Entertainment

Scandal actress Nqobile Khumalo talks about Black Tax

Scandal! actress Nqobile Khumalo believes conversations around black tax is “uncomfortable” because people have a hard time sharing. The star, who plays the role of journalist Hlengiwe Twala on the popular e.tv soapie, won the Best African Actress award at the New Vision International Film Festival (NVIFF) in Amsterdam, Netherlands earlier this year for her part in a storyline about black tax.

Nqobile Nunu Khumalo

In the storyline, Hlengiwe is under enormous stress to take care of her mother, sister and sister’s two children. Feeling the pressure, she takes on a huge loan that affects her personal and work life. Nqobile told TshisaLIVE that at the heart of black tax was the idea of sharing, which can be difficult.

Nqobile Khumalo

“I believe that we need each other, all of us. Whether there is enough money in the house or not. But the reason why the black tax debate is uncomfortable is that we have a hard time sharing. It is not a popular idea. I think people are afraid of inequality because deep down they have the fear that if they allow equality or campaign for it, they will always get the short end of the stick.

Nqobile Nunu Khumalo

She said the most tragic part of black tax was the resentment which it sometimes caused. It is not fair, it is not how it is supposed to be but because of our history as a nation, it is a reality. I believe that everyone has a sad story but feeling sorry for yourself is not the way to move forward. We need to come up with ideas that helps the collective, otherwise it is just going to grow resentment and estrangement between family members, which I feel is the most tragic thing that has come out of black tax.

Nqobile Nunu Khumalo

She said that the solution was not running away from your responsibilities but working as a collective, stressing that the idea that one person works for the whole family is “unacceptable”. I don’t believe that people need to be cut off or run away from family, that is the tragedy of black tax. I believe that everyone should work for the family, not just one person. That idea that one person works for the family is unacceptable.

In other news – Idols SA judge Unathi gets real about depression: Alcohol became one of my survival tools

In 2019, a number of local and international celebrities opened up about mental health. Idols SA judge Unathi Nkayi is the latest to speak about her struggles with depression.

Unathi Nkayi

In an interview on MyTruth’s webisode, an emotional Unathi spoke about her illness and going through a divorce in the public eye. Depression is smart. It’s not going to announce itself and say, ‘Hi I am here’. Read more

Source: Timeslive