Naledi Chirwa On What Caused Her Son To Become Mute
Naledi Chirwa On What Caused Her Son To Become Mute. Besides being one of the most prominent female politicians in the country, Naledi Chirwa is also a doting mother. Those in her circle as well as those who follow her on social media, know how much she adores her son.
The activist and Economic Freedom Fighter member of parliament, opened up about how her son became mute. Naledi, revealed she was pregnant during the Fees Must Fall protests, a campaign she was instrumental in at the University of Pretoria. This is the time when students joined the nationwide campaign against increasing university fees.
Unfortunately, as a pregnant woman back then, her unborn baby was affected. According to Naledi, her son became mute because of trauma. The protests were quite hectic with a lot of students getting arrested as well as expelled from school among other things.
“I was pregnant during FMF. My son is mute from the trauma. (Watch Zulu Love Letter for context). The trauma didn’t end at just our arrests, expulsions, exclusions from the system, criminal records etc. So no. Project Academia shouldn’t be swept under the carpet. Heads must roll,” Naledi said.
Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, who is a UN special rapporteur on the Right to Health, as well as a Doctor at DISA clinic, explained that the trauma is in the DNA. “Kids will grow up to experience anxiety and stress they don’t remember going through themselves. The system is violent and it destroys everything,” she said.
Naledi was introduced to student politics in 2010 when she served as deputy president of the SRC at Tshwane North College. She was also the EFF Students’ Command media and communications officer at the university.