Sun May 19 09:28:48 SAST 2013
Sun May 19 09:28:48 SAST 2013

Boss' comments sexist

Aug 23, 2012 | Sapa | 9 comments

A boss' comments about paramedics who fall pregnant and take maternity leave have angered women employees who described them as sexist.

 I am totally disturbed. This is discrimination against females and sexist during Women's month 

General manager of Emergency Medical Services Ntateko Sithole said that "women paramedics who fall pregnant and go on maternity leave" were one of the challenges facing EMS in KwaZulu-Natal.

Sithole reportedly made the comments when he addressed the EMS task team at Grey's hospital in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.

Paramedics who spoke to the Witness said the comments were sexist and undemocratic.

"I am totally disturbed. This is discrimination against females and sexist during Women's month," a woman paramedic was quoted as saying.

The woman said she feared that some paramedics might hide their pregnancy by wearing tight clothes which could harm the foetus.

Sithole has since said he would apologise to the EMS employees he offended.

Comments

Sun May 19 09:28:48 SAST 2013 ::
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

Mokaubere

So Mr Sithole, you expect female paramedics to be sterile mules?
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

Maphum28

@Mr Sithole
If your own mother heard you say those words, she would be very disgusted right now. Sies man!
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

akaPENdEBAHLEN

Mara females.Martenity leave should be reduced.This thing of four months with full pay is fish&chips.Old women never had this four months thing,but babies grew up.I mean nowa days the women have nannies,grandma's who do their jobs while they enjoy sitting around doing nothing, they don't even breast feed.It's just laziness.If I can run a company this 4 months won't be allowed.Productivity=pay. As soon as you are healed,back to work period. The Gorvenment is loosing a lot of money with this. I prefer man employees rather than female because of this. When a woman gets comfy they fall pregnant.I will make sure they work under contract,If they fall pregnant I terminate,Don't renew.
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

Papage

There is nothing wrong with the statement, if all fall pregnat and must go on leave, what must he say, it is true, it is a challenge, that means when they go, an altenative must be found, it is a challege and he need not to appologise, some women are just sensitive for no reason.
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

eisleben

There is nothing sexist about that statement. The reaction is just political correctness gone mad. The truth of the matter is that a good planner must make provision for those 4 months that his employees are on leave. One thing for sure in this day and age a paramedic employee is not going to be going on materninty leave every 12 months for the 5 to 10 years that she is in her employ. Let us just agree that Ntateko Sithole chose the wrongest platform and time of the year to utter his words of wisdom.
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

ayandatum

Mokaubere maaan!!! tjio SA will never see real freedom for women and children. its hard enough that as women we are assumed to fall pregnant all by ourselves. now we cant take leave? se kgat!!!!
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

mmatokollo

only narrow minded people will give comments that you are giving. we carry your childern for nine months while you are busy fucking other women and you tell us a mere four months is too much. you dont have respect for your mothers. as for you akaPENdEBAHLEN i'm so dissapointed in you for saying that mindless thing. if you say when the mother is healed she must go back to work, do you even know how many months it takes to heal from childbirth nxa all of you are a disgrace to man species. you dont have respect for women. Sithole is running from his responsibilities and blames women for getting pregnant. next time when they advertise jobs like that they should also mention that they need barren women

Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

Papage

So who decided that I may be a fucker? not me, blame it to my Fathers genes, I am a fucker and you been pregnant/sick for long time, what do you expect me to do?

There is nothing wrong with the statement, tell us he wronged you when he said.................................
Report Abuse
avatar image
Aug 23, 2012

Mrazane

Sometimes we over react to things , Papage you are right the man is simply stating the challenges facing his department, I have three children and with each pregnancy I had there were three or four other women pregnant as well and we had to do some serious planning to cater for that. With my first baby there were 11 pregnant women in an office of about 150 people - whether you like it or not when you have a number of pregnancies at one time in a department - it is a challenge. It does not mean that women are being discriminated against - how do we ensure that business continues whilst people are on maternity leave. So ladies please calm down...
Report Abuse

Read all 9 comments

Your Subscription

The SowetanLIVE Network