PRETORIA — President
Cyril Ramaphosa rolled
out the red carpet for South Africa’s women on Wednesday, saying they deserved
to be paid as much as their male counterparts after they won their first Africa
Cup of Nations.
اضافة اعلان
South Africa
beat tournament hosts Morocco 2–1 in the final on Saturday in Rabat, thanks to
a double from striker Hildah Magaia.
It was the first
continental title for the side known as Banyana Banyana after five final
defeats.
The victory has
sparked a public debate around equal pay in the country, after it was reported
the players would receive less money in prize bonuses than their male
colleagues did for reaching the quarter-finals of the men’s tournament in 2019.
“Our hearts are
filled with pride. They are bursting at the seams with a great deal of joy,”
Ramaphosa said during a reception at the government’s Union Buildings in the
capital.
“You deserve
equal pay for equal work that you do,” he told the players, urging the
country’s ministers of finance and sports to up the bonus.
“We need to give
added remuneration to these young women who have made our country so proud. But
having done so, we must then make sure that we eliminate the whole process of
unequal pay out of our system.”
The team were
met by jubilant fans as they landed back in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa said
the country should outlaw pay discrimination and embark on a program to bridge
the gender pay gap.
“You deserve the
best. Welcome home, champions of Africa. You are the Golden Girls of our
country. You are the queens of Africa,” he said.
“Whether they
like it or they don’t like it, you are the queens.”
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