Confronting Caster Semenya Issue

The recent developments around Caster Semenya’s sexuality issue, raises serious concerns about human rights and the protection of certain groups of our society.
Telegraph newspaper which is a UK based newspaper leaked some news about Caster’s test results. It reported that, “the tests carried out on the 18 year-old shortly after her victory in Berlin are believed to have shown that she has a chromosomal abnormality that gives her both male and female characteristics”.

The newspaper went on to say, “the medical tests have established that she has no womb or ovaries and that she also has internal testes – the male sexual organs responsible for producing testosterone. Earlier analysis had revealed that Semenya's testosterone levels were three times the normal level for a woman.The International Association of Athletics Federations received the results of Semenya's 'gender verification test' this week, but it has refused to confirm the findings until they have been verified by a panel of independent scientific experts and the athlete has been personally informed.”

The World Denial
The world conceives sex anatomy as a dichotomy which means that humans are born only in two sexes and that is a male and a female. Developmental embryology and the existence of intersexual people prove this the understanding of two sexes to be a cultural construction which results from lack of research in the area of sexuality.
Sexuality can also be studied from the genetic understanding which contradicts the initial understanding of sexuality from the cultural construction. It studies sex chromosomes which than reveals that 1 out of 500 people have what is called karyotype chromosomes as opposed to a cultural understanding xx or xy chromosomes. There are millions of people who live today with karyotype chromosomes.

Studies revealed that these chromosomes determine the differentiation of gonads into ovaries, testes, ova-testes and non-functional streaks. The hormones that get produced by fetal gonads determine the differentiation of genitalia into female, male or intermediate morphology.

Human Rights Protection
South Africa is now a global player in all aspects including sport. We have globally competitive talents that we must showcase to the world. We have managed to rise to the challenge as a country, to create an environment that protects human rights. Our integration to the world is will not be a smooth process more especially because not all countries treat the aspect of human right as important. Caster’s incident provides enough evidence of that.

There is lack of capacity within global institutions that are charged with the responsibility of promoting human right respect. Even here in South Africa, the Human Rights Commission has not yet commented on Caster’s issues and this is a serious concern.

A New Challenge
South Africa has made progress since the installation of a democratic government. The world sees South Africa as a model of democracy. We have proved that we are able to present the world with top talent and that we have capacity to stand all kind of event including the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The success of the confederations cup showcased our capability.

Our new challenge is to sustain our democracy. That comes with the responsibility of educating the entire world about on how to create a democratic society. Caster Semenya’s case requires that we are able to provide leadership in promoting the protection of human rights. We must also not rely on the International Association of Athletics Federations studies and reports, but we must conduct our own tests and also publish our finding before they publish theirs in November. That will enable us to manage Caster’s matter the best way we can.