Calls to pull Mampintsha's music off air gain momentum

Fellow SA musicians and other industry players have turned their back on Mandla "Mampintsha" Maphumulo.

Calls to mute and boycott his music also gained a groundswell of support in the entertainment industry yesterday after an Instagram live video showed him repeatedly slapping and shouting at his girlfriend Babes Wodumo at a hotel in Cape Town.

Industry figures have chorused in condemnation of Mampintsha.

Yesterday, music collaborator DJ Tira said Babes, real name Bongekile Simelane, was safe and had checked herself into a hotel.

"She is OK. She is booked in at an accommodation she normally books into when she wants to be alone and away from Mampintsha," said DJ Tira.

He said he was saddened by the event, especially at a time when the country is fighting the issue of domestic abuse.

"It is extremely wrong. My heart is really sad for Babes Wodumo and no woman should have to go through this."

DJ Tira said he first became aware of Babes' abuse following her interview on Metro FM in May.

Musician and TV personality Boity Thulo tweeted: "Can we please not have any radio station inviting Mampintsha for 'his side of the story'. He can share his side on a prison community radio station.

Rapper Cassper Nyovest shared: "I don't understand men who beat women. That sh** just does not make sense!!!!! F***ing Pigs!!!!"

DJ Zinhle wrote: "Mampintsha needs to be stopped. I hope they make an example out of him so every man knows that hitting a woman is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My heart breaks for Babes."

President of South African Music Promoters Association China Mpololo said they were taking a stand and were not going to support all women abusers.

"As promoters' association, we are totally against women abuse and will never support abusers. It cannot be that when things of this nature occur we begin to debate about it. I don't entertain this thing of two sides of the story because it gives no one a leverage to assault another party. "

Mpololo also sits in the board of SA Music Industry Council.

Gender violence activist and actress Rosie Motene said she personally tried to reach out to Babes to find out if she was alright. She said the abuse of women was a national crisis.

Nomasonto "Mshoza" Maswanganyi, a violence survivor, believes that Babes was calling for help when she decided to record the video.

- Additional reporting by Kgothatso Madisa