Masechaba Ndlovu: Twitter debates interview double standard

There’s been an uproar over how two different interviews on the same topic of gender-based violence have been perceived and handled by the public.

While Masechaba Ndlovu had nothing to do with the Mkhari’s interview — her fans were asking why there seems to be a double standard in the reaction of how ENCA journalist Thulasizwe handled the conversation.

Masechaba Ndlovu no stranger to controversy

Masechaba Ndlovu was vilified for confronting Babes about GVB in her relationship yet Thulasizwe Simelane is lauded for "great journalism" for doing the same with Ipeleng Mkhari. South African society has different moral standards for men and women. #RamaphosaonPower

— Lindani (@KhuhlaseKhondlo) November 29, 2019

In the first instance, Masechaba Ndlovu, a SA FM radio presenter, caused commotion after she questioned and appeared to force Gqom singer Babes Wodumo, real name Bongekile Simelane to admit that she had allegedly been abused by her lover, fellow musician Mampintsha, real name Mandla Maphumulo.

The interview went viral after it was broadcast on Metro FM and showed Babes cowering and crying as she agreed to Ndlovu’s claims that Mampintsha had hit her on several occasions and put her in hospital. 

After that interview went viral, Ndlovu became a talking point for her handling of the interview, with some saying she had coerced Babes into revealing the alleged abuse. In an appearance on SABC 3’s Real Talk with Azania, Ndlovu said she didn’t regret doing the interview but wished she could have approached it differently.

“In that moment not only did I break the rules, but I basically threw my entire career under the bus by trying to protect a young lady. I removed my professional cap, and I stopped being a broadcaster and I became a human, and I became a woman.”

Ndlovu’s contract was not renewed by Metro FM and she left the station in April 2018. The incident, however, was brought up again by people on Twitter who compared her interview skills to that of eNCA reporter Thulasizwe Simelane.

During a live segment with MSG Afrika chairman Given Mkhari and his wife, businesswoman Ipeleng, Simelane questioned the two about allegations of domestic violence. This was after President Cyril Ramahosa had indicated he would no longer attend Power FM’s annual chairman conversation. Civic groups had called on Ramaphosa to withdraw because of an assault case opened against Given by Ipeleng at the end of 2018.

Simelane pointedly asks Ipeleng if Given has laid a hand on her while Given appears to tensely hold her hand.

On Twitter, some pointed out that Simelane was being praised for his interview while Ndlovu was slammed for hers.

There’s a difference. Masechaba ambushed someone in an interview about something else. The Mkhari’s knew what Thulasizwe was going to interview them about. The interview was actually about that. We can talk appropriateness of questioning for Ipeleng, but it’s different. https://t.co/Hy3SAQe6aI

— IZWELETHU 😭✊🇿🇦 (@miss_andisa) November 29, 2019

Stop praising Masechaba!! Babes never came out to the media about her private life. Masechaba was wrong. Thulasizwa asked what was already out on the media

— TeBaTSo (@Tebatso_2) November 29, 2019

What Thulasizwe did is literally what Masechaba did.

— mfaz’omnyama. (@mfazomnyama_) November 29, 2019