The use of semi-naked women to promote reading by an government official.
The Spokesperson of the Department of Basic Education Elijah Mhlanga shared pictures of semi-naked women reading books on his twitter account over the weekend alongside the department's "Read to lead" campaign.
The twitter users were not happy with the tweets and they expressed distasteful. The pictures looked as if Mhlanga was using women as object to attract young people to start reading. A lot were offended by the tweets and did not hesitate to express their feelings.
The Education system in South Africa has always been poor compared to other African countries, even studies shows that a lot of young people spend a lot of time on social media than on reading books. Nonetheless, this doesn't give the spokesperson the right to disrespectful women the way he did.
The Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has distanced herself and her department from the tweets. In a statement that she made she said that she was not aware that the campaign would include the use of semi-naked pictures of women.
Mhlanga apologized on his twitter account, saying he had no intention to offend anyone by the tweets. But people did not by the apology. They believe that he knew the impact that the pictures would cause. They say it was very unprofessional of him.
The Department has to do something about this. We cannot be objectifying women as a country especially in their month. What teaching are we giving to boy children in schools? What message are we sending to our girls about their bodies?
The Chairperson of Parliament Portfolio Committee of Basic Education, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba says she noted that Mhlanga tried to justify the tweets before issuing the apology. She urge the depa2to take drastic action against Mr Mhlanga for such thoughtless, sexist approach to a worthy and noble campaign
The twitter users were not happy with the tweets and they expressed distasteful. The pictures looked as if Mhlanga was using women as object to attract young people to start reading. A lot were offended by the tweets and did not hesitate to express their feelings.
The Education system in South Africa has always been poor compared to other African countries, even studies shows that a lot of young people spend a lot of time on social media than on reading books. Nonetheless, this doesn't give the spokesperson the right to disrespectful women the way he did.
The Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has distanced herself and her department from the tweets. In a statement that she made she said that she was not aware that the campaign would include the use of semi-naked pictures of women.
Mhlanga apologized on his twitter account, saying he had no intention to offend anyone by the tweets. But people did not by the apology. They believe that he knew the impact that the pictures would cause. They say it was very unprofessional of him.
The Department has to do something about this. We cannot be objectifying women as a country especially in their month. What teaching are we giving to boy children in schools? What message are we sending to our girls about their bodies?
The Chairperson of Parliament Portfolio Committee of Basic Education, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba says she noted that Mhlanga tried to justify the tweets before issuing the apology. She urge the depa2to take drastic action against Mr Mhlanga for such thoughtless, sexist approach to a worthy and noble campaign
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