THE Commission for Gender Equality has placed Mbuyiselo Botha on precautionary suspension for making derogatory comments towards a colleague.
This comes after Botha, a commissioner at CGE, allegedly made unsavoury comments about Nomasonto Mazibuko during a plenary session last month.
Botha called Mazibuko an albino.
The gender activist’s comments rocked the Chapter 9 institution, prompting Mazibuko to lodge a formal complaint.
The commission’s chairperson Tamara Mathebula has since apologised to the albino community.
“Currently the matter is sub judice pending the investigation but I want to put it on record that commissioner Botha has been put on precautionary suspension pending the internal processes.
Mathebula admits the comments are a setback in the commission’s fight for equality.
“As a commission, we hang our heads in shame and strongly condemn the use of any demeaning and discriminatory utterances. I also want to extend our sincere apologies to all persons living with albinism and all sectors of people living with disabilities for those utterances that were made at the sitting of the commissioner,” said Mathebula.
“The Commission is mandated to safeguard human rights and ensure gender equality in the South African society. The Commission is charged with the responsibility of promoting and advancing the rights of and respect for the dignity of all people.”
- Own Correspondent
