Politicians the world over love a bit of name-calling and we boast some of the best around these parts. This incident, which dates back to March of this year, is one of those ridiculous pieces of political showboating that really makes you feel sorry for the DA Mpumalanga Chief Whip Jane Sithole.

If we use the State of the Nation address as a measuring stick we can safely assume that any sitting of government in this country will soon turn farcical, and the March 31 legislature sitting was no different. Exchanges became heated when ANC MPL Vusimuzi Windvoël took exception to the dress Sithole was wearing. This from TimesLive:

[He said] “May I ask‚ honourable Speaker ‚ as some [in the house] have just spoken about people who dress like prostitutes‚ is it appropriate for an honourable member of this house who is a woman to‚ likewise‚ wear see-through things in parliament?”

After laughter and banter‚ [Mpumalange Speaker] Shongwe asked Sithole‚ who wore a black dress‚ to put on her scarf.

Of course this raised the ire of many in the house and has led to Shongwe having to issue a formal apology and order Windvoël to retract his statement. Here’s Sithole commenting on the apology:

Instead of the Speaker protecting the dignity of women‚ she had entertained sexual innuendos and had furthered the attack on me‚ from the presiding officer chair. Her apology is welcomed…

Women have the right to make their own choices‚ and have the right to be treated with dignity‚ and certainly the right to be respected.

In a country that suffers from an atrocious record of sexual violence against women, to think that an elected government official can stand up in a formal sitting and spout such nonsense is beyond reproach. For it then to be met with ‘laughter and banter’ should make us all sick to our stomachs, although I’m sure those bloated fat cats up top couldn’t care less.

[source:timeslive]