COSATU supports the call for Judge Mabel Jansen to resign over her racist comments

9 May 2016

The Congress of South African Trade Unions harshly condemns the racist comments made by The Pretoria High Court Judge,  Mabel Jansen that imply that black culture and black people  in particular are prone to rape.  Judge Jansen is quoted as having written that : "In their culture a woman is there to pleasure them. Period. It is seen as an absolute right and a woman’s consent is not required. "I still have to meet a black girl who was not raped at about 12. I am dead serious."

This ridiculous and nonsensical statement by Judge Jansen has exposed her as a close-minded individual, who hold bigoted views about black people and black males in particular. She has betrayed the trust of South Africans as a judge and is no longer fit to sit in judgement of anyone in our courts of law. COSATU supports the call for her resignation and we also call on the Judicial Services Commission to impeach her for her reckless and racist statements. She has left an indelible stain on the integrity of the judiciary.

The fact that she has tried to defend her comments shows that she lacks the insight and impartiality that is necessary for someone, who is entrusted with the responsibility of taking decisions that have an enormous impact on people’s lives. Rape is a big problem in this country and it is naïve and irresponsible to play the race card, when addressing this issue because it has nothing to do with race.

Judge Jansen’s statements have exposed her as someone with flawed views and have cast a dark shadow on the judiciary as a whole. It has also put a question mark on her capacity to be objective ,when dealing with black males in cases that involve rape.

This confirms our long held position that our judicial system needs urgent transformation. The working class and the black majority are still not treated fairly by our justice system. The unconcealed traces of apartheid and racism can be seen all over some of the decisions and conclusions that the justice system has dispensed over the last two decades.

Our justice system is still blinded by the colour of the victim and the perpetrator’s skin, including their social class. Most judges are the products of the apartheid system and some of them resolutely remain prisoners of anachronistic prejudices against black people. To protect the integrity of the judiciary , Judge Mabel Jansen needs to step aside or be forced to resign by the Judicial Services Commission.

Issued by Sizwe Pamla, National Spokesperson, COSATU, 9 May 2016