ANC Chief Whip must discipline ANC MPs for sexist and chauvinist comments
I will today write to the ANC Chief Whip, Dr Mathole Motshekga, to request that he disciplines ANC MPs, John Jeffreys and Buti Manamela, for their sexist and chauvinist attacks on the Leader of the Opposition, Lindiwe Mazibuko, in Parliament this week (see Daily Maverick article).
During both the budget votes on Parliament and the Presidency, these ANC MPs were more concerned with attacking the appearance of a fellow MP than with engaging in robust debate on the serious issues affecting South Africa.
These petty references are a direct attack on the integrity of a fellow member and are unparliamentary.
Dr Motshekga, who has rightfully called for more decorum in the house, should hang is head in shame at this disgraceful display by his colleagues. He must now do everything possible to bring these two MPs to book. They must be asked to apologise in Parliament and they must not be allowed to continue their sexist and chauvinist rants in future.
As a woman, I am personally ashamed of their conduct. They are seemingly unable to come to terms with the fact that the Leader of the Opposition is a woman. After all, they never level such disgusting comments at their male opponents.
I would strongly recommend that Dr Motshekga sit down with these two MPs and let them properly engage with the founding values of our constitution, specifically on non-sexism.
For their reminder, I would like to reference Chapter 1 below. The Chief Whip may find it useful.
The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:
- Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.
- Non-racialism and non-sexism.
- Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.
- Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.
Statement issued by Sandy Kalyan, Democratic Alliance Deputy Chief Whip, June 13 2013
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