TV and radio personality and co-host of The Drive on Metro FM, Masechaba Ndlovu has come under intense scrutiny after the explosive Friday afternoon show.
On Friday, the nation was rocked to learn that musician, Mampintsha (real name Mandla Maphumulo) has been physically abusing his former fiancé, Babes Wodumo (real name Bongekile Simelane).
What also had everyone shaken was the fierce nature with which Masechaba revealed, on Babes’ behalf, that Mampintsha has allegedly been abusing her.
She also shared some private and confidential information about an instance in which Mampintsha had allegedly abused Babes.
Since then, a combination of adoration, applause, anger and repulsion has flown in the direction of Masechaba.
So much attention has been given to Maschaba’s style of reporting and breaking a story that her name has been mentioned more times on social media than Mampintsha.
A lot of people are applauding her for standing up for Babes and ‘putting an end to things’ before it had gone too far.
But others have called her out for acting out of turn, out of the bounds of the law and further victimizing Babes.
“We are complicit in abuse, because it’s so pervasive in SA, and people’s situations can be very complicated, but publicly outing someone on a national platform without their explicit consent is abusive. Whatever her intentions were, this isn’t the way to do it,” said local poet and author, Lebo Mashile.
TV presenter and actress, Pearl Thusi also agreed that Masechaba went a bit too far.
“She’s young, fragile coz of the abuse. Masechaba is an incredible woman & I love her work. But I don’t believe that was thought through. Those who knew all along should [have] taken her to counseling, assist her to lay a charge/ get a lawyer, a restraining order prior to speaking out,” she said.
Meanwhile, actor Vuyolwethu Ngcukana came to Masechaba’s rescue.
“I doubt Masechaba would risk her job for a publicity stunt that doesn’t benefit her,” he said.
