News24 | ANC Women’s League says Mantashe’s ‘uncouth behaviour’ is unbecoming, and he must apologise

The ANC Women’s League is calling for the party’s national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, to apologise for his crass response to a question on sex for jobs.

Storm Simpson/News24

• The ANC Women’s League has reiterated its call for Minister Gwede Mantashe to apologise for comments he had made about female genitalia.
• Mantashe, however, said he had apologised, but claimed that he didn’t know what he had apologised for.
• ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC considered the matter closed after Mantashe’s apology.
• For more political news, visit News24 Politics.

The ANC Women’s League is not backing down from its call for the party’s national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, to apologise for his crass response to a question on sex for jobs.

In an interview with the SABC on Wednesday, Mantashe said he had apologised but asked: “What is it I am apologising for?”

Mantashe also said he expected the Women’s League to approach him to explain why he was wrong and why he needed to apologise.

But on Thursday morning, the league took exception to Mantashe’s response to the call for an apology.

“The ANCWL considers his response both inappropriate and insensitive, as it failed to reflect the seriousness and empathy required when addressing allegations that undermine the dignity of women,” it said

READ | ANC Women’s League wants Mantashe disciplined for ‘derogatory’ remarks against women

According to the league, Mantashe, as a representative of the ANC in government, has a responsibility to always uphold the values of the party and the code of conduct of the government.

“Our upbringing teaches us to avoid obscene language and to respect everyone with the language we use. Cde Mantashe should not be allowed to vulgarise our language. Instead of acknowledging the need to apologise, he responded with theatrics, feigning ignorance of the reasons for doing so,” its statement read.

The league added: “This further reinforces his primitive and unrefined allusions to women. This uncouth behaviour is unbecoming, perpetuates patriarchy and deserves the strongest condemnation.”

“He is not only a leader of Africa’s oldest liberation movement, but also an elder whose conduct and choice of words should be beyond reproach, as he carries the responsibility of setting an example for future generations who look to him for guidance and inspiration.”

“The ANCWL remains steadfast in its demand that Cde Mantashe offer an unconditional apology to women and the nation at large. We also call on him to refrain from belligerent conduct and to take accountability for his actions,” said the league.

The call for the apology stems from a widely circulated TV interview with Newsroom Afrika over the weekend, in which the minister was asked about claims by women in a mining town that they were expected to offer sex to secure jobs.

Mantashe responded to the question in isiXhosa:

Don’t involve me in issues of asking for [sex]; this person asked for sex from a person that he encountered. This can’t be an ANC issue.

“If councillors, once elected, try to use the position to sleep with people, just know that that is man behaving badly and is going around sleeping with people; that’s not an ANC thing,” he added.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday afternoon at a media briefing at Luthuli House, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the matter was considered “settled” after Mantashe’s apology.