SABC boss under probe for taking a 22 year old 'wife as gift’

The acting chief operations officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Hlaudi Motsoeneng is under probe for accepting a 22 year old who was given to him as a gift.

According to local media, Motsoeneng was given the young woman, along with a cow and a calf, by a lobby group of traditional leaders in Thohoyandou, in Limpopo province, who are seeking greater exposure of their culture.

A Soweto-based newspaper reported last week that about 10 half-naked women were lined up and Motsoeneng was asked to pick one. He picked a human resources management student named Vanessa Mutswari. Vanessa is pictured above bare-breasted next to him, standing behind a trailer on which the other gifts, a cow and a calf had been loaded. And she's so happy to be given out as a gift.

Immediately the photos were published, the SABC boss came under attack with people describing the offer of a "wife" as "barbaric".

South African women’s groups have protested against the act, asking Motsoeneng to be investigated and the girl immediately returned to her family.

"The use of women as gifts as if they were livestock is a serious regress and an insult to the gains of 20 years of democracy and freedom, particularly the contribution of women,” women’s ministry spokeswoman Kenosi Machepa said.

Gender commission spokesman Baloyi said an investigation has been launched and the girl's family contacted. Motsoeneng has not responded publicly to the allegations.