Traditional Venda Chiefs of northern Limpopo province of South Africa have gifted the Chief Executive Officer of the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, a wife.
During his recent visit to the northern Limpopo province where he and other SABC executives met the Venda lobby group, Mudzi wa Vhurereli ha Vhavenda, Motsoeneng was presented with a line-up of 10 women to pick his choice.
Mudzi wa Vhurereli ha Vhavenda is part of a cultural group asking for more programmes to be broadcast in the Venda language on SABC.
“He chose the one he liked.
“All the girls were there with their parents. Their parents knew what was going to happen and they all agreed”, said Humbelani Nemakonde of Mudzi group.
According to reports Motsoeneng chose a 23-year-old human resources management student who was pictured bare-breasted next to him.
The government said the behaviour of those who organised the parade of gift brides was “regrettable”.
Mr Motsoeneng has not commented.
However, the Commission for Gender Equality said it had received a complaint after it was reported that Hlaudi Motsoeneng was given a bride by traditional chiefs and had commenced an investigation
The SABC boss was also alleged to have been given a cow and a calf.
The South African women’s ministry said it viewed the whole process as an abuse of cultural values.
“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,” a statement from the ministry said.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago denied knowledge of the Commission for Gender Equality’s investigation, adding and that if it had any issues, they should be taken up with the Venda group concerned.
However, the CGE spokesperson Javu Baloy insisted that letters had been sent to all those involved about the complaint and that its recommendations would be made next month.