There are people who leave South Africa because of crime. They leave due to the fact that their houses are broken in several times and their assets are stolen. The funny thing is, in most cases the criminals would not be found and the police keep searching forever.
The good news is that, they can always replace their belongings.
Corporal punishment in South Africa is a crime, if you spank a child you are most likely to go to jail. The good thing about spanking a child is, the pain will last just a day and maybe the emotional trauma just a month
Are all this criminal activities above, acceptable? No. They are not acceptable.
Now, imagine the theft of a dream and a talent. The case of Caster Semenya is a sad one. Thugs are preparing to steal not only her dreams, but her talent. So much so that, like a thief who asks you "Please bring my Phone" as if you did not buy that phone yourself, IAAF is slowly starting to insinuate that Caster Semenya's talent belongs to them. I say this because; they did not distance themselves from the Australian media reports. They in fact, portray the whole story as if Caster did not have to go through hard training sessions to acquire her well earned Gold medal.
They have already given the Australian media information that seeks to imply that only her Gender made her win the race. This is the worst form of thuggery I have come across. The funny thing is, we know the criminals. It's the worst form of thuggery because Caster's wounds may never heal, it's the worst form of thuggery because, if they succeed in stripping her of her talent, that will be forever and may never really be replaced.
South Africa is being assaulted. I say so because this is the saddest story since apartheid and colonialism. Almost all South Africans are pained by this injustice.
The funny thing is that, this is not Caster's fault; this is the work of God. Nelson Mandela fought for apartheid and spent 27 years in prison, God compensated him with the highest level of greatness. Steve Biko may have lived only a few years, but he was rewarded with high level of intelligence and creativity. Tupac Shakur may have lived a short life, but he was rewarded with high level of musical talent.
Caster Semenya may in fact look like a Boy. She may even talk like a boy. And for that it means she had to grow under a hostile environment within her community, her school, her church and her friends. This child was probably an outcast, as we have heard some of the stories where her Gender had to be confirmed before She could go to the toilet. Has she not paid her price through that? God has compensated her anguish with the greatest of talents. Isn't it now her time to outshine her peers? Who, for the most part of her teenage days, have outshone her?
Why don't we let what God allowed prosper. Some people may conveniently say that, she has an advantage over other people because of her boyish look. I need to ask very clearly, when a child grows in Australia with all the lavish sporting facilities, does that not give her an advantage over an African child who grows in a Rural area where there is no water, electricity never mind sporting facilities. What gives people a right to play God?
Some media reports claim that she may not be 100% woman. I just want to ask, is there anyone who is 100% Woman, if so what percentage of Woman in the World are 100% Woman? This media reports are reckless and will cause Caster a lot of trauma. If IAAF ever brings this on the table, they must also provide the percentage Woman in all the Girls that competed with Caster.
This situation calls for all those who are close to Caster to support her and ensure that IAAF vultures do not suck her blood dry. It calls for Caster herself to remain strong and know that, she is a unique individual with talents beyond the imagination of those who have thought they have exclusive wrights on talent. She needs to realize that, we were all created by God and God does everything purposefully.
As for the IAAF, as they finalized their tests, they must, before they announce the results test all Girls who have competed with Caster during the 800m final, in turn, they must test all living 800m woman Gold medalists. They must not end there; they must also test all masculine women in Athletics. They must then request the ASA to identify these masculine Women.
Any test that is done and results of which announced without the above comparative results, it is then Null and Void. The conditions that Caster has, Zola Bud could have had, Maria Motola could have had. Caster's results alone mean nothing to me.
Its unfortunate that, the crime and thuggery that IAAF and Australian media are committing is un-punishable regardless of the fact that, it's the worst form of Crime and thuggery in the World.
Sefu Sekgala is a chairperson of COPE business and professionals in Tshwane region and writes here in his personal capacity
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