The ANC Women?s League eThekwini Region has belatedly joined the fracas of condemning Umkhokha actor, Kininonke "Kini" Nqaba Shandu for degrading women on his Facebook page. Shandu, who is also the founder of KwaZulu-Natal?s Sebenza Women Awards, has been "cancelled" on Facebook, mostly by women for attacking and insulting them. 

OFFENSIVE POST

In the recent weeks, Shandu, who was bragging about getting to a virgin from Shembe Church, criticised women who had children out of wedlock, who were forced to leave children with their uncles when their mothers got married. On Monday, Shandu posted an apology on Facebook for his disparaging and degrading remarks but he got a backlash from Facebook users. To date the apology written in English, has been liked by more than 13 000 followers, with over 2 300 comments, where some of the users rejected his "half-hearted" apology, saying they want it written in IsiZulu. The post was shared by more than 1 700 users. The ANC Women?s League said in a statement on Wednesday: "The African National Congress Women?s League eThekwini region adheres to the ANC?s principles of non-racialism and non-sexism and is a strong proponent of gender equality. 

ANC ISSUES STATEMENT 

"The ANCWL eThekwini region led by Sne Sishange and Mpume Mabaso wishes to convey its deep-seated concerns and disappointment regarding the disparaging and traducing social media remarks about single mothers made by uMkhokha actor and Sebenza Women Awards co-founder, Kininonke ?kini? Nqaba Shandu. "The ANCWL eThekwini is grossly disturbed by Mr. Shandu’s insinuations that single mothers should for lack of a better word ‘relinquish’ their children upon marrying or re-marrying. "The statement is disparaging and a sign of misogyny and immaturity on the side of its author, who instead of remaining silent or intervening objectively on the matter, sought to speak out of turn and remove all doubt of ineptitude. "It is rather disingenuous for a person who purports to raise the flag of women through the Sebenza Women Awards, to appear ignorant of the toils of single parents in general and mothers in particular." Since his apology on Monday, Shandu, who has an impressive 293 000 followers on his Facebook page, last posted on Monday his apology. He has since gone to ground. His close associates say he doesn?t take interviews. The Women?s League has also called upon the Sebenza Women Awards and Impucuzeko to cut ties with Shandu. 

The Impucuzeko Awards are a brainchild of his friend and associate, Xolani Mcineka, who ia also a Maskandi promoter. 

When Shandu was attacked during the backlash, Mcineka was attacked too for "disrespecting unmarried women with children".

Meanwhile, one of the winners in last year?s Sebenza Women?s Awards, social media influencer and traveller, Ncumisa Ndelu, has returned the award she won last year. 

In support of women who have been degraded by Shandu, and calling the awards a sham, Ndelu said in a statement: "It is with a great sense of relief that I give back my Sebenza Women Award back to the organisation. Relief because since the evening of the awards, it has weighed heavily on my conscience because the woman who deserved it as per criteria Thembisa V.

Luthuli was sitting right next to me.

"I grudgingly accepted the award because I did not nominate myself however I felt strongly even on the night that too many things happened that night that degraded rather than honoured women.

"I faced a huge crisis of conscience. On the one hand I had to show respect and gratitude to the women who recognised my work and expressed their appreciation by nominating me. On the other, I had to stomach the patriarchy and misogyny on display that evening propped by women just like me.

"The events of the past 24 hours have given me the courage to do what I wanted to do that night because I know that the women who nominated me would not want me to be called ?umudlambila? (whatever that means). Yes, I raised my first born alone. Her father fled before she was born and akahlawulanga (he did not pay any damages) but I wouldn’t change a single thing! My daughter is one of my proudest achievements in this life and I have done a good job raising her with the assistance of ?umudlambila? that was my mother who raised me by herself because my dad fled before I was born naye engahlawulanga!!  

"When I expressed my wish for the award to be handed over by a woman, it was women who admonished me! I heard the murmurs in the room and saw the comments on social media. I was gutted. It hurt me to see some women expecting me to take such foolishness with a smile and grace? 

"All in all, the Sebenza Women Awards or least my experience of it is a sham. The idea of the awards is great but in its current form it’s a NO for me."

The Women?s League has called on the South Africans to to support women and treat them with "dignity respect, and equality they deserve".

They said: "The ANC Women?s League firmly believes in a society free from all forms of discrimination. We call on Mr. Shandu, to reflect on the impact of his conduct and to actively work towards promoting a culture of respect, equality, and recognition of the role mothers play in the lives of their children irrespective of their marital status.

"We further encourage all members of society to join us in advocating for a South Africa where women are treated with the dignity, respect, and equality they deserve.

"In conclusion, we remain steadfast in challenging patriarchy wherever it rears its ugly head. As the champion and proponent of gender equality the ANC Women?s League will not sit and observe when a person who purports to ‘celebrate women who are working wonders in our society’ through the Sebenza Women Awards, is at the coalface of denigrating remarks against women. 

"We accordingly issue a stern warning to Mr. Shandu and everyone else to refrain from making disdaining remarks against women in particular.

"In addition, the ANCWL eThekwini urges the eThekwini municipality to cut ties with such organizations as Sebenza Women Awards and Impucuzeko Maskandi Awards as they don?t champion the interest of women and that of the public."

The Ladies House group on Facebook have vowed to go to government departments to make sure that both Shandu and Mcineka are no longer given business for their attitude towards women. 

Part of Shandu?s apology said: "I deeply regret and want to sincerely apologize for a recent statement I made on Facebook regarding women with children out of wedlock. Though it was said in jest, I acknowledge that the comment was distateful, indefensible and reflected poor judgment on my part.

"To all women and anyone offended by my remarks, I extend my heartfelt apology. I understand the gravity of the impact words can have, and I take full responsibility for the distress my words may have caused."

After his apology on Monday, the Sebenza Women?s Awards also released a statement. They said Shandu will have to buy school uniform and sanitary pads as a sign of punishment.