Wife, mother, abuse survivor

Broadacres resident Bayanda Gumede is one of the 23 remaining finalists in this year’s Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa pageant and has a particular interest in the fight against domestic violence.

The Mrs SA pageant is sponsored by the Tammy Taylor Salon and Nail Bar and describes itself on its website as ‘the number one pageant and female empowerment programme for married women in South Africa’.

“I got involved [in the pageant this year] because I followed the current Mrs South Africa on social media last year during her journey through Mrs SA,” explained Gumede.

“I wanted to do it because it looked like a life-changing experience. I felt like I needed to do something on my own. Sometimes it feels like you get a little lost in being a mom and wife.”

The 35-year-old mother of two has lived in Broadacres for about three years now with her husband Zithulele, son Owami (11) and daughter Asante (3). She co-founded, along with her sister Buhle, the Skates and Candy children’s clothing line, which she is the creative director of and which creates gender neutral clothing for children.

During her Mrs SA journey so far, Gumede and her fellow finalists have done a lot of good work for the Cancer Association of South Africa and Mpact recycling, including fundraising events and talks at Johannesburg schools.

When asked what she would focus on if she were to win the crown, Gumede says she wants to help women in abusive relationships heal.

“I myself was in an abusive relationship during my early twenties,” she explained. “It started off with emotional abuse, and then one night it became physical. I felt like I couldn’t get out of it, as I didn’t have the confidence to leave. Eventually a year later I finally had enough, reported him and he went to jail.”

Healing from the abuse took time and effort, but Gumede found the strength and courage to move forward with her life, and now wants to speak to girls and women about intimate partner violence and how it can be avoided.

“To someone in that situation now, I would say that [the abuse] is not your fault, but you do have a certain level of control and you can walk out. Although [leaving] is difficult, you owe it to yourself to put yourself first, because you really do deserve better.”

Gumede and her fellow finalists will be part of the Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa grande finale event on 17 November at Emperor’s Palace. If you think Bayanda Gumede deserves the title, you can vote for her by SMSing #Sabc3BayandaGumede to 35959.

Details: The Bayanda Gumede Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa Finalist 2017 Facebook Page; @bayandagumede on Instagram; @Bayanda_Gumede on Twitter