Dear Editor:
And so one billion rands (that’s one thousand million – four times the cost… so far of Nkandla) has been set aside for a local king’s group of female dancers a place to bathe in private.
I understand once the young women’s virginity has been established they perform – half naked – the traditional Reed Dance, before his Majesty. Nice.
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Thus we demonstrate how we respect women and girls and show they are not thought of as chattels or possessions. We’ll gloss over the fact that SA is a republic and not a monarchy but ask the question what does this king do to justify this sort of spend?
And why should the beleaguered tax payer be expected to stomp up the cash? It’s reported his annual allowance is R58-million as it is.
Have we no more pressing things to do with a billion – houses, job creation, health care, education?
The monarch of the UK is supported by her tax payers but the difference is that the pomp and ceremony that surrounds her brings visitors from across the world to witness the events. And that brings in oodles of cash and employs thousands.
And while we are boasting about our society’s attitude to the rights and status of the fair sex we come to the subject of polygamy.
We know it is traditional in less advanced cultures for a male to have multiple spouses but SA expresses itself as a modern democratic industrialised state where well-tailored suits, very fancy motor cars and – er – piped water are the norm.
I have no opinion as to the moral question of polygamy.
I only question if it is proper to expect the tax-payer of such a state to financially support more than one presidential spouse and a reasonable number of offspring – you know, just like any other modern democratic industrialised state.
Surely any extras must be supported from his own various incomes. I just feel it’s worth discussing. Neglecting to permit our womenfolk equal status and rights means any talk of respect is lip service.
IAN BIRTT
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