POLOKWANE – On Monday, Dawn reported Capricorn TVET College Senwabarwana campus’s Sasco Student Representative Council candidate Thupana Maribeng to the Commission for Gender Equality following remarks made on Facebook on 14 August about women and lesbians.
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Dawn Limpopo Chairperson, Desiree van der Walt told BONUS that the network finds Maribeng’s remarks disgusting, vile, reckless and hateful against all women and the LGBTIQ+ community at large.
“It is especially saddening that this behaviour takes place during Women’s Month,” said Van der Walt. She said it is unfortunate that women still have to suffer and endure “these type of comments and treatment especially by those who want to be leaders in society”.
“As a network we will also be laying criminal charges against the individual and we hope this will set a good example to those who continue to use social media platforms recklessly. We will be writing to the campus to ensure that this candidate is disqualified from running for student leadership,” she said. Van der Walt said they will continue to support and stand up for the rights of women and the LGBTIQ+ community in the province.
Commission for Gender Equality Legal Advisor, Dennis Matotoka, said the commission remains vigilant in its quest for equality. “It is our mandate to receive and investigate these complaints because we want to see a society free from all forms of gender oppression,” said Matotoka.
He said their legal processes will take further steps on this matter as to ensure that all us brought on open space clean. “We do take strong exception to any form of violation,” he said.
BONUS made several calls to Maribeng but was unable to reach him.