Sello Maake kaNcube sues for defamation over HIV allegations
South African veteran actor Sello Maake kaNcube is suing for defamation after “Sunday World” published an article about his alleged HIV status.
The article stated that Maake kaNcube’s estranged wife Pearl Mbewe had opened up about him allegedly exposing her to HIV.
“My test results once more came back negative, and his came back positive again. The doctor told him that his viral load was about 7 000 and his CD4 count was 200.
“The doctor advised him that if he did not begin treatment immediately, he would get so sick and possibly die. The doctor told me that if I continued to have unprotected sex with him, I might also contract the virus. We have been using protection ever since,” Mbewe told the publication.
In response to the allegations, Ncube released a statement through his lawyers, announcing that he would be suing for defamation.
“Besides what is said about my family by a discredited, backwards and colonised media house whose intention is to destroy African families, I will stand by the African family unit,” he said.
“December being a family month, I want to encourage and support family units, me, Sello Maake kaNcube, that they should not be discouraged and humiliated by those who are paid and motivated to destroy African family unit.
“I am aware of the defamatory statements made about me and I am proceeding with legal action in this regard. This is to protect the African family unit.”
Meanwhile, on social media, fans are divided, saying Mbewe shouldn’t have disclosed Ncube’s status, whether positive or not.
“This is extremely defamatory and amounts to character assassination. There should be laws against this by these media companies. You may find that Maake kaNcube is not positive, but the wife said, ‘He cheated without a condom and exposed her to possible HIV’,” said @PrayerTmos.
Others took it as an opportunity to educate the masses about HIV and the importance of destigmatising it.
“HIV can be well managed and prevented in a marriage. One partner cannot be a victim and the other a villain as disease management requires a joint approach.
“This headline only perpetuates stigma. HIV when managed is not life-threatening,” said activist Karabo Magagane.
Maake kaNcube and Mbewe’s marriage has been falling apart, with reports that Mbewe took out a protection order against the former “Scandal!” actor.
While all of this has been happening, Mbewe has been hanging out with Lebo Keswa, who was also dealing with heartbreak after her marriage with Latoya Makhene ended on a very bad note.
“I think my wife is more dramatic than I am. She acts better than me who is an actor and she is the one who has decided that we are no longer going to be working together,” he told “Sunday World” after being served with the protection order.