By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba: Photo Credit:Alaister Russell.
Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba has defended her “open your books and close your legs” message to teenage girl pupils.
Ramathuba came under fire earlier this week after a video of her telling pupils to focus on their studies rather than engage in sexual activities circulated on social media.
In the video, Ramathuba is heard telling pupils to “open your books and close your legs”.
“To the girl child, open your books and close your legs. Don’t open your legs, open your books. What did I say?” she asked.
The MEC had visited Gwenane Secondary School in Sekgakgapeng on Wednesday on the first day of the 2022 academic year.
But Ramathuba has since argued that this incident was taken out of context, although she said she stands by her comments.
“[I] will advice everyone [to] take a look at the entire video so they can realise that the message was not just on the girl child. I did address the boy child [as well]… I have told them to sleep with their books not girls, however, the emphasis is on the girl child. I’m not surprised and shocked [that] there is this particular reaction,” she said.
“I stand by those words. When we talk to young people, we use slogans. Slogans are catchy and [they are easy] to market.
“You are able to bring attention [with slogans] and drive the message that you want to [communicate]. Open your books and close is a language [the pupils] will understand [so] I don’t see anything wrong with that,” the MEC continued.
She dismissed suggestions that she was victimising girls.
“I want to differ with that because as I have indicated I still want you to show me a boy child who has lost their education and their future because they impregnated a girl. On the other side, I will show you so many girls because they don’t have anyone to look after their kids,” Ramathuba added.
Doctor Phophi Ramathuba who’s also a MEC visited a school in Limpopo this morning telling the girls to close their legs and open their books.
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Is this sex education by our Goverment? Victim Blaming and pushing the narrative? This is disgusting.
@ANCWL_hq @MYANC pic.twitter.com/t2knd61TLS— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) January 12, 2022
The Soul City Institute for Social Justice (SCI) has slammed Ramathuba for her comments, saying it needed to be considered that “we live in a country that has a rape culture”.