Ramaphosa lauded for snubbing Power FM’s Mkhari

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been at the receiving end of plaudits for his decision to rescind his decision to take part in an interview with talk radio station Power FM that was scheduled for yesterday evening. His office says he canceled his appearance alongside Given Mkhari who allegedly became physical with his wife Ipeleng Mkhari last year because the president believes he “has a responsibility to do everything within his means to confront gender-based violence and to do nothing that undermines the effectiveness of the national effort.”

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Nomboniso Gasa, Adjunct Professor in Public Law at UCT and Senior Associate Researcher at the Centre for Law & Society says President Ramaphosa made the right call.

“I support Cyril Ramaphosa’s withdrawal from the interview. Whatever the truth or not about privately resolving domestic violence issues, Given Mkhari, is a public figure with a powerful platform. It’s ok to tell him ‘we do not want you to role model your toxic masculinity to our sons’”

Gasa adds that Ramaphosa’s decision does not absolve him from answering questions about his silence and lack of action on abusive men who serve in his cabinet and leadership of the ANC.

Dr. Pumla Gqola, Dean of Research at Univerity of Fort Hare has praised the organisations that advised Ramaphosa against participating in the interview, She says violence against women should have consequences.

“Soul City and Wise4Afrika created consequences. WomenProtestSA created consequences. 1 in9 Campaign created consequences. We can be dismissive or we can create a cost.”

Mkhari and his wife Ipeleng opened cases of assault against each other last year following a physical confrontation between the couple in their home.