Social media was in an uproar after DA Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela called for Cape Town International Airport to switch to unisex bathrooms.
In a post on Facebook, Madikizela, was initially commenting on the airports practice of passengers being searched by security of the same gender as themselves and then concluded by extending this to the airports bathrooms.
‘I find it backwards, discriminating and stereotyping that just because you are a male, you must be searched by a male. If you are a female, you must searched by a female at the airport, what about members of LGBTQI+? I’m gonna challenge this. We must also do away with male and female toilets, we must have unisex toilets,’ he said in the post.
Comments flooded in with those disagreeing saying that unisex bathrooms could open up more possibilities for sexual assault and put users in danger.
‘In a country full of sex offenders, predators and pedophiles u r proposing a haven an ideal situation for them. wow!’ commented Sifiso Eric Mathonsi.
Madikizela responded by saying that he found this comment short sighted as sex offenders exist everywhere. ‘They are less likely to do it in unisex toilets. They thrive in areas of exclusivity,’ he said.
Such a change would have to be put out for public comment and discussion before any changes are made.
Image: @WesternCapegov/Twitter
