All hell has broken loose following the reported sale of a young Venda woman to the SABC’s second in command, Hlaudi Motseneng.

Not only does the young woman herself (Vanessa Mutswari) vehemently deny the veracity of these allegations but she is furious about the effects that this story has had on her actual betrothal.

Some reports said that Motsoeneng had asked for Mutswari’s phone number and offered to help to pay for her education. But, speaking after the press conference, Mutswari said that none of the girls had been singled out, that she had had no contact with Motsoeneng since the event and that the executive had merely encouraged all of the young women to pursue an education. 

Another young woman who had also acted in the same capacity on the day corroborated her version of events.  

Mutswari, who is a human resources student, a midfield soccer player and currently holds the title of Miss Tshisimani Campus at her local FET college, said that she was already engaged to another man. 

But the media reports had created huge rifts in her relationship, she said. “The Sowetan destroyed my [future] marriage,” she said. “I have tried to explain to him [ her fiancé] that those allegations are not true but … newspapers … radios are talking about it. 

“Everyone wants to talk whatever they want. That’s why I am saying the Sowetan has destroyed my future marriage.”  

The Sowetan has thus far refused to retract the story and stands by their conviction – even in the face of written complaints and letters from the cultural lobby group’s leaders. The leaders are furious about the falsification of the events and have said that if talks with the publication do not go well, they will press legal action.

More info available at Mail & Guardian.