South African actress Thuso Mbedu is the latest star to speak out against gender-based-violence and plead with South African men to stop. Taking to her Instagram account, Thuso was in disbelief over the shooting of a woman at a police station. The woman walked into the police station to open a case against her husband who had been abusing her. The very same husband walked in with a gun and shot her dead.
Women across South African have taken to social media to voice their concern over the safety of their lives - asking, how is it possible that a man walks into a police station armed and shoots a woman in front of police.
"I'm not a poet. I am not a musician and I am not a fine artist so I can not draw my pain." Said a devastated Thuso Mbedu. "I cannot sing my sorrows and I can not find the perfect words to best articulate the fear and the state of mind of the everyday woman in South Africa right now."
She then stated that from she's sitting she can only plead with those in power to do something about this as it is getting out of hand. "All I can do is urge the powers that be, that can actually make a difference to do something."
Mbedu then pleaded with the men across Mzansi to do something. To speak with other men to change their ways because women can't find this war alone. "To the men, who can speak to other men - do something. Obviously we are fighting this war alone and we are losing."
She also pleaded with those who abuse children and sexual offenders. "And then just make them stop. Stop gender-based violence, stop sexually abusing women and children." She broke down into tears and couldn't continue with the video.
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The fight against gender-based violence and sexual abuse has been going on for years in South Africa and there seems to be little change in the behaviour despite countless pleas from women to men to change their ways. We hope that Thuso Mbedu's plea does inspire change from our men as well inspire those who can make a difference to do so.
