Race row erupts around Semenya
2009-08-26 08:44
Pretoria - What should have been a victory celebration for the South African athletics team, on Tuesday degenerated into a row about race.
The team arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park from the World Athletics Championship in Berlin.
"Where are the white South Africans to welcome her?" asked Julius Malema, leader of the ANC Youth League, referring to Caster Semenya, the 800m world champion.
"If it is rugby, they are here. The only white people who are here, are journalists. Why are we still divided? We should all celebrate."
The controversy surrounding Semenya's gender completely overshadowed the athletes' achievements.
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi's gold medal in the 800m and Khotso Mokoena's silver in the long jump got little acknowledgement. Instead, politicians and sporting officials ascribed the storm surrounding Semenya to racism.
Speculation about gender
Leonard Chuene, chairperson of Athletics South Africa (ASA), again said the speculation surrounding Semenya's gender had started in South Africa. "I have proof of it. We shouldn't allow other people to set the agenda. We will not allow that Europeans describe our children. They are our children."
He repeated the allegations later in Pretoria at the event where President Jacob Zuma congratulated Semenya and South Africa's other two medallists.
Chuene said at the airport that he would rather believe Semenya's parents about her gender than "scientists from stupid universities".
Malema said black and white people should be proud of Semenya.
"Why don't we celebrate one of our own? Is it because she is African? We will never agree with any attempt to undermine women or with racism."
Media slammed
ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela sided with Malema and said he had summed up the "tragedy of South Africa".
She also slammed the local media.
"We wish we had more support of our own. We know you (the media) are responsible for informing, but you can do it patriotically without breaking down one of our own."
"We gave you freedom of the press. You should use it responsibly," she said.
She rejected gender testing on Semenya. "The world out there can shove their insults. This is our little girl. No-one is going to do any tests on her.
"Don't touch us. Don't you dare," she said.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was also criticised.
'Down with the IAAF'
Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, Minister of Women, the Youth, Children and People with Disabilities, called out from the stage, "Down with the IAAF".
"We are furious and worried," she said.
Chuene encouraged South Africans to support Semenya.
As a country we stood behind Oscar Pistorius. Let us now stand behind Semenya in the same way."
A dancing Martina Mpati, 59, Semenya's great-aunt, said at the airport that she had helped the athlete's mother, Dorcas, during the Semenya's birth.
"Caster is a girl. I was the midwife and I cleaned her myself the moment after my sister's daughter-in-law had given birth to her. If anyone should know what her gender is, it is me."
AfriForum accused Malema of being a "race idealist who is even prepared to misuse excellent achievements by South African athletes to cause division in the country."
Malema said the ANC Youth League would give R60 000, R40 000 and R25 000 to Semenya, Mulaudzi and Mokoena.