Moja Love found itself in hot water over the recent Isencane Lengane episode and they even had to issue a statement to their viewers after they called for the show to be cancelled immediately.
On Sunday, Thando Msomi Dlamuka who is 18 years old and her 19-year-old husband Siyacela Dlamuka got into a heated argument which ended up being physical. In the episode, Thando says that wasn’t the first time Siyacela laid his hands on her.
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That’s not all, Moja Love still kept the promotional clip till Monday though they’ve deleted it now. The promotional clip also shows some disturbing scenes where the young mother and wife narrates what led her husband to beat her.
She said: “He slapped me while I was preparing food. Even when the baby is crying, you beat me up. If it was a man that called me, what would you have done? You would have killed me, I’d be dead.”
Siyacela then snatches Thando’s phone from her and smashes it on the floor. Since then, viewers called out Moja Love to cancel the reality show and wrote to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA).
So Moja Love saw the complaints and came back issuing a statement saying they don’t condone gender-based violence.
“The most recent episode of Isencane Lengane, on Moja LOVE (DStv Channel 157), saw couple Siyacela Dlamuka and Thando Msomi engage in a heated argument, leading to Siyacela becoming violent towards her.
“Following the broadcast of this episode, there has been uproar with some labelling this as irresponsible broadcasting” reads Moja LOVE’s statement.
The channel continued saying: “Moja LOVE would like to put it on record that, the channel does not condone GBV in any way.
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“Moja LOVE prides itself on producing content that reflects the reality in our society, including social ills, and as such could not sweep the GBV incident between Thando and Siyacela under the carpet.
“In a country burdened by Gender-Based violence and Femicide, Moja Love has a responsibility to reflect and show the extent of this pandemic.”
Thando also chose not to file a lawsuit against her husband, according to the channel.
“Thando was given an option to open a case against Siyacela but she chose not to exercise that option and instead, the channel moved Thando away to a different location from Siyacela.
“Counselling was offered to Thando immediately to deal with her trauma and the channel is monitoring her progress,” reads the statement.
MEDIA STATEMENT: MOJA LOVE Does not Condone or Support Gender Based Violence. pic.twitter.com/yRZxmmsY6a
— MojaLoveTv DStv Channel 157 (@MojaLoveTv) January 23, 2023
Well, viewers aren’t convenience by the ‘lukewarm’ statement. Here are some of their reactions below:
If we didn’t point what the fact that you guys condone GBV,you wouldn’t have released this statement. I mean you used that same material as a promo. Do better. If not for us, do it for Thando and her son.
— KaraboM♥️ (@Karabo_kem) January 23, 2023
People have had enough education already about social issues affecting them there was absolutely no need to air that episode as it takes us back to a page that should have been closed stop it with the long political statements stop airing that nonsense period
— Mpho Nyathi (@MphoNyathi9) January 23, 2023
Don’t hide behind starting conversation…. Can this show, don’t monetize GBV, can it qha… You giving an abuser a platform to make money and toy also making money out of abuse, are you not ashamed. Please!
— unathi (@unathi79) January 23, 2023
Gaaaaa!!!! You could have put a note at the end of the show that you don’t condone GBV, that you called the police & Thando chose not to open a case. What about viewers who aren’t on social media to read this? You are being reactive and not proactive
— Boitumelo L (@Tumi_MissLekay) January 23, 2023
Why do you monetize on GBV based content and normalize it to victims??
Moja Love: pic.twitter.com/xYU3tDNMXj
— Sandile (@Sandile_K14) January 23, 2023
My Biggest problem is that cancellation of the show would also end Thandos income stream. She needs the money now more than ever given that she’s a single married mom. Its really rough. If only she allowed Siyacela to stay in jail for two nights, just 2 nights in the holding cell
— Black & Blessed ❤❤✌ (@Mama_Bridgie) January 23, 2023
You shot, edited and aired an episode that displays visible abuse and then you used abuse and violent behaviour to promote said episode. You clearly condone GBV and this little statement that doesn’t change that.
— Zinhle (@blythlie) January 23, 2023
