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.