Kaya 959 Reporter
There’s been a widespread outrage following Limpopo MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s school visit to Gwenane High School in Mogalakwena Municipality.
A clip of the video that has been wildly shared on social media shows the MEC telling female learners to repeat after her and say “Open your books and close your legs”.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
Doctor Phophi Ramathuba who’s also a MEC visited a school in Limpopo this morning telling the girls to close their legs and open their books.
— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) January 12, 2022
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Is this sex education by our Goverment? Victim Blaming and pushing the narrative? This is disgusting.
@ANCWL_hq @MYANC pic.twitter.com/t2knd61TLS
Political parties and sexual health activists have responded to the MEC’s utterances.
Deputy Chief Whip of the DA, Siviwe Gwarube says the MEC’s utterance give an impression that it’s the girl’s responsibility to protect themselves against the rape culture in the country.
‘To the girl child: open your books and close your legs’ – says the *Health* MEC. @PhophiRamathuba – this kind of narrative to young children is deeply problematic. Shifts responsibility to girl children to shoulder the burden of safe sex practices & rape culture. It’s rubbish. https://t.co/wBC3VXij74
— Siviwe Gwarube (@Siviwe_G) January 12, 2022
South Africa continues to grapple with high numbers of teenage pregnancies.
According to Dr Granville Whittle, the acting director-general in the Department of Basic Education, who shared data on the issue late last year in parliament; the crisis needs some urgent intervention.
Whittle shared that approximately 120,000 schoolgirls in South Africa fall pregnant each year, with only a third returning to school.
Actor and Media Personality Siv Ngesi also reacted to the MEC’s utterance and said
“What a bloody mess, why didn’t she tell the boys as well to open their books and close their zips!! You’re on your own women/girls”
