26 July 2007
The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) wishes to express its utmost horror
and outrage at this incident. This is an utter violation of the basic human
right to dignity and contradicts the founding values of our Constitution, being
freedom, dignity and equality. The CGE has not conducted an investigation into
this matter and expresses its opinion based on the information contained in
your report. Anyone has the right to choose to wear whatever they want to wear,
according to what they deem is appropriate and no-one has the right to force
someone to comply with their notion of what is appropriate.
The particularly violent way in which this opinion was expressed is deeply
troubling and indicative of our tendency in South Africa to resolve disputes
and differences of opinion through violence. A woman's wearing of trousers is
not a violation of customary practice, as trousers were introduced in modern
colonial times. This reflects the impact of conservative patriarchal opinions
that have served to determine what is deemed appropriate and acceptable
behaviour of women, and traditionally served to oppress, intimidate and
marginalise women.
We encourage members of the public to affirm and assert their rights when
these have been violated. We wish to declare our solidarity with the affected
woman and support her in her decision to lodge a complaint against this form of
assault and intimidation. We encourage the complainant to come into the
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial office of the CGE to lodge a complaint so that we can
track this case.
Enquiries:
Yvonne Mogadime
CGE Communications
Tel: 011 403 7182
Fax: 011 403 7188
Issued by: Commission for Gender Equality
26 July 2007
Source: Commission for Gender Equality (http:// www.cge.org.za)
