Last Upd: 03:02pm 08 Oct 2009

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ANC disagrees with Malema

Article By: Stephen Grootes

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:46

The African National Congress says it does believe that human beings can be hermaphrodites.

Recently, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema said hermaphrodites could not exist because there was no word for them in Pedi.

The ruling party also says it has set up a task team to support Caster Semenya after she underwent a gender test.

The ANC's Jackson Mthembu says the ruling party does not agree with its youth league leader.

"If through science there are people who fall within the two gender categories, who are we to say anything against that; we cannot. In terms of the South African constitution they have every right to be supported as human beings," says Mthembu.

ANC disagrees on Nedbank too

The party is also distancing itself from calls for people to boycott Nedbank because it is withdrawing its sponsorship of Athletics South Africa.

"It is a matter that ASA and Nedbank should sort out," says Mthembu.

The ANC still wants some action to be taken about ASA President Leonard Chuene.

Semenya has been under close scrutiny after her victory in the women's 800 metres event at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin in August.

Her gender was called into question after her stunning victory.

An Australian newspaper reported that IAAF tests revealed that Semenya was inter-sexed, meaning she had both male and female reproductive organs.

Initially, Chuene said Semenya's gender was not tested by local doctors before the world championships.

Chuene later admitted he lied, saying he did so to protect Semenya.

He has since faced a barrage of criticism, with some organisations, including the ANC, even calling for action to be taken against him. But despite the calls the ASA board says it stands behind Chuene.

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