Viewers urged to boycott 'Our Perfect Wedding' as ABSA pulls plug on sponsorship

The reality show has been dealt a blow after a petition to boycott the show was started shortly after ABSA withdrew its sponsorship.

While Mzansi Magic defended its decision to air an Our Perfect Wedding episode which glossed over the groom starting a sexual relationship with his wife when she was 14-years-old and he 28-years-old, a petition has been started by Cape Town resident Rethabile Makaonyane to have the channel stop airing the show.

"The mere fact that statutory rape amongst many other problematic issues were celebrated without any interrogation is the reason this call to stop airing Our Perfect Wedding is made. Therefore I call upon every Our Perfect Wedding viewer to please sign this petition to stop the perpetuation of rape culture."

The show is produced by Connect TV, owned by businesswoman Basetsana Khumalo. Connect TV also produces Diski Divas and Date My Family.

On Monday evening, ABSA took to Twitter to inform the public that it had withdrawn sponsorship, which was in the form of a R10,000 cheque to the bride and groom of each episode.

"Absa confirms that it informed Mzansi Magic this morning that we have withdrawn our sponsorship of Our Perfect Wedding with immediate effect," read the tweet.

Fanie and Bavelile Mkwhanazi

The outrage over the episode culminated in a complaint being registered with the Broadcasting Complains Commission of SA by Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng who also penned an open letter.

"Rape culture is so normalised and in a country like ours with the type of statistics around rape and gender based violence it is highly disturbing what we were shown on Mzansi Magic last night," Mofokeng wrote.

The Change Drivers' Network and the Sexual Reproductive Justice Coalition of South Africa added its voice, writing in a statement: "Considering the rate of sexual abuse in South Africa (reported and non-reported cases such as this one). It is disturbing to note how OPW, airing on Channel 161, normalised this behaviour and turned it into a love story."

Absa confirms that it informed Mzansi Magic this morning that we have withdrawn our sponsorship of Our Perfect Wedding with immediate effect

— Absa (@Absa) November 30, 2015

Response to ABSA's tweet:

You did the right thing @Absa. You can not be endorsing Statutory Rape. @Mzansimagic should know better next time. #OPW#OurPerfectWedding

— Tendai Joe (@Tendaijoe) November 30, 2015

Who is the big boss at ABSA mara? From untransformed springboks to rape #opw ! That woman or man deserves a bells! #SiyaqhubaAsimanga

— Ms Demeanor (@Vuyo16) December 1, 2015

Well done @Absa for pulling the sponsorship from OPW!! You are giving us hope.

— Nickyz World (@SeithatiSegoatl) December 1, 2015

Who is the big boss at ABSA mara? From untransformed springboks to rape #opw ! That woman or man deserves a bells! #SiyaqhubaAsimanga

— Ms Demeanor (@Vuyo16) December 1, 2015