The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) issued a statement on Tuesday saying it was “appalled” by controversial millionaire businessman Kenny Kunene’s party practice of serving sushi on the bodies of half-naked women.
Kunene held his version of the ancient Japanese custom of Nyotaimori, or “body sushi”, at his upmarket ZAR nightclub in Green Point on Saturday. He also did it at his R700 000 birthday party in October last year, which was criticised by Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
“We are appalled by this derogatory act of serving sushi on bodies of half-naked women. We cannot allow such insulting acts or anyone to associate it with the ANC. We view this practice as an attack on the bodily integrity and dignity of all women,” spokesperson of the ANCWL Edna Molewa said.
‘The ANC is not in the business of selling liquor’
Molewa said that the league would fight to keep the “principles and values that the ANC stands for” from being abused.
“The ANC is not in the business of selling liquor. We, therefore, want to make it categorically clear that we cannot allow the good name of the ANC to be dragged into any attempt to endorse a nightclub or its owners.”
ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, a guest at the party, had reportedly warned that Western Cape Premier Helen Zille should keep her liquor laws away from the “ANC’s nightclub”.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe on Monday distanced itself from Malema’s statements, saying the ANC had no interest in running a nightclub or in endorsing its owners.
“The ANC is not into nightclubs or partying, but is a revolutionary movement,” Mantashe said.
The Star reported on Wednesday that Kunene had decided to stop all sushi parties, as he had “nothing but respect for the leadership of the ANC and the guiding principles of the movement”.
“Perhaps, as mothers, we need to educate our people more on values as we find this practice appalling and such a blatant attack on the dignity of all women in our nation,” Molewa concluded.