Miniskirt ordeal sparks outrage

2008-02-19 19:43

Johannesburg - Outrage mounted on Tuesday about an attack on a young woman at Noord Street taxi rank in Johannesburg for wearing a miniskirt.

The Young Communist League (YCL) and the African National Congress Woman's league (ANCWL) described the incident as barbaric and chauvinistic.

This was in response to the humiliation on Sunday of Nwabisa Ngcukana, 25, when taxi drivers and hawkers at the rank tore off her clothes to cheers from a crowd who said she was being taught a lesson for wearing a miniskirt.

Taxi drivers allegedly put their fingers in her private parts while others poured alcohol on her head and called her names.

On Tuesday, Gauteng transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs condemned the abuse of the woman and the alleged indecent assault.

'Undermining gender struggles'

He called for the leadership of the taxi industry to intervene and to work with taxi commuters in exposing the people involved in such acts of indecency.

"This unacceptable practice must stop with immediate effect.

"It is also the duty of all law-abiding members of taxi associations to work with the police in protecting women from such misbehaviour," said Jacobs.

YCL spokesperson Castro Ngobese said: "These actions are undermining gender struggles which are a cornerstone of our hard-won freedom and democracy.

"We believe these actions have no credence and role in our society. We further believe that women should not be viewed as pawns or sexual objects, but as human beings who need to be treated with respect and dignity."

The Women's League called on the Department of Transport and Safety to act.

Spokesperson Nomvula Mokonyane said: "We call on the police and metro police to declare Noord Street a hot spot and provide police contact points in this area and a 24-hour visible patrol."

A number of people interviewed on Tuesday at the taxi rank felt women should not expose themselves by wearing miniskirts.

Ebby Phakula of Meadowlands said women should not wear miniskirts as this aroused men and led to rape and other crimes against women.

"I will never allow my children to wear those skimpy skirts, I will never pay for such skirts," he said.

Godfrey Makapela of Doornfontein said he did not see anything wrong with women wearing miniskirts.

"Everyone has the right to choose how to dress, it will be improper to dictate to women how to dress."

'They provoke men'

An elderly woman, who did not want to be named for fear of attack, said women should be taught to dress properly.

"The way women dress today provokes men."

She said women were culturally not allowed to expose their body, especially from the waist downward.

"They should dress like this," pointing to her long skirts which reached her ankles.

Younger women approached for their view on the issue declined to comment.

- SAPA