Human Rights of Women
The department responsible for championing the rights of women has given its support to the Commission for Gender Equality's probe into reports that an SABC boss received a 'wife' as a gift.
According to media reports, acting Chief Operations Officer at the SABC, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, received a 'wife' as a gift, alongside a cow and its calf, from Venda chiefs and traditional leaders and activists.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Women in the Presidency, Kenosi Machepa, said this practice, carried out under the guise of tradition and culture by a lobby group called Mudzi wa Vhurereli ha Vhavenda, was "solemnly regrettable".
Machepa said the use of women as gifts as if they were livestock was a serious regress and an insult to the gains of 20 years of democracy and freedom, particularly the contribution of women.
"Colonialism, harmful cultural and religious practices promoted patriarchy and the oppression of women and apartheid further entrenched discrimination based on gender and laws that oppressed women.
"Since 1994, remarkable progress has been made in raising the voice of women through the creation of participatory spaces and structures. As the department responsible for the championing of the rights of women, we cannot sit back and allow women to be treated like secondary citizens with no acclaim to human rights," said Machepa.
She said while cultural and traditional practices are part of South Africa's rich heritage, they should not be abused to advance personal interests.
"Chiefs and traditional leaders should partner with government and support its efforts to anchor women and youth into the forefront of socio-economic transformation.
"The 10 girls that were paraded are at the prime of their life and should be guided and parented to empower themselves with education and scarce skills needed to move South Africa forward and advance the rights and empowerment of women."
In the next five years, the Ministry of Women will prioritise the mainstreaming of women's rights and socio-economic empowerment across all sectors.
"This is our central message as we move South African women forward - nothing about women without women," Machepa said.