Judge Mabel Jansen- High Court in Pretoria, South Africa
A white South African judge was at the center of a social media storm on Monday after Facebook comments emerged in which she suggested rape was part of Black culture.
Political parties rushed to condemn the messages, which sparked fresh outrage after a series of recent Internet postings underlined racial tensions in South Africa, 22 years after the end of apartheid rule.
“In their culture a woman is there to pleasure them. Period,” wrote Judge Mabel Jansen, who sits in the High Court in the capital Pretoria.
“It is seen as an absolute right and a woman’s consent is not required.”
Jansen added: “I still have to meet a black girl who was not raped at about 12. I am dead serious.”
“Murder is also is not a biggy. And gang rapes of baby, daughter and mother (are) a pleasurable pastime.”
The opposition Democratic Alliance party said it would report the messages to the country’s Judicial Services Commission to be investigated.
Her comments were “not only hurtful and demeaning,” but undermined “the dignity of our people,” the party said.
The women’s league of the ruling African National Congress lambasted the judge.
“Her comments made on Facebook where she claims that the rape of young children is part of black culture, are purely racist and misrepresentation of facts about black culture,” it said.
The league questioned whether Jansen would be able to deal fairly with cases of rape in court.
Jansen told Business Day newspaper that her postings had been misrepresented.
“What I stated confidentially to somebody in a position to help has been taken completely out of context and referred to specific court cases,” she said.
“The real issue… is the protection of vulnerable women and children and an endeavor to cure the pandemic.”
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