Hlomla Dandala Bemoans Patrick Shai's Passing, Says Cassper 'Bears Some Blame'
- Actor Hlomla Dandala has again hit out on social media for its role in the demise of Patrick Shai, who in recent days took his own life
- Dandala added that Cassper Nyovest should assume some of the blame, owing to his reaction to Shai's video challenging him to a boxing match
- Netizens have expressed varying views on the subject, with many rubbishing Hlomla's claims that Cassper should claim any culpability
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Veteran South African actor Hlomla Dandala is cutting an inconsolable figure following the untimely passing of fellow-Thespian Patrick Shai, who died as a result of suicide at his home in Dobsonville on Saturday, 22 January.
Since then, calls have reignited from within the entertainment industry and beyond around mental illness, and the role social media plays in exacerbating the social ill.
Source: Instagram
Hlomla has emerged as a huge proponent against 'online bullying', noting that rapper Cassper Nyovest should assume some of the blame for the backlash Shai received, particularly from the artist's fanbase, in the lead up to his death.
TimesLIVE reported that in a series of tweets in response to the late actor's viral video in which he challenged the Tito Mboweni record-maker to a fight in the square ring, Cassper went on a rant, notably calling Shai out for spewing an "insult".
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"This is ntate mogolo Patrick Shai. I want to meet you in the ring. I want to give you a good hiding. Before I die, I want to make sure I've beaten you, so it's written on my tombstone, 'This is the man who beat Caster or Cospel or whatever your sh*t name is, Nyovesta'. I'll beat you, boy, on my tombstone! Give me that respect, come, you son of a b***h'," said Shai.
Despite the late veteran actor making a public apology after the backlash directed at him, Cassper responded by saying he was simply using his name to trend and could have done without noting his family.
Hlomla took to social media recently to post a screenshot of Cassper's lyrics from his hit song Hypnotize featuring Nadia Nakai. In it, the rapper refers to his partner as a b***h.
In another post, Hlomla shared the definition of the phrase "son of a b***h", indicating the rapper did not have to be offended by it. He said it wasn't a reference to one's mother as Cassper may have thought, The Citizen reported.
Locals chip in on heated debate
But his best efforts came nought as netizens argued that Shai already had issues before the video and that blaming social media was a cheap shot. Below, Briefly News has compiled a series of reactions to Hlomla's latest comments around Cassper's supposed culpability.
@V3ry_Offensiv3 wrote:
"Hahaha... The old man attacks Cassper on social media and now it's Cassper's problem that the old man put himself in that situation?"
@RiahVanR_ said:
"Where is Chiskop wena Hlomla? Ntate started Cass or because now he is late you won't say the wrong he did?"
@Mvulazane4 added:
"Then he must also blame the son coz he wrote a long essay about how his father disappointed him."
Shai was troubled during his last days
Elsewhere, Briefly News recently reported that netizens have been wondering what exactly could've pushed Shai beyond his limits following his reported suicide, and now his industry companions have spoken out.
Shai's colleague at the Tshegofatso Pule Foundation described him as troubled during his last days. Botlhale Modisane told Sunday World that Shai spent some of his final hours trying to reach out to the rapper's camp to offer an explanation, saying:
"As an EX-GBV perpetrator, he wanted men to talk about their issues, which is why he had formed the Khuluma Ndoda Foundation. He said should Cassper answer to the challenge, he would then have a proper meeting with him and explain the context of the video that he shot to promote the boxing match."
Source: Briefly News
