Well-known TV star Macdonald Ndou, who plays KK in the soapie Muvhango, might be portraying the role of a woman basher in the soapie,  but Ndou says the role he is playing is far from what he is in real life.

He, together with the local Tshiombo traditional leader, led hundreds of men in signing a zero-tolerance pledge against the abuse of women and children. The project is an initiative of the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme  (TVEP), which seeks to make communities aware of the dangers of abuse and HIV/Aids.

The signing-on ceremony, which took place on Saturday at the local sports field, was witnessed by many community members and guests who represented departments at provincial level. Men of the village publicly denounced violence against women and children.

Project manager Foldrick Gumula said the TVEP identified the village for attention after so many cases were reported within the area. “We conducted workshops in the area last year and many accepted our gospel. This is to formalise our relationship with the community."

TVEP director Fiona Nicholson encouraged women not to keep quiet but to speak out about abuse. "We have a register here where every man will sign and if he abuses someone, his name will be scrapped and he will be shamed,” she said. She said she was pleased that the local traditional leader took the lead to show others that abuse was not good and said she hoped that it would go a long way in encouraging others to follow suit.

In an interview after the signing, Mcdonald Ndou said: "I do my role from the bottom of my heart to show people the reality of what follows abuse. I am not what people see on TV. I abhor abuse and this is the reason I am supporting the TVEP in its quest to do away with abuse." He said abuse was bad and he encouraged others not to do it.