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SUFFERED: Gospel star Fikile Mlomo says she had a rough childhood. PHOTO: GALLO IMAGES

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GOSPEL star Fikile Mlomo is one of South Africa's most inspirational women. In her long-awaited album Noma Kunje, released in October, the singer revealed how she survived abuse.

Mlomo, who hails from Lindelani informal settlement outside Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, said: "I had a rough childhood because at home my mother and grandmother could not afford to buy us many things".

Because her family was poor, Mlomo dropped out of Grade 11 to live with her 21-year-old boyfriend.

"I was only 15 when I entered the abusive relationship and fell pregnant at the age of 16.

"My boyfriend at that time used to beat me up for nothing after he had been drinking liquor. He would come back home late from shebeens and accuse me of things I had not done. Then, when I would defend myself, he would beat me."

She said the abuse continued and the boyfriend would apologise while cleaning her wounds.

This continued until she lost her four-month-old baby.

"Even when I was pregnant, the same routine of abuse would go on until I was admitted to hospital. I delivered the baby prematurely. Miraculously, my baby survived until at one fight we had, she died on the scene."

Mlomo said because she loved him, she stayed at his house until all the wounds had healed and would then go back home as if nothing had happened.

Mlomo said after breaking up with her first boyfriend, she dated again.

"I had hoped to find love and trust again, but to my surprise, the new man was also emotionally abusive."

She said that she entered into an abusive relationship for the wrong reasons, "because I depended on other people".

Earlier this year, Mlomo was diagnosed with TB.

"I had to delay the recording of my third album for almost eight months due to the TB treatment."

She advised women to speak out against woman and child abuse, and ensure that they get help.

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Comments

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Sun May 19 21:13:56 SAST 2013 ::

Dec 12, 2012

MommaC

Blessings, sister. There are so many kids out there living this right now. May your music touch their lives and wake them up.
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Dec 12, 2012

kabelo110

Who is this now? Shem im sorry though girl.
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Dec 12, 2012

Dubul'Amanzi

""I was only 15 when I entered the abusive relationship and fell pregnant at the age of 16. "" You were still young Mlomo,uzenziwa akakhalelwa.
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Dec 12, 2012

Papage

"My boyfriend at that time used to beat me up for nothing after he had been drinking liquor. He would come back home late from shebeens and accuse me of things I had not done. Then, when I would defend myself, he would beat me."

The Sister is not healing, how long is this going to take you, each time they interview you we are told of the abuse that you been through, it is now boring, please learn to forget that negative things that happened in your life and only focus on the positive, God has kept you till this far and he has protected you and gave you wisdom and freedom to praise Him, now forget the past hurt and move on. You have a talented voice that chase the devil away, just focus on that, you will see how Great thier God is, I pray for healing for you My Sister, Keep on knocking on that Heaven door you will see soon.
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Dec 12, 2012

GODESS

Askies sistaz and its good to see that you rose up, despite what you went through. We tend to feel like the weakest link when you a subjected to such situations, S.A needs more women like you that speak out without feeling shameful, part of the healing process. Stay Blessed!
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Dec 12, 2012

2shy2call

O rata dilo le wena, but that does not give that B@stard the right to abuse you. 15years already o samela pip!. Eish le wena kgale o jewa.
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Dec 12, 2012

Tbos2008

@ Papage
The Sister is not healing, how long is this going to take you, each time they interview you we are told of the abuse that you been through, it is now boring, please learn to forget that negative things that happened in your life and only focus on the positive, God has kept you till this far and he has protected you and gave you wisdom and freedom to praise Him, now forget the past hurt and move on. You have a talented voice that chase the devil away, just focus on that, you will see how Great thier God is, I pray for healing for you My Sister, Keep on knocking on that Heaven door you will see soon.
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Same sentiments, that story is kind of boring and its not like its something unusual in our society, jy was lastag
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Dec 12, 2012

DJ-Winner

15 year old with a boyfriend? That was nasty.

Why is it that these so called celebrity claiming were abused in their childhood. Rebeca told us the same story. The likes of Beyonce, Kelly Rowlands, etc. I don't trust these people.
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Dec 12, 2012

Zimzalabam1

You and so many others now sit down.
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Dec 12, 2012

thinya

Sad story indeed, im sorry sis, God will surely grand you a perfect man in your life one day.
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