Actor Tumisho Masha faced criticism on social media after he called Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng a “straatmeit”. He used the word while questioning whether she should become the next mayor of Johannesburg.
The slang word comes from Afrikaans. It can describe a streetwise girl or woman, and it can be used as an insult.
“Your problem is you act like a straatmeit instead of a mayoral candidate. Address the issues that are important to the constituency you are campaigning to serve. Being a politician doesn’t make you more important than The People. Never forget that. Mxm, a whole doctor,” Masha said, according to IOL.
Masha first took aim at Mofokeng’s mayoral campaign in an earlier social media post. He said her work record did not show that she could fix the city’s problems.
“You keep shoving your bio down our throats, but can’t answer basic questions about what we really need to fix Joburg,” he wrote.
The actor also asked whether her experience in public health and human rights was enough to run the city. He later repeated his criticism and said she should focus on the people she wants to represent.
Sefu Sekgala was among those who hit back at the actor. Sekgala called his words abusive and asked him to treat Mofokeng with respect.
“Tumisho, you sound very abusive. Dr Tlaleng is not your ex. Imagine if you’re able to call such an outstanding leader of society a straatmeit, I can’t imagine the torment you unleash to women in your life. Please be respectful to women. This is disappointing, Tumisho. Shame, man,” Sekgala said.
Feminist and writer Robyn Porteous also came to Mofokeng’s defence. She said Mofokeng had more than enough qualifications for the job.
“Chap, if anything, the doctor is overqualified for the position. What is your problem?” Porteous asked.
Mofokeng replied by listing her international work in public health and human rights.
“The United Nations appointed me as an expert for six years, with all of this in the public domain, as UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health,” she said.
She also pointed to a report she gave the UN General Assembly on how Covid-19 affected sexual and reproductive health. She said she served as a commissioner at the Commission for Gender Equality.
Mofokeng said she helped shape a strategy for the World Health Organisation’s Human Reproduction Special Programme. She said that in 2016 she became the first civil society member to speak at the UN Human Rights Council on safe sexual and reproductive healthcare. She spoke on behalf of 264 organisations.
“This is a summary!” she said, making clear that the list was not complete.
Mofokeng faces several well-known politicians in the race for Johannesburg mayor. They include the DA’s Helen Zille, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and the MK Party’s Bongani Baloyi.
Patriotic Alliance deputy president Kenny Kunene and RISE Mzansi’s Lukhona Mnguni are also in the race. Other candidates are the IFP’s Mlungisi Mabaso, BOSA’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, Al Jama-ah’s Shireen Ebrahim and the Land Party’s Ntsiki Mazwai.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Entertainment. Image: IOL Entertainment. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.