Sello Sebotsane, the well-known actor, has publicly acknowledged his past mistakes and apologised for the abuse he inflicted on his ex-wife, actress Shoki Mmola, and their two children, Oratile and Karabo. In a video posted on TikTok on Tuesday, Sello expressed deep remorse for the harm he caused, saying, “For the part I have played in hurting you, harming you. I am deeply sorry. I know words cannot mend what is broken. I am working on myself and I am looking forward to working with the young ones to try to stop this scourge because with violence we go nowhere.”
Sello’s apology comes after weeks of criticism on social media, where his TikTok posts have been met with messages from users who refuse to forget the abuse he caused Shoki. In his heartfelt message, Sello addressed the need for men and young boys to embrace vulnerability and express their emotions. “Violence is no answer. It is not right. I repeat, it is not right. And us men, young boys, let’s learn to let it out, let’s learn to speak. Yes, be vulnerable. Someone somewhere will see and understand your pain and make you feel better, and only you can do that for yourself,” he said.
According to TshisaLIVE, Shoki has been vocal about the abuse she endured during their relationship, which began in 2003 when she worked on Muvhango. She described how Sello’s behavior grew increasingly violent, eventually leading to severe physical harm. One of the most traumatic incidents she recalls was when Sello sat on her lap, choked her, and beat her so badly that she bled. He then fled the scene, leaving her in distress. “For the longest time I couldn’t laugh and not get a headache,” Shoki said. “I was frail. I was underweight. My skin was grey.”
Despite the negative reactions to his recent posts, Sello thanked his supporters, saying, “To the fans, thank you for everything. Thank you for standing with me.” However, he also acknowledged the hurt he caused, adding, “To those I disappointed, I am sorry. I am only human. I don’t want to justify anything. Wrong is wrong.” Sello vowed to work towards making things right, stating, “Let’s make things right. Let’s make this a better world. I will do it. I will do it my way.”
@sebotsanes53 ♬ original sound – Sello Sebotsane
