The Minister of Labour has condemned as “callous and demeaning” the reported stripping of a female employee in front of her colleagues at a Mbombela business.
According to reports, 51-year-old Precious Msibi of Mbombela was forced to strip naked in front of colleagues to prove that she was female.
“It is totally unacceptable for anyone to be made to suffer the indignity that Precious Msibi was made to endure. Our Constitution which is the supreme law of the country guarantees all of us dignity and it seems Msibi’s constitutional rights were infringed.
“It is even more unacceptable that this happened in the month that is dedicated as a special period to honour all women,” said Minister Mildred Oliphant.
She said it was unconscionable that in this day and age “when we have fought so hard to ensure the dignity of all human beings, a person was forced to do something so demeaning”.
Msibi has since confirmed to the officials of the Labour department that indeed she was forced to strip in front of her colleagues. To add salt to her injury, she was informed yesterday by the investigating officer that the case of indecent assault that she had opened at the Mbombela police station had been struck off the roll.
The minister said this act of indignity is no different from the other ills that women were forced to endure before the dawn of democracy in South Africa and called on police to do their utmost in investigating this case and bringing the culprit to book.
For more information, contact:
Musa Zondi
Cell: 082 901 8081
Source: Department of Labour
