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The head of South Africa's version of RTÉ was 'given a wife as a gift'

He was allegedly given a young woman — along with a cow and a calf — by a lobby group of traditional leaders

OUTRAGED SOUTH AFRICAN women’s groups have won an investigation into allegations that the head of the public broadcaster was given a wife as a gift.

“We have received plenty of complaints on the matter,” the government’s Commission for Gender Equality spokesman Javu Baloyi told AFP.

In response, the commission had launched “a serious and intense investigation,” he said.

The acting chief operations officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, was allegedly given a young woman — along with a cow and a calf — by a lobby group of traditional leaders.

The Sowetan newspaper reported last week that about 10 women were lined up in Thohoyandou, Limpopo province, by traditional Venda chiefs seeking greater exposure of their culture, and Motsoeneng was invited to choose one.

The woman Motsoeneng chose — 22-year-old human resources management student Vanessa Mutswari — was pictured in the newspaper bare-breasted next to him, standing behind a trailer on which the cow and calf had been loaded.

“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,” women’s ministry spokeswoman Kenosi Machepa said.

Kelley Moult of the University of Cape Town gender, health and justice research unit told AFP this attitude to women also fuelled “the very high levels of gender violence that our society experiences.”

Gender commission spokesman Baloyi said the investigation into the complaints was expected to be completed within a couple of weeks.

Motsoeneng has not responded publicly to the investigation.

© -AFP 2014

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:12 PM

    Disgraceful to treat women as though they were livestock. Could they not be more like Ireland and head to coppers where everyone is treated like livestock, no matter their gender, race or creed.

    393
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    Mute Richard Cynical
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:53 PM

    Not much of a gift

    #ballandchain

    78
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    Mute Fognostical
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:09 PM

    Pat Kenny is sorry he left RTE now.

    194
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    Mute Donal Costello
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:18 PM

    He left RTE??

    127
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    Mute Qwerty
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:16 PM

    Yeah, he left RTÉ. So what?

    Just wait….now I’m reading that he went to Newstalk! WHAT! Journal, why weren’t we told about this!?

    76
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    Mute Won Hung Loh
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:37 PM

    He will take some trime to catch up with President Zuma who has five wives and 22 children or the king of the Zulus who has six wives and I don’t know how many children All paid for by the State.

    71
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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jun 21st 2014, 2:42 AM

    God those Presidents are devils for punishment.
    The torture they must be going through.

    4
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:06 PM

    Its his culture….

    66
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    Mute sinlacasa
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:23 PM

    He got 3 cows then…

    65
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    Mute sinlacasa
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:07 PM

    The South African version of RTE is much better, the only thing RTE would give you is feelings of cringe and embarrassment

    63
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    Mute the flying picket
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:16 PM

    Another country heading down the swanee !

    62
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    Mute Richard Chawke
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:03 PM

    south Africa is a failed democracy due to effectively a one party state elected by an electorate the vast majority of which live in fear of their government

    46
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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:33 PM

    SA is a multi party democracy with one dominant party at present (just as the NP were during the apartheid days). At the last election they got 62% of the vote which is not far off what FF would have got at the top of their game. It will certainly be good to get a stronger more coherent opposition but to say that somewhere that holds free elections is a failed democracy because people choose to vote for the ANC is a little unfair.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_general_election,_2014
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_South_Africa#The_parties

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    Mute Caoimhghín Ó Tuama
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:45 PM

    Every democracy has teething problems. You should look back the earlier stages of this country.

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    Mute Spiderman
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    Jun 20th 2014, 5:02 PM

    You wouldn’t have to limit it to just the earlier stages either…

    33
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    Mute John gaughan
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:02 PM

    He keep the cow and calf

    46
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 20th 2014, 6:33 PM

    Eh has anyone actually read this story? 10 young women were lined up half naked and offered along side cattle to the deputy head of a television station. I had hoped SA had progressed a bit more than this!!!

    38
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:24 PM

    Apparently the controversial part isn’t that he was given a wife as a gift. The problem only arises when the people who give it turn out to be lobbyists.

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    Mute Graham Murray
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    Jun 20th 2014, 2:59 PM

    Obviously couldn’t get his bit

    34
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    Mute kingstown
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    Jun 20th 2014, 8:41 PM

    Ah Africa! Still showing the world how to undo civilisation and blame the white man for it woes.

    27
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    Mute John Buckley
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    Jun 20th 2014, 3:48 PM

    What’s he gonna do with the cow and the calf?

    23
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    Mute Cpm
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:13 PM

    Make them watch

    58
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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jun 21st 2014, 2:46 AM

    Probably trade them in for another wife.

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    Mute Pickart Solny
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:29 PM

    If he gets the receipt he might be able to exchange his gift.

    21
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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Jun 20th 2014, 5:25 PM

    Judgin by the size of her he did actually have to play plannin permission for her

    9
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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    Jun 20th 2014, 4:54 PM

    Hope he had a pre-nup as part of this “gift”. Otherwise, it’s the gift that keeps on giving…

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    Mute Nik Robinson
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    Jun 20th 2014, 9:58 PM

    They generally blame the British… Oh wait…

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    Mute Pa Custy
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    Jun 20th 2014, 5:42 PM

    Alternate Journal
    #claims
    #injury claims
    #99problems

    4
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