‘I want men to continue having these conversations’ — Unathi Nkayi on balanced dialogue about sexual abuse

Unathi Nkayi has shed light on the importance of men having open and honest conversations about their experiences with sexual abuse.

The singer and media personality took to her timeline to recall some of the stories she had heard from the men in her life, saying it was important for her to hear them speak up as she is the mother of a son.

“Among the men in my life, whether it is friends, cousins, colleagues, uncles, husbands of friends, there's an alarming amount of men who have confided in us and spoken to say they lost their virginity to their nannies, or they were sexually assaulted by their nannies, or sexually groomed by their nannies, some have mentioned drivers, gardeners and being sexually assaulted by people who have been paid by the family to help around the family businesses or estates, or help raise the kids,” she said. 

“Conversations that I am thankful for and I want the men in our lives to continue having these conversations because I think sexual abuse is something we don't focus on enough. It is a conversation I was having with a friend. I was saying as a mom of a boy and a girl, for me it is important to have balanced conversations around such, so thank you for these conversations because what you do is you allow us to make informed decisions.”

In the comments, other celebrities expressed how they shared the same sentiments. 

“These are uncomfortable but necessary conversations,” TT Mbha wrote.

“There are so many, even bosses and prominent leaders in society. Sexual abuse is painful. The shame that comes with this violation makes it difficult for one to speak out. Twice difficult for men because they also start to question their masculinity, and sexuality as well. Thank you for bringing it up,” Gogo Dineo wrote.