The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, has distanced her department and reading initiative, the Read to Lead campaign from a series of semi naked pictures of women posted on Twitter at the weekend.

The pictures in question were posted by the Department’s Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga on his Twitter page ostensibly to promote reading. Along with these pictures, Mhlanga tagged both the Department of Basic Education and Read to Lead hashtags. 

“As Minister of Basic Education, I didn’t authorize nor was informed of such a campaign involving semi-naked women. Even if I was informed, I wouldn’t have given any permission purely based on principle that women aren’t objects. The objectification of women is an affront in our battle against the pervasive nature of patriarchy and the scourge of gender based violence.” Motshekga said.

“I distance both the Ministry I lead and the Department of Basic Education from this naked display of male chauvinism. The objectification women has no place anywhere in our society let alone in our quest to promote reading.”  

“I have instructed the Accounting Officer of the Department of Basic Education (DG) to institute appropriate action in this regard to ensure that in future, no official engages in folic of their own in the name of the Department.”  

Enquiries:

Hope Mokgatlhe (Ministerial Spokesperson) 079 817 0427