The South African government has initiated an enquiry into the ‘wife as gift’ allegation by a top executive with a government owned media organization.
Mr Motsoeneng’s Gift bride
Hlaudi Motsoeneng who is head of SABC picked a bare-breasted 23-year-old human resources management student from 10 women presented by Venda traditional chiefs in northern Limpopo province of South Africa, where he and SABC executives met Venda lobby group, Mudzi wa Vhurereli ha Vhavenda.
In exchange for ‘the wife’ he is alleged to have been given a cow and a calf in return.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng , COO SABC
Following a complaint to the Commission of Gender Equality, the spokesperson for the commission told BBC that it had dispatched letters to all the parties and that its recommendation will be released next month.
The South African women’s ministry said it viewed the whole process as an abuse of cultural values.
“The use of women as gifts as if they were livestock is a serious regress and an insult to the gains of 20 years of democracy and freedom, particularly the contribution of women,” a statement from the ministry said.
The cultural group was requesting for more programmes to be broadcast in their native language by the organization.
