SEDIBENG. – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has condemned an incident of body shaming after a picture of Tseko Mahlatsi, a Crime Prevention Warden (CPW) from Boipatong trended after being criticized because of his weight by social media users.
This is after social media users questioned Mahlatsi’s physical ability to do the work required due to his weight.
Panyaza said body shaming and discrimination are as dangerous as racism and sexism.
“You can be somehow and still be capable to work. I’ve taken an extraordinary step to request the training session of Mahlatsi Tseko, a crime-fighting volunteer who fought criminals for years volunteering.”
When users questioned if the warden would be able to catch criminals, Panyaza told them that he would as he had been volunteering to fight crime in his community for years.
“We all have strong and weak characters, but please don’t body shame nor discriminate against others based on their bodies. It is shameful,” he said.
Following the incident that went viral on social media on Monday, the community in Sedibeng District rallied behind Mahlatsi, calling for the nay-sayers to keep their opinions to themselves as they know nothing about his track record.
Responding to a Facebook post, Dineo Masechaba Mohlonoko said: “People are bitter shame, after years of serving the community relentlessly for years and volunteering under the Community Policing Forum, he surely deserves it.”
Another user Masechaba Felicity Mokone said: “One of the most determined ambitious officers I know, no matter how much or how many times they bring him down, he will never give up.”
Mokone condemned the act of body shaming Mahlatsi.
“This guy is very persistent, when he is given a task, he delivers. People may try to make fun of him but he will keep on winning.”
Before becoming a CPW, Mahlatsi worked with the Youth Crime Prevention Desk and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) at Boipatong SAPS.
Sedibeng Ster tried to solicit comment from Mahlatsi but he declined to comment and said his track record would speak for him.
