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The Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi has confirmed that the Commission will launch an investigation into President Jacob Zuma’s sexist comments regarding the role of women in society.

Last week, the President undermined the right of women to make their own choices by saying that it is the role of women to get married and have kids, and that “being single is not right”.

On Sunday, the President attempted to distract attention from the deeply sexist views he expressed by making reference to the Families Green Paper that has been gathering dust on the shelves of policymakers almost a year.

This is not the first time that the President has expressed his chauvinistic views regarding the role of women. During President Jacob Zuma’s rape trial in 2006, he claimed he could tell by the way a woman sits or the dress she wears that she was ‘looking for sex’ and ‘culture’ compels him to oblige. It is time for the President to answer for his twisted views on women.

We welcome the investigation by the CGE and will be monitoring progress with the investigation closely. I will today be writing to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities (WCPD), Ms Dorothy Ramodibe, to request that Mr Shozi regularly updates the committee on the progress with the investigation.

We hope that this investigation will reveal President Zuma’s true colours on gender issues and ultimately result in an apology from the President to the women of South Africa.