The Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities welcomes the decision by Laugh-it-off to remove an image on its website depicting the naked body of Sara Baartman with male genitalia and the face of Julius Malema.
The Ministry was alerted to the image by the Times newspaper yesterday (10 November) and the Ministry immediately demanded that the image be removed.
Whoever thought the image was a joke, has no regard for the traumatic history of exploitation of African women.
The image undermines the efforts that have been to restore the dignity of Sara Baartman. The insinuated link to the recent abuse of Caster Semenya makes it even more disgusting. All South Africans should unite in restoring the dignity of these two South Africans who have been the subject of global humiliation.
Laugh-it-off should make efforts to stop its further reproduction and take responsibility for the harm that will be caused by any further circulation of this distasteful image.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
11 November 2009
