The Congress of the People (Cope) has lodged a formal complaint with the Commission on Gender Equality about African National Congress national executive committee (NEC) member Tokyo Sexwale’s ”witchcraft” comments made at the weekend, the party said on Monday.
Sexwale reportedly attacked Cope for ”parading ‘old women’ on TV, using them as witchcraft to attract support” at a rally in the Eastern Cape.
”Our mothers are taken, house to house, they are also paraded on TV, these people are performing witchcraft with our mothers … They are liars. You can’t have respect for people who use older people in that fashion,” Sexwale reportedly said.
In a letter to the commission from Cope general secretary Charlotte Lobe, the party described Sexwale’s remarks as ”deeply disturbing”.
”… freedom of association is a fundamental right in our country’s Constitution. The women Mr Sexwale refers to spent decades of their lives in the liberation movement and endured immense suffering and pain fighting for us to have a Constitution that today makes all South Africans proud,” the letter said.
”In joining Cope, they are exercising their constitutional right to belong to a party of their choice. It is our view that Mr Sexwale’s remarks undermine this constitutional right.”
Lobe said Sexwale’s comments were ”dangerous and disrespectful” given that linking elderly women to witchcraft could potentially endanger their lives.
”Our country has had many cases of violence visited upon elderly women on the basis of links to so-called witchcraft. I am sure you will agree that these comments are deeply irresponsible and undermine the dignity of women.”
The party simultaneously lodged a complaint against ANC Youth League president Julius Malema for his comments on Saturday about the woman who accused ANC president Jacob Zuma of rape.
Malema suggested that the woman who accused Zuma of rape had a ”nice time” with him, the Daily News reported.
”When a woman didn’t enjoy it, she leaves early in the morning. Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money.
”In the morning, that lady requested breakfast and taxi money.
”You can’t ask for money from somebody who raped you.”
Cope spokesperson Palesa Morudu said the commission was ”constitutionally obliged” to investigate the comments.
”We want them [Sexwale and Malema] to retract and apologise … this will show that the ANC is willing to conduct their election campaign in a dignified manner,” she said.
The letter of complaint said ”nothing short of a public apology” from the two men would accomplish this.
”Mr Sexwale’s comments, taken together with the widely reported recent remarks on women by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, paint a disturbing picture regarding the ANC’s attitude toward the dignity of women.
”Nothing short of a public apology by the two men will, we believe, indicate to the country that the ANC intends to conduct a dignified elections campaign for 2009.” — Sapa