Natasha King, 38, of Table View, is a South African actress, model, activist, and the official brand ambassador of the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation.
She hopes to break the cycle of violence and abuse against men, women and children in all forms, through education and empowerment during Women’s Month and beyond.
Ms King is a Mrs South Africa top-25 finalist and has been working with the Table View non-profit since 2019.
She says she has always been passionate about supporting the empowerment of women and youth.
“I cannot express enough how honoured I am to be the brand ambassador, and to be part of this incredible family that strive to be Reeva’s voice, and continue the amazing work Reeva started. To ensure that not only is Reeva never forgotten, but that her legacy remains.”
Ms Steenkamp – who was murdered by her lover and former professional sportsman Oscar Pistorius on Valentine’s Day in 2013 – was passionate about creating awareness about violence and the abuse of women and children, says Ms King.
Ms King says she is committed to holding fund-raisers for the foundation so it can continue it work through education, empowerment and skills development.
The foundation is run solely by volunteers, and, once a year, it awards the Reeva Bursary to students wanting to study law. On Saturday July 30, it was awarded to Cheslin Marsh, of Wellington.
Mr Marsh was left deaf in one ear and too traumatised to continue his studies after he and his friend, Hannah Cornelius, were attacked, kidnapped and assaulted by gangsters who went on to rape and murder Ms Cornelius on March 27, 2017.
Ms King says she cannot wait to see what Mr Marsh becomes in the future, with the help of the bursary.
“I strive to be a voice for the voiceless and stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. To not only be a change-maker and role model for all South Africans, especially women and children, but to be a generational influencer who leaves behind a powerful legacy that positively impacts and changes not just our country, but the world for the better.”
Ms King says she hopes to encourage victims of violence and abuse to learn about their rights.
“It takes a lot of courage for victims to speak up about these matters and be able to leave these situations. But if they can do that, then they will be able to take back their power, find restoration, healing, and be able to help others too to have better futures.
“You don’t need to stay in a bad situation or let those situations or fear determine the rest of your lives.”
If you are a victim of abuse or know of someone who is, you can contact the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation at www.reevasteenkampfoundation.org
Other support lines include the Gender Base Violence Command Centre at 0800 428 428 and the Urgent Assistance toll free number at 0800 150 150.
