ANCWL President must demand an apology from Zuma for insulting and sexist remarks
07 March 2016
Release: immediate
The DA calls on the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) President, Bathabile Dlamini, to demonstrate her seriousness about President Jacob Zuma’s sexist remarks this weekend and personally and publicly demand an apology and retraction from him.
In response to President Zuma's sexist comments this weekend, ANCWL Spokesperson, Toko Xasa has said “there is no such thing as ‘too sensitive’ when it comes to harassment” and went further to say that "Women must continue, if things make them uncomfortable, to report them, and make it serious to be harassed".
It is not enough to issue remarks to the media, it is incumbent Dlamini to show her commitment to women across the country and demand an apology from the President.
This weekend President Zuma is said to have said that women were too quick to say they were being harassed when men were innocently complementing them. He said“when men complement you innocently, you say its harassment. You will miss out on good men and marriage”.
To this end and pursuant to section 184 of the Constitution; the DA will be referring these comments to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), as well as writing to Jacob Zuma requesting that he issues an apology – without delay – to the women of South Africa for his blatant disconnect from their lived experiences of sexism and sexual abuse across our country.
The President needs to apologise for perpetuating patriarchal attitudes that continue to allow women to remain the subjects of high levels of violence and sexual abuse throughout our country.
This mind-set continues to lock women out of economic participation, and out of jobs that could bring much needed income to their families, as well as financial independence from the men in their lives.
For far too long sexism and sexual violence has been allowed to pervade our society and it is welcomed that women and men alike unceasingly stand up to the most heinous of sexist conduct and speech.
Our human rights-based democracy demands it of us all if we are to create a better life for all with freedom, fairness and opportunity.
Statement issued by Phumzile Van Damme, DA National Spokesperson, 7 March 2016
