Tujoromajo Kasuto
THE SWAPO Party Women’s Council (SPWC) and Youth League (SPYL) are demanding damages and the deportation of a Chinese employer who allegedly stripped 24-year-old employee, Ruth George, naked in public view yesterday.
Allegations are that George was told to remove her uniform in the store after she cut out a material that a customer failed to pay for. When her employer, only identified as “Lee” found out about the situation, he demanded that George remove the uniform and exit the property. It is alleged that he offered her a box to cover herself with until a security official advised the Chinese employer against the decision. She was later offered a satin material to cover herself with.
A criminal case has since been opened against the suspect, who is expected to appear in court tomorrow morning. He was arrested this afternoon. The suspect is detained at the Wanaheda Police station and faces charges of defamation of character and assault by threat.
SPWC Secretary General, Eunice Ipinge, pointed out that the public act of humiliation of Namibian women is a display and demonstration of the lack of respect for women and has provoked them, thus should be dealt with appropriately, as they noted amongst other things the rate of injustices faced by Namibian women.
They called upon the Government to take action accordingly and further called upon the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, to report the accused Chinese national to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union ( AU), for him to be declared ‘Persona non grant” in SADC countries and AU member states.
The women’s council says it will take unspecified action, should Government not act with immediate effect.
The say the stripping of women is a taboo in African culture and will not be tolerated at any cost.
Meanwhile, the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement today closed down the store in the Northern Industrial area as they in solidarity with George.
