SOUTH AFRICA: ATHLETICS - President Jacob Zuma says media has invaded 800 metre world champion Caster Semenya's privacy

Record ID: 455065

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ATHLETICS - President Jacob Zuma says media has invaded 800 metre world champion Caster Semenya's privacy
  • Date: 14th September 2009
  • Summary: SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT EUROPEAN UNION MEDIA CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, SAYING: "With regards to Miss Semenya, I think we are faced with an unfortunate situation in this country wherein we claim respect to privacy, respect to the rights of people, but we do something which tends to move against those principles and values. I don't know why we should not respect the privilege between the doctor and the patient. Why, when the tests have been done, why was it published? Why must it be the media issue in the first instance, so we can then begin to debate the issue. I think you are not picking up the issues that ought to be picked up, the respect to this young girl that we are in fact violating the rights, it becomes difficult really to move on discuss issues and not discuss the basic issues that we are actually violating." MEDIA AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7559NXPMH7IM7ICV59OD79ICH
  • Story Text: President Jacob Zuma came to the defence of athlete Caster Semenya on Friday (September 11), saying the media had deeply invaded her privacy.
    Semenya, who won gold at the world athletics championships in Berlin, became the subject of controversy when questions over her gender and whether or not she had competitive advantage over her competitors were first reported in the media.
    Leaked results of the tests, carried out by international athletics body IAAF, were reported in an Australian newspaper, which alleged that Semenya has been found to be a hermaphrodite.
    "I don't know why we should not respect the privilege between the doctor and the patient. Why, when the tests have been done, why was it published? Why must it be the media issue in the first instance, so we can then begin to debate the issue," said Zuma at a press conference in Kleinmond after meeting leaders of the European Union.
    "I think you are not picking up the issues that ought to be picked up, the respect to this young girl that we are in fact violating the rights, it becomes difficult really to move on discuss issues and not discuss the basic issues that we are actually violating."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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