Simphiwe Dana addresses tweeps questions over her activism
The Bantu Biko Street singer attended the #OmotosoTrial and received some backlash on social media
Simphiwe Dana has come out strongly against claims that she's on the "government payroll" after she attended Timothy Omotoso's rape trial on Monday.
The singer also addressed questions surrounding her moves as an activist against gender based violence.
Simphiwe attended the #OmotosoTrial on Monday to honour an invite by the Department Of Women, which raised some questions on social media.
Singer and gender activist #SimphiweDana explains why she is attending the #OmotosoTrial
— HeraldLIVE (@HeraldPE) October 22, 2018
📹 @Sparkey13 pic.twitter.com/3r9gQbgP6x
The songstress labeled the comments "insulting: and made it clear that she would always take a stand against abuse.
"Okay let me address this. I am a part of the gender machinery as a stakeholder to the Department Of Women in addressing the very urgent GBV and femicide issues in the country. I have worked in the gender based violence sector in my personal capacity as a known musician.
"I was invited to take part in supporting women affected by gender based violence in the case in question. I am a prominent figure in the country I’m one of the few women who are vocal on issues of patriarchy, feminism, education for women and social cohesion."
Omotoso and two other accused Lusanda Sulani (36) and Zukiswa Sitho (28) face a series of charges including human trafficking, sexual assault and rape of female congregants in Omotoso's Durban-based church.
The 97 charges are for crimes allegedly committed between 2009 and 2017 before Omotoso’s dramatic arrest at the Port Elizabeth airport in April 2017.
Simphiwe made it clear that she did not attend the trial because she was an "opportunist" and said that such suggestions angered her.
"The underlying tone that I show up on issues because I’m an opportunist is very insulting. My music is way too good for me to need to employ those tactics. It’s been good for close to two decades now. Consistently. You’re not used to a ‘celebrity’ caring about issues? I’m pissed.
"I want to leave my world much better than I found it. It marries my music well. Because my music is activism too. I understand that in SA you’ve been betrayed by your leaders. But I’ve never betrayed you. I’ve put my body and career on the line for you," said Simphiwe.
Read the full Twitter thread below:
You owe me an apology. And you need to value my time
— Firebrand (@simphiwedana) October 23, 2018
I want to leave my world much better than I found it. It marries my music well. Because my music is activism too. I understand that in SA you’ve been betrayed by your leaders. But I’ve never betrayed you. I’ve put my body and career on the line for you
— Firebrand (@simphiwedana) October 23, 2018
And I will not stop. If you think Miriam Makeba flew herself to the UN to give her famous speech you’re very naive. If you think people should only activist if they can afford it then you really don’t care about activism at all. And don’t worry I don’t expect to get an apology
— Firebrand (@simphiwedana) October 23, 2018
This is where it all began...
I was invited to take part in supporting women affected by gender based violence in the case in question.
— Firebrand (@simphiwedana) October 22, 2018
I am a prominent figure in the country I’m one of the few women who are vocal on issues of patriarchy, feminism, education for women and social cohesion.
valuable input. And as a result I have been included in an array of programs that are set to curb the scourge of GBV in SA.
— Firebrand (@simphiwedana) October 22, 2018
I have done a lot of activism work with different departments over the years and cannot be paid with a flight ticket.
As a woman activist I’m not easily deterred by negativity with regards to my activism, and I’ve faced a lot of negativity. In fact it fuels me.
— Firebrand (@simphiwedana) October 22, 2018
Now can we move focus on me to the urgent work that needs to be done for women of this country? I will not comment any further on this