Simiso Zwane, better known as OkMalumKoolKat, was pulled from a youth-targeted event after unhappy Cape Town students spoke out against his indecent assault conviction in Australia.
|||Cape Town - South African rapper Simiso Zwane, better known as OkMalumKoolKat, was pulled from a youth-targeted event on Friday night after unhappy students spoke out about a nightclub’s decision to host him although he was convicted of indecent assault in Australia earlier this year.
Sexual assault is a big deal we can't just move on #NotOkMalumKoolKat
— Inkosazana. ✨ (@_nosgasa) April 15, 2016
The Assembly hosted the event WAVES, in co-operation with Commission nightclub, Head Honcho Clothing and energy drink brand Hunter’s Extreme.
'Didn't he do his time already?', oh so you also think 1 month in jail is good enough for sexual assault?? #NotOkMalumKoolKat
— Alban #NoShave2016 (@PILLAY_CGLM) April 15, 2016
Zwane, 32, was jailed for a month in Australia after pleading guilty to entering a sleeping woman’s hotel room and rubbing her private parts. He had been on a five-date tour at the time, and his lawyer blamed jet lag, intoxication and confusion.
We live in a society were rapist are easily accepted back into our space so easily and live their best life #NotOkMalumKoolKat#chapter212
— Kebone Khunou (@kebonekhunou) April 15, 2016
#NotOkMalumkoolkat Yoh I'm just so worried about what we are teaching the young boys and girls of SA. Like hey its ok as long as you can rap
— ALUTA CONTINUA (@JabulileNewman) April 15, 2016
After the performers for WAVES were announced earlier this month, some young people took to the event’s Facebook page to express their dissatisfaction. Others defended Zwane, saying his apology was adequate. Yesterday afternoon Head Honcho Clothing’s Twitter account announced that Zwane would no longer perform.
Assembly manager Carl Williams said they had noted the responses on social media.
“There was a lot of negative responses from feminist groups and significant activists,” he said. “The brand ultimately decided that they didn’t want that image associated with them.”
Twitter users shared their concerns using the hashtag #NotOkMalumKoolKat.
UCT student Hannah Lubner said the message the club would have sent if it let him perform was disturbing.
“It’s very chilling that they would let someone who assaulted a girl in her sleep perform,” she said.
The event offered a student discount to attendees and was marketed as being for “rebellious, non-conforming and unapologetic youth”. This prompted some UCT students to take to social media with their dissatisfaction.
Rape at UCT has recently been at the forefront of campus life. UCT Survivors, a resource group on campus for sexual assault survivors, held an event last week that featured students speaking out about their assaults.
bethany.ao@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus