Dikeledi Moetji
Shoki Sebotsane is famously known as Celia on SABC1’s soapie, Skeem Saam. The actress was married to an actor, Sello Sebotsane. They met at South African State Theatre in Pretoria when Shoki was doing her first year as a Drama student. Shoki’s beauty mesmerized Sello. They got married four years later after meeting and now they have two adorable kids.
After a 10-year long abusive marriage, Shoki decided that it is enough; she cannot take it any longer. “I fought so hard to be idolised by the public I had to give us a false life just because I wanted the world to see us in a certain way”, she told Drum during an exclusive interview.
Their rocky marriage got out of hand to a point where they would sleep in different bedrooms. Shoki resorted to sleeping with a knife under her pillow, incase she needed to defend herself in the middle of the night.
One night he choked her, Shoki begged to be beaten to death rather than be choked. Her husband took out rage on her, which made it harder and harder for her to keep the pretence of happiness.
She told drum magazine that she stayed in the marriage because she thought he loved and protected her. She believes she tolerated the abuse because of her upbringing and a desperate longing for love and security.
Her advice to fellow women is to find the underlying cause of the problems and what do what is right. “There is no manual for relationships but if the abuse becomes too much, you need to act, even if it means drastic change.” She advised.
