There was universal outrage across all social media platforms last week after two video clips showing a young Eastern Cape traditional leader viciously assaulting two elderly women went viral.
In the clips, the young man methodically beats them with disturbingly casual cruelty.
He is not at all deterred by his audience of onlookers, not one of whom stands up to stop the horror assault.
This is a man who enjoys power despite not having a democratic mandate from his community who neither chose nor elected them.
If you stand up to such people, you could become the next target.
And so these two women just had to endure what the two videos suggest was a prolonged assault consisting of hefty slaps and punches.
The statements of condemnation poured in.
Social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta led the way describing it as a despicable act of violence against vulnerable members of society who deserved respect, care and protection.
Cogta MEC Zolile Williams described the man as a “hoodlum traditional leader”.
The ANC Women’s League called for the traditional leader’s immediate resignation, saying he was not fit to lead.
Police confirmed that he had been arrested after the videos went viral.
These responses are reflective of the general outrage at the infliction of such a terrible assault on two elderly women.
It brings to mind another traditional leader who abused his power.
AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo spent many years in jail after being found guilty of arson, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.
He burned down the homes of some of his subjects and beat them so badly that the Mthatha high court found they would have died had they not been given medical attention.
If the most powerful among us choose to abuse that power … they must feel the full wrath of the law, just as King Dalindyebo had to.
When he appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal, that court started its judgment with the following words: “Imagine a tyrannical and despotic king who set fire to the houses, crops and livestock of subsistence farmers living within his jurisdiction, in full view of their families, because they resisted his attempts to have them evicted ...
“Imagine the king physically assaulting three young men so severely that even his henchmen could not bear to watch.
“Imagine the same king kidnapping the wife and children of a subject he considered to be a dissident to bend the latter to his will.”
This is not the way power should be wielded.
All are equal before the law and the constitution. If the most powerful among us choose to abuse that power in these ways, they must feel the full wrath of the law, just as King Dalindyebo had to.
Statements from our democratic leaders is encouraging.
As a country, we need to make gender-based violence an act so universally reviled that it must be made absolutely clear that no-one gets away with it.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.