Napo Masheane, a well-known poet and play writer is taking Khwezi’s story to theatre. Inspired by Redi Tlhabi’s book called Khwezi, Napo has turned the book into a live play.
Speaking to Drum Napo said, “I read the first 10 pages of the book and all I could hear was a dialog of women, poems and songs in my head”.
In 2005 Fezekile Kuzwayo‚ also known as Khwezi‚ accused Former President Jacob Zuma of raping her at his home in Forest Town‚ Johannesburg. Zuma denied all allegations saying they had consensual sex.
Napo said that too many women are being raped, abused and killed.
“The country should see that violence against women is a problem,” she explained.
According to Africa Check, South African police recorded a total of 14,333 murders between April and December 2016 – 1713 of these were women. This therefore works out to a woman being murdered every four hours in our country, where at least half of these women die at the hands of their intimate partners. Some of these murders make national news.
Napo said that she has also been harassed in the media industry. She is telling the story of Khwezi to remind women that they can stand up for themselves and fight against violence.
Karabo Mokoena, Reeva Steenkamp and Zolile Khumalo are just some of the girls who made national headlines because they lost their lives to abusive partners.
“Every woman knows someone that’s been raped before. There are too many Khwezis in the country,” said the writer.
“If I, Napo Masheane acknowledges that I’ve been emotionally abused, physically abused and financially abused, how many other women are willing to do that”?
It’s important for women to accept that they’ve been raped or abused so they can start the healing process. This play is not only to remind women about a girl who challenged the most powerful man in the country but it’s also there to give them strength to say, ‘I’m not the only one’”.
Khwezi will show from the 25th July 2018 to 12th August 2018. Tickets are being sold at Computicket.
