Sechaba steps up to break the silence

Benny Macholo, Business Development Executive, Sechaba Medical Solutions

Sechaba is showing its support for issues that affect women in society by sponsoring the poignant, award-winning play Shwele Bawo! A Grave Injustice! by Motshabi Tyelele, which runs at the Market Theatre from 14 February to 18 March.

The play is the story of a grave injustice - a wife convicted on trumped-up charges for the alleged murder of her abusive husband. Abiding by cultural tradition and instruction from her elders to obey her husband and not leave her abusive relationship, Dikeledi Nkabinde turns a blind eye to his infidelities and abuse for 12 years. She finally takes the law into her own hands and kills him after she realises her daughter too has fallen victim to abuse by his hands. Despite her plea for innocence, the media and the public ignore her. After two years of imprisonment she decides to call the 'vicious news dogs' to tell her side of the story, not for herself but for the sake of future generations.

Moral regeneration, traditional values, modern attitudes, the role of the media, the justice system, women and child abuse are the issues that come under spotlight in this play. It was nominated for Best New SA Play at the 2004 Naledi Awards, where Tyelele also won the Award for Best performance by a Lead Actress for her outstanding performance in the two-women play.