‘A social activist never takes off their activist hat,’ says Cici on Nomzamo, Arthur pic

Arthur Mafokate’s ex-girlfriend, musician Busisiwe “Cici” Twala, has taken to social media to voice her disappointment at a picture of Nomzamo Mbatha and Mafokate at the ANC manifesto launch rally in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.

Cici said she was tweeting on behalf of a victim who might continue to suffer in silence because of Mbatha’s “polite” gesture.

“I love @NomzamoMbatha and think she’s such a Queen and I Stan. But a social activist never takes off their activist hat. This tweet is not for me it’s for the young woman that will bump into this and continue to be silent because you choose to be polite to an abuser,” she said.

I love @NomzamoMbatha and think she’s such a Queen and I Stan. But a social activist never takes off their activist hat. This tweet is not for me it’s for the young woman that will bump into this and continue to be silent because you choose to be polite to an abuser. 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/YBmXpTNO0d

— #Impumelelo (@cici_worldwide) January 13, 2019

Cici further asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to take a stand against abusers in his party if the ANC was serious about fighting gender-based abuse.

“@MYANC Why then do we vote? The president speaks of standing against femicide yet here we are, still giving privileges [to] the R Kellys of this world… You asked every man to stand up @CyrilRamaphosa, start with those around you.”

Though she said she was not blaming anyone, Cici said Mbatha was not “just another person in the street”, but an activist against gender-based violence and had to be constantly aware of her actions.

Her comments divided her social media followers, with some saying she was wrong for only mentioning Mbatha in her tweet and not her alleged abuser. Some said Mbatha was human, and deserved to be given a second chance, especially after she apologised for taking the picture with Mafokate.

Following criticism on social media, Mbatha apologised to her followers and said she “absent-mindedly [sic]” posed for the picture after Mafokate asked for it. She apologised for failing to tell Mafokate to “fuck off”.

She said: “I’m cringing with you. I was walking past, post the concert and looking for my manager when he greeted and whipped out his phone for a picture. Being polite I absent ‘mindedly’ obliged. I’m definitely not a fan and I’m sorry I wasn’t present enough to say “F*** OFF, no thanks.”

Read more: ANC apologises to Nomzamo Mbatha for Arthur Mafokate’s ‘despicable’ conduct

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