Sanco wants Botha to step down over albino voice clip

South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the Tshwane region has called on the commissioner at the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) to step down after making what they describe as discriminatory remarks.

The remarks were allegedly made against a fellow commissioner.

This is after an audio clip leaked on social media revealed human rights activist and commissioner Mbuyiselo Botha attacking the commission’s chairperson Tamara Mathebula and fellow commissioner Nomasonto Mazibuko.

In the clip, Botha is heard referring to his fellow commissioner as an albino.

Botha’s phone conversation was recorded without his consent when he forgot to mute himself when a virtual meeting of the commissioners went on recess last Thursday.

“We appeal to Botha to use his conscience and step down from his role,” Sanco Tshwane regional chairperson Abram Mashishi said.

According to Mashishi, Botha was not capable of serving in the public sector.

“The distasteful audio clip attributed to him disqualifies him from serving in any public office.

“Referring to Mazibuko as leswefe, meaning albino, was inhumane and an infringement of commissioner Mazibuko’s right to dignity.”

He said as a human rights activists, Botha was expected to be aware of high levels of violence against women in South Africa and there was also an alarming rate of attacks on people with albinism.

Sanco warned they would embark on a massive provincial campaign to force him to step down if he did not do so.

“We are unapologetic in our fight against any forms of gender-based violence and discrimination.”

Botha has since apologised for the incident.

“I apologise profusely and unreservedly for referring to my colleague as an albino,” Botha said.

“I regret the incident because I know myself as the person who is disabled the pain of being characterised with your disability.”

He said he committed this mistake out of anger emanating from alleged differences on co-operative governance, malfeasance and low staff morale at the chapter nine institution.

He said he understood Sanco’s position on the matter but he believed once they fully understand the matter, they might take a different decision.

“I was recorded illegally,” he said citing that he was not aware that he had not muted himself.

“Someone took the liberty to illegally record my private conversation and distribute it as I was speaking to someone outside of the meeting of the commissioners.”

Commission’s chairperson Tamara Mathebula said she was not in a good position to comment about the matter.

“We are reserving the right not to comment as we are continuing with internal processes,” Mathebula said.

She said they would speak about the matter after they had exhausted all internal processes.

CGE spokesperson Javu Baloyi echoed Mathebula’s remarks citing that the matter was being dealt with internally and upon conclusion, they would communicate the outcome to the media.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram