Dear South Africa,

I am one of the proudly South African youth that does not find Caster`s problem funny. We all know that Caster`s gender is neither a boy nor a girl, she is a hermaphrodite as we have seen and heard from the media.

We as the group of students from COSAT running the organisation and website studentsforhumanity.com, do not find this matter as amusing as the media does. In considering this matter we think that at the moment the S.A`s 800m gold medalist Caster Semenya needs our support regarding to her situation.

I, personally, never liked this thing gender testing but in sports it is all about fair play. If Caster was not tested and continued her career it would be unfair to her competitors.

It is not up to us to decide what and how should be done. So we have to watch and correct what’s being done wrongly by the government.

All and all I would like all the South African and others to support Caster Semenya during these hard times of her life.

Regards,

Yamkela (Yara) Hlehliso

Dear Managers of sports,

I’m one of the students that are part of the organisation called Students for Humanity, where I express my views.

I think sports managers and coaches don’t care about people, they just want to win and don’t care about peoples’ reputation and DIGNITY.

The test were done before CASTER participated and she’s a hermaphrodite and they didn’t take that into consideration and withdraw her in the squad, they just go ahead as planned (meaning let CASTER go to BERLIN whereas they know that she’s in this situation) and when the test was done there (BERLIN) they started complaining, saying that CASTER has been stripped of her dignity, whereas they knew her situation in the first place.

I’m putting blame on managers and coaches ,and next time they better be careful because they will destroy many upcoming young athlete, they have just destroy Caster’s future and dignity.

Yours sincerely,

Aphiwe Matiwane (Mr)

Dear South Africa

This is to inform you about how we as young South Africans feel.

We all know what happened to Semenya, now we are afraid because anything can happen to us. We want our rights to be secured as teens.

What you did to Semenya shows that you are capable of doing anything to anyone.

When it comes to sport South Africa have to be fair because there is no sport for both sex organs. Or you have to create sport for them.

When I look myself in the mirror I see who I am and what I can do or cannot do. So no one must criticize me.

I think what you did to Semenya is going to hurt her for the rest of her life. You should have tested everyone before and if you find that there is someone who is not a girl, you should have not allowed that before the game.

So my solution is that you must apologize to Semenya and allow her to be a girl, and continue running. That will show everyone that you care.

Yours faithfully,

Mkhuseli Mpu

Dear Caster`s Family

We as the Students for Humanity know you are in a terrifying situation. We want you to stay strong because the Lord has created this situation for a special purpose .Caster is the hero, Caster is an undisputed champion. She is an example that needs your encouragement.

She needs tour encourage and blessings to have strength to conquer this situation .To Caster we want you to know that you the best and we love you unconditionally, so be smart and be wise,open your eyes don’t let the devil come in your way carry on with your destiny .We will all behind you all the time, our blessings will pour to you like rain. Be yourself and focus on the future.

To the people all over the world, please support our champion “CASTER!!!!!!”, our queen .Lets courage her not discourage her. Let’s wish good for her, not anything bad. Let’s give her love and respect.

Yours sincerely,

Siphamandla Marenene

Dear South Africa,

How do we start believing in ourselves?, if we start by tearing our soul apart?

Yes, she has won a gold medal we proud of her, but what are we doing to repair her soul that was torn apart by the world and her own people. If we say she is both sex then where do we categories her and what rights will she have access to. To me Caster you are a beautiful young woman , who now needs support from us. As we all know that a shepherd always takes cares of his/her own sheep and goats. That what we need to do is take care of her and try to make her gain her self-esteem.

Yours faithfully,

Mlamli Gadi

Dear Sir/Madam

As sensitive person, I have a problem when it comes to this situation. If Caster has bisexual hormones, isn’t her career going to vanish because she won’t be able to participate in both men and women events. I think as she has participated in the women events, she must not be
taken out but let her do her best because she has talent.

This thing, I am sure, isn’t only affecting her but the country as a whole. We must take this as a great gift from God. I am sure He knew what He was doing and He makes everyone unique because we can’t be all look the same.

Yours truly,

Siphe Mananga (Mr.)

Dear South Africa,

Here is a story of a young woman whose bright future has been taken away from her just because of a natural cause that even she cannot change or control.

People around the world including here in South Africa have done nothing but open up old wounds of her sexuality and take her self-confidence away from her.

All of us South Africans should just put ourselves in Caster Semenya’s shoes and feel her pain for just one minute, let’s not take a person’s life and turn it into a newspapers article. We should all just give her a break and give her a spiritual hug to comfort her and show her that we care. Instead of making her life miserable let’s just take one day to acknowledge her for her strength, because it takes a strong woman to be able to deal with such an inhumane experience.

South Africa, let’s just all give Caster Semenya a big hug.

Yours Faithfully,

Nanzi

Dear South Africa

We must understand the gift of Caster Semenye, if she is both genders then it’s a miracle after all the centuries that have passed.

We must learn to appreciate and if she has advantages then that’s our advantage as a country of South Africa. We not simply criticise other people but accept who they are because; for example Caster, she did not make herself like this (being both genders), if we push her away we will be faced with a problem because she will also not appreciate herself.

Yours Sincerely,

Sibuyiselo (Sbuja)

Dear South African

RE: She is what she wants to be.

Caster Semenya is a girl that has special abilities and she has a gift like anyone else in the world and that is the gift of running.

People, the press, the media, people from out of this country and people who call themselves ‘AFRICANS’ are discriminating against Semenya, abusing her rights of being an African.

Yes!!! I know that she has some other special hormones and abilities in her but why do we have to see her gift as a negative thing and we see the negative things about her talent. Why do we have to be jealous just because we do not have the talent that she has and that because in our lives we are not famous as she is. Why don’t we just be happy for her and be happy that she won for South Africa, and not just South Africa but OUR South Africa.

In my language, there is a saying: ‘UMNTU GUMNTU NGABANTU and many South Africans know about this saying and I also say that UMNTU NGUMNTU NGABANTU, especially those who you are close to. I can tell you that Semenya and South Africans are the only people that she is close to. Now we are discriminating against her, her family (South Africa) is the people who are among those who are discriminating her and they we are not ashamed of it.

South Africans, let us change our behaviours; if we do not support Caster, how do we expect the world to. When she meets other people /she will get even more hurt because we are the people that we did not comfort her first.

I end here by saying, as a South Africans let’s think of this: HOW WOULD IT FEEL WHEN YOUR FAMILY STARTED DISCRIMANTING YOU?

SHE IS WHAT SHE WANTS TO BE!!!!

Regards,

Yandisa Mtsotso