Yesterday, one of South Africa's biggest house singer-songwriters, Lady Zamar,
took to social media to share her experiences with gender-based
violence at the hands of her previous partner.
While she didn't name
drop, it is alleged that she was referring to hip-hop artist and rapper Sjava with
whom she was in a relationship a few months ago.
However, the
relationship (which the two had kept under wraps and out of the public
eye) imploded when Lady Zamar was made aware of Sjava's marital status.
In a thread she posted on Twitter,
Lady Zamar spoke about how she was emotionally, physically and sexually
abused and how she had struggled to come to terms with the fact that it
had happened to her. She addressed the endless speculation made by the
tabloids as to why the couple had broken up and pointedly told them,
"Shame on you".
Adding that, "Some people won't believe me...I'm not
asking for anyone to believe me," she said that she needed to share her
truth and put an end to all the "articles, speculation and articles that
don't concern [her]".
The news has divided South Africans. As has
been the case with women who've participated in movements such as
#MenAreTrash, #AmINext and #MeToo, some South Africans feel Lady Zamar
simply wants to "discredit" Sjava and have asked why she's only speaking
up now.
Just this past weekend, Sjava's "One Night with Sjava'' live show
had many in their feels after he not only paid homage to both his
mother and grandmother but shared a tribute for victims of gender-based
violence.