South Africans are Angry at DJ Cleo for Showing Support to Convicted Rapist Brickz
DJ Cleo posted a picture of himself and Brickz on social media and South Africans are not here for it.
South African musician DJ Cleo, real name Cleopas Monyepao, has come under heavy fire after he posted a picture of himself embracing disgraced musician Brickz, real name Sipho Charles Ndlovu. Brickz is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for raping his 16-year-old niece - a rape he still denies.
A soccer match organised by a non-profit organisation to aid in the rehabilitation of inmates, reconnected DJ Cleo and Brickz. In a recent tweet, DJ Cleo then posted a picture of himself and Brickz (clad in his prison uniform) with the caption: "We all run our own races, he fell along the way...but the race is not over."
Now, while South Africans are somewhat divided, the majority of them are angered by the post.
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Those in support of DJ Cleo have claimed that he is simply showing support for his friend. They have gone on to say that people make mistakes and they deserve second chances. The said 'mistake' being the rape of a minor of course, a minor who now becomes a part of some of the highest rape statistics in the world.
The majority who have come out and condemned DJ Cleo have highlighted the nonchalance that South African men in particular exhibit when it comes to rape. They have also lamented how normalized rape has become such that men can easily and freely liken it to a mere ''fall'' or accident.
Whilst Brickz may be serving his time in prison, he has been more willing to talk about how "musically untouchable" he is than showing remorse for raping his own niece.
DJ Cleo once again took to social media following the backlash and apologized saying that his tweet has been "so misunderstood" and that he was not sympathizing with a rapist. However, he went on to slam actress Nomzamo Mbatha for having taken a picture with kwaito artist Arthur Mafokate (a known woman abuser) and asked rapper Boity Thulo (who publicly condemned DJ Cleo) why she didn't show the same outrage with Mbatha.
So basically, DJ Cleo is really not apologizing but instead asking South Africans: Why can't I take a picture with a problematic (insert "convicted" in this case) individual just like everybody else?
