Of mini skirts and even "mini-er" minds

Let me start by thanking those that took part in the march (incidentally non-violent and without trashing or turning over dustbins), protesting the nothing less than vile behaviour of those men that took upon themselves the duty to "teach" women how to dress. Let me also appeal to the law-enforcement agencies to please do all that is in their power to bring those criminals to book.

I am reluctant to classify or describe the perpetrators of those ghastly acts as taxi drivers, they are to me a lot more than that. Quite often we gloss over endemic social ills by putting those social ills at the door of some amorphous group. In my mind these are South African men. Yes, these men who tore the clothes off their victim's body and proceeded to assault her in ways too ghastly to repeat. Yes, and those men that looked on while all of this was happening to their sister, they too are South African men. These are all South African men and for the rest of South African men, what happened at the Noord Street taxi rank that day as it happens daily elsewhere, was and is carried out in your name, against your sister, against your daughter, against your lover and against your wife. In the meantime you and other South African men watch and do nothing.

I am still in shock over what I heard from a spokesperson for the police: "such things have been happening to women at that taxi-rank over the last 8 years" (or words to that effect). The present victim is the first to lay a formal complaint. However many days after the formal complaint was filed with the police, we are yet to hear of an arrest. The inability of the police to make an arrest is notwithstanding that there is a definitive group of people among whom the suspects lurk. In case someone among the police is listening, the suspects are said to be among the taxi drivers who service the Noord Streets rank. It is also reported that there were a host of witnesses to the crime. I am no sleuth but I should think that a crime line dedicated to this incident could go a long way in the investigation.

There have also been other campaigns and gestures by men and women which all sought to focus some attention on the safety of women specifically and South Africans generally. One such gesture was the Marie Claire magazine campaign that involved certain of our celebrities stripping for a good cause. Once again, I applaud those who took part in that campaign. I specifically wish to thank Ntsiki Mazwai, yes she of the full monty celebrity. And yes, thanks to my wife I saw the much talked about photograph. Allow me to say to Ntsiki and the photographer: "a job well done". The photograph is a brilliant representation of what the campaign is all about. It says to me that she is here, she is doing this and everything else on her own terms, her way. Everyone else can celebrate the achievement with her or just grow up. My wife and I agree that there is a lot of growing up to be done yet among us Africans. We base this agreement on the conversations that have happened among Africans since the publication of that photograph. The general reaction from women is that the photograph is disgusting. The general reaction from men is that the photograph is not nice, not exciting - and that Ntsiki just looks angry, is not smiling. As my daughter would say "Duh!". Of course she looks angry, she is angry about the way we as men conduct ourselves towards her and women generally. I am too upset to carry on about the men save to say that "guys, women do not always take their clothes off for your entertainment and excitement". The question is as you are looking at that photograph, do you share her anger, frustration, helplessness? Your empathy with her pain will clothe her. And maybe if you look close enough, you may experience the beauty of the human, female form.

The women who commented on the photograph were as my wife put it, "unbelievably petty". The reaction to the photograph among women shocked me. The biggest shock was by a comment from a sister who said that Ntsiki needs a boob job. Now what does that have to do with what Ntsiki set out to do. Then there is reference to our culture and how it does not allow this nudity. Furthermore, what does her mother, her boyfriend think. These are statements made by women - validating the equally perverted positions of their brethren. Meanwhile Ntsiki is saying I am here for me with nothing to hide behind or from. We do not hear as her sisters, instead we inspect her as we would a linen suit. Dear sisters allow me to ask you this: "what on earth is it that you find so disgusting about yourselves, your bodies?" Why else would the reaction to Ntsiki be so sanctimonious and judgemental? Or is it a case of I wish I had the courage to do what she did?

The reactions to the Marie Claire campaign and to the march led by among other Redi Direko shows just how far we still have to go as a people. This and similar campaigns are nothing but a demand for each one of us to have a place in our beautifully plural society.

To my sisters, go on and look as beautiful and attractive as you would and as you choose. To my brothers, celebrate the beauty around you with respect and reverence. It is the greatest tribute you can pay to your mother, your sister, your lover and your daughter.