Political rumors could lead South Africans to believe that the next person to lead the country would be a sugar daddy, or a person known locally as a “blesser.”
“Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa modeled moral and ethical leadership in his presidential campaign, but he does not appear to be practicing what he preaches,” the Sunday Independent read. Newspaper September 3rd Reed What is the latest sex scandal starring a South African politician?
Mr Lampahosa, long seen as South Africa's next president, is the latest in a string of political heavyweights embroiled in scandals involving women, ranging from extramarital affairs to more serious accusations of sexual harassment. It's nothing more than that. battery. South Africa is an outwardly conservative society based on the family unit. There is also a strong undercurrent of patriarchy that prevents the scandalous actions of powerful men from affecting their social status.
The morality tale surrounding the sordid details of Ramaphosa's alleged extramarital affair may have briefly caused a stir in the news chain, but his aspirations to become president remain strong. Rather, as in previous cases, it is the women caught up in these scandals who are most affected.
The most notorious example was the young women who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape in 2007. She was attacked by the party's women's league and ultimately, after the president was acquitted, she was forced out of the country. The woman was named Kwezi to protect her identity. passed away last year Although she is 41 years old, her experience is set the tone About how women who are used in political scandals are treated.
He says Ramaphosa is likely the victim of a political smear campaign that cynically exploits South African society's public shame over high rates of violence and exploitation against women. Essayist Sisonke Msimang. “Gender issues are always collateral damage,” Msimang says. “Time and time again, we see women being used in wars between men.”
What goes on in politicians' bedrooms shouldn't matter to anyone, but it's important to assess what kind of country voters want and who they want to lead them. . That conversation doesn't have to be sordid, but instead is overshadowed by one faction's divisive narrative, she added. corruption scandal For the other person's sex scandal. As the leader of the ANC Women's League, defended the deputy minister Someone who once assaulted a woman said, we've all experienced it. “Little skeletons”
These particular skeletons started rattling around in Mr. Ramaphosa's closet just weeks before the African National Congress's electoral meeting. There, Ramaphosa hopes to be elected party leader and, largely uncontested, South Africa's next president. After his bid to hurl the newspaper in court on Saturday evening failed, he approached a rival Sunday newspaper for an exclusive article in which he admitted to having an extramarital affair eight years ago. The front-page scandal that the vice president claimed was part of the plot He used national security resources to produce a violation document that derailed his political career.he is in his First appearance since ScandalPrime Minister Ramaphosa told colleagues in Parliament on September 6 that he would hold accountable and issue a full statement in the coming days.
“Women are inconsequential, and their sexuality, their lives, everything about them is being sold cheaply for the big prize: the man, when the real target is the man. “I put it away,” Msimang says.
In Mr. Ramaphosa's case, the newspaper legitimate publication From a moral standpoint. Mr Ramaphosa is the president of the South African State Aid Council and opposes “blessers” – a local colloquialism for wealthy men who usually sponsor the lavish lifestyles of much younger women.ramaphosa The person himself is to blame. Sugar daddies are trying to spread HIV in a country with the world's largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS. The newspaper said some of the eight women Mr Ramaphosa had “ripped off” with his “huge wealth” were “mentally devastated” and in need of cash.
In other cases, justifications beyond the tabloidization of real political issues are rarely offered. When Geoff Radebe, a minister in the Office of the President, was arrested in May for requesting nude photos from Union Buildings staff, that's all he had to do was to apologize Survive the social media storm.that woman condemned.Radebe and Ramaphosa find themselves in the company of The finance minister, the police minister, and the president, they all still have jobs.
Gender-based violence researcher Lisa Betten said: “This probably doesn't address the real question of why we're failing to provide leadership on violence against women at the level of political leadership. I think so.'' Talk about the Ledebe scandal.
These questions are likely to remain unanswered as gender issues disappear into the political fog. The women identified in these scandals are vilified and identified as a “third force” trying to usurp the ANC. said a sociopolitical analyst. Oliver Dixon.
According to Msimang, party politics has dampened the discourse on gender issues in South Africa. Prominent South Africans are forced to defend the perpetrators and blame the victims in doing so.
“The important thing is to get Jacob Zuma sent off,” says Msimane, imagining the choices his defenders will have to make. “On whose back? A young woman.”