Women’s Legal Centre admitted as friend of the court

THE Women’s Legal Centre (WLC) has been admitted an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, in the case of the Anglican priest who has sought a gag order against his alleged rape victim.

A few months ago, Anglican priest Reverend June Major publicly named her alleged rapist, a fellow priest on the steps of the St George’s Cathedral and on social media accounts.

The centre said the case would have consequences for women who choose to name their perpetrators of sexual violence publicly and on social media.

The alleged rape took place in 2002 at the Grahamstown Theological Seminary. Major said she named the alleged rapist after delays in investigations.

The WLC said the case also addresses the gagging of women speaking publicly about being raped.

“This worrying trend of interdicts being brought against women to prevent them from publishing information about their experiences of gender-based violence, and those who had abused them, constitutes a violation of their constitutional right to free speech and, thereby, silences women and legitimises rape culture in South Africa.”

The WLC, which advances women’s rights and equality, said the outcome of the case would have an impact on millions of women who were trying to navigate the reality and fears of rape in South Africa.

“For this reason, in our application to court, we had stated that the need for a gendered lens in these types of matters are necessary, so that our courts are able to make determination contextually,” said the centre’s attorney Chriscy Blouws.

The case would now be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday, a day before the tribunal set up by the Anglican church to deal with the matter, was due to start.

Major embarked on a hunger strike last year to highlight what she regarded as inaction by the church on the matter.