Reading about the persecution of Caster Semenya makes Munier’s blood boil.
South Africa’s golden girl, who has been dogged by a gender controversy for most of her career, now faces a new hurdle.
Rules proposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) would force female athletes with high levels of testosterone to take medication to reduce them.
It’s no coincidence that the new regulations come in the wake of Caster winning gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the recent Commonwealth Games.
And they apply specifically to events from the 400m to the 1500m races.
The new rules will come into effect in November unless overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
So, what this means is, Caster will have to start doping to lower her naturally high testosterone levels.
How ironic.
The athletics authorities would do well to note that the woman who set the 800m world record back in 1983 was a very manly Jarmila Kratochvílova.
The Czechoslovakian Sylvester Stallone lookalike suffered no such humiliation when she was champion.
But because Caster is South African - and black - the rules simply have to change, don’t they.
The track star is taking the very personal attack in her stride, though, and tweeted this week: “God made me the way I am and I accept myself. I am who I am and I am proud of myself.”
You go, girl!
The athletics authorities would do well to note that the woman who set the 800m world record back in 1983 was a very manly Jarmila Kratochvílova.
Another high-profile South African woman, who is also currently the target of a witchhunt, is Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille.
Last month, the Democratic Alliance similarly rewrote its own constitution to get rid of Aunty Pat.
The party introduced a recall clause which can be “used against president, premier or mayor or any member appointed to a government position who contradicts the party, brings it into disrepute, lacks competence to perform functions and has lost the confidence of the caucus”.
Last week, the majority of councillors in the DA’s City of Cape Town caucus voted for a motion of no confidence against De Lille, and her fate now lies in the hands of the party’s federal executive.
Aunty Pat maintains she has not been found guilty in a disciplinary hearing, nor has any evidence been presented of her alleged misconduct, bribery and corruption.
But it seems the innocent-until-proven-guilty rule doesn’t apply in her case.
Pat won’t go down without a fight, so expect an ugly court battle.
It’s not just here in SA where women and black people are under fire.
Last week, Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and molesting a woman in 2004 and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Protesters demonstrate after Bill Cosby departed his sexual assault trial. Photo: Matt Slocum/AP
The 80-year-old comedian had been accused by over 50 women of sexual assault.
Now, to be clear, Munier has no issue with locking up the ou hond.
But then what about disgraced Hollywood movie boss Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual abuse by over 80 women?
When is he having his day in court?
Then again, America is a country where police have a habit of gunning down black people without provocation.
And white male, Donald Trump, can boast about grabbing a woman’s “*****” on camera and still be elected president.