A blow to patriarchy

WHEN The Mercury first ran the story on Siphelele Nxumalo taking the matter to court asking that the marriages her husband, Ngizwe Brian Mchunu, had entered into without her knowledge or permission be annulled as a front page lead, some of our readers called in and others wrote letters complaining that we had taken a gossip tabloid turn.

We believe that the reaction missed the point of the story, which was to highlight how customary marriages can negatively impact on women.

It is for this reason that we have taken the unusual approach of writing a front page editorial to go with the story.

Our choice of the story, then and now, was not about the sensation pertaining to the lead character in this drama being a popular entertainment industry figure, but rather to highlight an ongoing gender injustice that many other women probably suffer in silence and endure in the name of culture and tradition.

We hope that those readers who complained about our first story will have a deeper appreciation of what the issues are and, whether or not they know of, or are interested in, the personalities involved, see this, as we do, as a matter of human rights and striking a blow against patriarchy and male privilege.

If you are still not convinced, our letters pages are yours for your input and engagement. – EDITOR