“I’m sorry for coming home drunk and just fighting you for no reason at all. I’m sorry for cheating countless times.”
Skeem Saam actor Patrick Seleka, who plays Katlego Petersen on the SABC1 soapie, has opened up about his marriage woes with his wife Mmabaneng Seleka and confessed that he has been emotionally and mentally abusive towards her.
In a now-deleted 12-minute-long Instagram video, the actor apologised to his wife for being abusive to her and took accountability for being part of the reason she was suffering from depression.
He captioned the video, “The reason for my wife’s depression is me”
“The main reason my wife is going through her depression … I should say that all of it, is because of me. I am the reason she has been so depressed for so long and the one thing that’s the worst is I haven’t been there for her.
“I was emotionally and mentally abusive to her,” he said.
Giving context to his public confession and admission to being an “abuser”, Patrick explained that he had been flooded with people asking him if he was the cause of his wife’s depression after she posted about it on social media.
The actor admitted that he was a “bad” husband from the beginning of their marriage. He alluded to having been the reason his wife lost her job and friendships in addition to many other things. Patrick added that he was the reason his wife would be attacked on social media and admitted to cheating and talking to his exes on social media.
“I have put my wife in a position where I wouldn’t want even my worst enemies to be in and I am coming out publicly to her – wherever she is right now – and her family and to everyone that I humbly apologise for everything that I have done and I will do my level best to make things right for her.”
Patrick said he posted the video with the intention of owning up and being accountable for the part he played in the demise of their marriage and his wife’s mental ill health. He told his followers that he hoped his wife would one day forgive him and that he was committed to fixing himself.
Watch the video here.
In another post – which he has since also deleted – Patrick penned a lengthy apology, detailing each of his transgressions against his wife.
“I’m sorry for body shaming you. I’m sorry for calling you names. I’m sorry for swearing at you. I’m sorry for comparing you. I’m sorry for badmouthing you trying to hide everything. I’m sorry for screaming and shouting at you. I’m sorry for coming home drunk and just fighting you for no reason at all. I’m sorry for cheating countless times. I’m sorry for turning you into a joke and ‘ag shame, only if she knew’ to other women. I’m sorry for ruining everything for you. I’m sorry for destroying your friendships. I’m sorry for not being there for you.
“I’m sorry for not being the man I promised you to be. I’m sorry for all the nights you have cried yourself to sleep – whereas I was right next to you and I just ignored you. I’m sorry for landing you into depression and making you take antidepressants. I’m sorry for being a monster, not only to you but to our kids as well. I’m sorry for abusing you mentally, emotionally and verbally. I am sorry Mmabaneng,” his apology read.
TshisaLIVE reached out to Patrick for additional comment, however, he had not replied by the time this article was published. This article will be updated if and when he responds.
By Chrizelda Kekana – TimesLIVE