No, even if Tino had another man!

I CRINGED when I saw the image of a pulverised Tinopona Mapereke Katsande which was this week posted on social networks and online media after her alleged altercation with her boyfriend.


Not that this was my first time to see such harrowing pictures of victims of domestic violence.

I have, in fact, suffered from it in the worst way: one of my dearest relatives was murdered by the jilted father of her son after she had finally stood up to his abusive ways by moving out of their shared apartment and seeking refuge in my home.

You can imagine my horror on my return home to find blood splattered in my apartment after the man who was always professing perpetual love for our dear Sharon had ripped her throat open and lacerated her breasts and lungs simply because she had had enough of his antics!

It could have been the worst too for Tino.

Yet I found it more repulsive to read posts and comments – including by women – that apparently condoned the brutality suffered by the former Studio 263 actress.

Some felt Tino deserved the battering because she had “crossed the line” by reportedly asking her partner to help with some domestic chores.

Washing dishes, to be precise, she claims.

Whether that was the real reason for the altercation or not is neither here nor there.

Even if Mr Macho had found her in bed with another man!

Who beats up men for our philandering behaviour and failure to carry out our own roles in families and relationships?

In any case, there is nothing “unAfrican” about couples, married or not, helping each other with domestic chores – including laundry, cooking or making the bed!

It’s a tragedy that we seem to have accepted violence as part of our everyday life.

Yet in the history of mankind physical confrontations have routinely failed as the ultimate solution.

Social and cultural norms that tolerate violence as an acceptable way of resolving conflict are so stone-age I don’t believe we are in 2012!

The consequences of domestic and other forms of violence are devastating, with thousands dying from such abuse every year.

Others are left to cope with physical and emotional scars.

It’s high time we all accepted we have a big crisis on our hands.

We simply have to be civilised.

Preventive measures have always been the best and it’s imperative for all of us to focus on the root causes of violence – including poor parenting, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse and generally poor education.

This calls for concerted efforts from every one of us.



Battered . . . Tino after the alleged assault.



All smiles . . . Tino at work before the facial carnage

 Surely, we can’t be a barbarian society that tolerates violence or any other form of abuse.