A Sea of Purple Profiles: A Crisis We Cannot Ignore Anymore

Ntwana, iwaar ukuthi the huns in Mzansi are dealing with a LOT! Usually, in life kuningi ene thina si i-one. It's school, it's exams, it's ekhaya, it's chores, it's keeping up with the latest eeeerverything, it's trying to figure out what we want to do with the rest of our lives… that's a lot for any human.

Everybody loves the huns when they are looking good: hair laid, nails done with the drip! Everybody loves it when the huns laugh and dance and act silly and even when they’re crushing school and their careers.

When the same huns say, “No.” or “He hurt me.” So many people are quick to turn on the girls, calling them names, gaslighting them and even laughing at them.

Statements used to silence survivors are:

• ‘No one will believe you’
• ‘You are nothing without me’
• ‘I made you’
• ‘Where do you think you're going to get the money for food from?’

The internet is flooded with purple profile pictures, mostly of women, who have been harmed by guys who knew society would ridicule the pain of the girl or bully the hun into silence.

Chomi, if we think about the number of cases that don't get reported then uyabona the situation is far worse! If you are a guy, remember this is not her fight alone.

Don't be the guy who

• Uses the disadvantaged background of young women to force them into things they don't want
• Don't be the guy who sees “No” as a challenge to your manhood (it's just a boundary my guy. Not a personal attack.)
• Be the brother that huns run to because you make them feel safe
• Lacks emotional intelligence and communicates with your fists and legs what should be communicated with your words- calmly
• Who thinks fear is power. When the fear wears off, uzo enza njani? Yazi someone somewhere stopped being afraid of apartheid and now yithi laba 30 years into democracy. Love is a better strategy. Trust me!

South Africa is a beautiful country and it would be better if safety and care is what we experience and not imagine. Majita? What kind of world would you like your daughters to grow up in? All the huns need it today. Don't wait for your loved one's profile to turn purple before you do something bro.

As for me, I support the purple profile and national shutdown. I support it with my whole body mntase! Aren't I purple? 😊