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Gospel star Thabiso Moloi recalls how his mom was hacked to death

Gospel star Thabiso Moloi has revealed that the recent murder incidents of young women remind him of how his mother was killed.

Moloi, who is also Rebecca Malope's backing singer, said he watched his mother being emotionally and physically abused by her boyfriend.

The incident took place over 10 years ago, and it still haunts him, he said.

He said on the day, about 10 years ago, when he returned from a meeting, he found his mother hacked with an axe.

"When I got home, people were standing outside our shack. My mother was lying there with a gaping wound in her head. She was rushed to hospital. She stayed there for days. When she was released, I took her home to Villiers [in Free State] and she died four days later."

Moloi revealed that he never really dealt with the incident, and as a result he becomes too emotional whenever he comes across an abusive situation.

"I get hurt when I see people being abused, whether it's emotionally or physically. Any abuse triggers the incident that happened years ago and I become too angry. What we have been seeing on television in the past days is hurting. I know how women can be vulnerable in these relationships. We need to intensify on the awareness and involve young people."

The recent death of Karabo Mokoena who was killed and burnt beyond recognition brought the abuse of women into the spotlight. Her boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe, was arrested for her murder and is expected back in court on Wednesday.

Since then more women have been killed, these include friends Bongeka Phungula and Popi Qwabe who were found raped and killed in Soweto.

Another victim in Soweto is Lerato Moloi, whose murder is suspected to have been a hate crime, as she was a known lesbian in her area.

Meanwhile Moloi (no relation to Lerato), who has two albums, has released a song titled Lizalis'idinga Lakho , a traditional hymn.

The song was inspired by a wave of violence. "I reworked the song because of what is happening. I think we can overcome this if we all pray and humble ourselves before God."

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