Andile Gaelesiwe is encouraging women to protect themselves and has shared how she is doing it.
The disappearance and subsequent death of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana and others has once again put the spotlight on the plight of gender-based violence.
A post office employee allegedly raped and killed Uyinene in a post office in Cape Town more than a week ago. This has angered many who are calling for gender-based violence to be acknowledged as a national crisis.
READ: 'Women are disappearing… it's a norm': Emotional vigil held for Uyinene Mrwetyana at Wits
TV personality and activist Andile Gaelesiwe posted an in an emotional clip on her Instagram page and asked why women should be begging for their safety.
“Why have we lost the political will to stop sexual violence? We’ve undone every great thing that we’ve done along the years,” she says.
She goes on to point out that she’s not really surprised by the president’s lack of response to the matter.
The Khumbul’ ekhaya presenter has been open about being a rape survivor – a rape she suffered the hands of her biological father when she was just 11 years old. She later founded the Open Disclosure Foundation for sexual abuse victims.
READ: Residents dig 'grave' for Uyinene's alleged murderer after torching house
In her Instagram video, she encourages other women to get a pullet gun to protect themselves from victimisation. A pullet gun can be bought without any license needed. She says it has saved her from people who’ve tried to break into her house because she shoots.
“I’ve owned this [pullet gun] for years because I can’t even think about being raped again in my life. It happened twice. I’m not going to let it happen again.”
READ: ‘We don’t hate Manana’ – Andile Gaelesiwe
See her video here
