MPS’ sexist slurs hit all women

SOUTH Africa is a constitutional democracy. Our constitution enjoins us in its preamble to “heal the divisions of the past” and to rely on founding principles that include the values of human dignity, non-racialism and non-sexism.

On Tuesday June 11 ANC MP John Jeffrey violated Lindiwe Mazibuko’s dignity with a comment that reduced her status to that of a trivialised commodity with a shelf life.

The following day Buti Manamela – another male ANC MP – added to Jeffrey’s sexist words by joking that “honourable Mazibuko has bad fashion taste and has been arrested by the fashion police”. Given that South Africa is the worldwide rape capital, and is known to be a dangerous and violent society, such utterances are ill-considered and irresponsible.

This is especially so when conceived by public representatives who have taken an oath to uphold and protect the constitution, for which so many – including former president Nelson Mandela – sacrificed and endured imprisonment, torture and banishment.

The DA Women’s Network in the East Cape calls on the two MPs to lead by example and up- hold the constitution of South Africa in deed and word.

Sexist verbal abuse undermines our constitution, and makes Jeffrey and Manamela’s commitment to redress, reconciliation and social justice for women (who remain the most marginalised outsiders in South Africa) rhetorical and insubstantial.

The future of our democracy, and the rights of each and every girl and woman in this country demand that our constitution is protected and taken seriously!

Celeste Barker, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth