Caster Semenya 'a heroine'
2009-08-23 07:50
Johannesburg - South Africans must give athletic star Caster Semenya a heroine's welcome when she returns to the country, Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said on Sunday.
"To us Caster is simply the best 800m woman world champion and must be given a heroine's welcome upon return to South Africa on Tuesday," said the minister in a statement.
On Sunday Dlamini Zuma phoned Semenya in Berlin to offer her support against controversy caused by calls made for her to undergo testing to verify her sex.
"All of us South Africans, especially women, must rally around Caster and reject with the contempt it deserves the insinuations being made about her gender."
She said Caster deserved the support of the nation against the "onslaught waged against her".
She praised Caster for achieving so high, in an environment where she faced such furore.
"We are proud that despite these distractions Caster still went on to win the gold medal," said the minister.
- SAPA