turn him into a monster, the actor told Mac G, despite being a victim of abuse one has to take responsibility to deal with it and become a better person.
"It was a neighbor who targeted certain boys in the area... I didn't know this at the time but it only came out - again this is why it's so important to speak up, but once I had spoken to my parents and said 'look this is what I've experienced, they handled it with care and I saw a social worker and eventually it ended up in court," he explained.
Phil Mphela weighed in as well saying that Teddy is not lucky, he is being abused. "This is abuse. Sexual abuse of a minor but an elder in authority over him. Promoting the storyline as “snack attack” does a disservice to the seriousness of child abuse. And yes, it’s still abuse even when women are the perpetrators. Teddy is not lucky, he is being ABUSED!"
He took it further by saying they are endorsing a cruel act of disregarding young men's sorrows which leave them scared for life.
"So disappointing to see DStv promote the Teddy storyline on #gomora as something fun. It’s those attitude in society that leaves us with broken young men who grow up they carrying demons that were ignored because the abuser was a woman and he should’ve enjoyed it. Sad."
This is what I am referring to.
If you still think promoting a storyline abuse child abuse by referring to it as a game made famous by a kids show is ok... then we exist in diff moral lanes. pic.twitter.com/ViIzx8SNjt
Mzansi Magic's other popular telenovela The Queen also touched on the sensitive topic of rape. The show's much loved character detective Vuyiswa Maake was also raped by a male not known to her. This telenovela addressed women being raped instead of what Gomora is addressing which is the sexual abuse of men.
Vuyiswa does not know who raped her but she is going crazy losing her mind trying to figure out who raped her.
