On behalf of the National Council of Provinces, I wish to congratulate South Africa's exceptional young woman from Limpopo province, Caster Semenya, on winning gold in the women's 800m race at the International Association of Athletics Associations' (IAAF) championships in Berlin, Germany, on 19 August 2009.
Her astounding victory is a great encouragement to the young women of our country, many of whom have had to face extreme odds to achieve success. Her triumph at the international arena should inspire many South Africans, young and old, to persevere even in the face of adversity.
Semenya's success has placed her among the finest in the world. She is indeed a beacon of hope for women especially those who hail from the rural parts of our country.
Unfortunately, she had to celebrate her sweet success amid unnecessary controversy around her gender. As a result the world descended on her as if she were an outcast.
As South Africans we subscribe to and uphold the fundamental principle that everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
While we respect the right of the authorities, in this case the IAAF, to conduct their affairs in a professional manner, their poor handling of the matter surrounding Semenya left much to be desired. In fact, it amounted to gender discrimination.
It is saddening to note that the recipient of this poor treatment is a woman. The women of our country have for decades suffered under the triple oppression of race, class and gender. We feel that it is time that they were freed and their dignity respected.
I intend asking the House shortly to condemn the manner in which Semenya was treated at the IAAF championships in the strongest possible terms, while commending her tenacity and zeal.
We are looking forward to welcoming Semenya back home as a champion who has demonstrated to the world the potential of the people of this country in athletics.
For enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson contact:
Sakhile Mokoena
Tel: 021 403 2340
Cell: 082 364 3633
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
21 August 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za)
