It's Been A Tidal Wave

Jennifer Ferguson has been overwhelmed by support following her rape allegation against Danny Jordaan

- Khatija Nxedlana, Colin Hendricks & Gabisile Ngcobo

EVEN in the land of social media where things go viral in a heartbeat it was nothing short of phenomenal: a total of 4,7 million shares of the hashtag in 24 hours. More than 12 million posts, comments and reactions. It’s likely even Alyssa Milano, the Hollywood actress who got the ball rolling, was taken aback by the global buy-in.

#MeToo was picked up around the world and translated into dozens of languages as women – and some men – united against sexual harassment and assault.

Spurred on by the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the initiative snowballed, with everyone from pop star Lady Gaga and actresses Anna Paquin and Evan Rachel Wood to Icelandic singer Björk lending their voice to the campaign by saying, “Me too.”

South Africans were no different. But one woman whose voice stood out is a singer and former ANC member of parliament who claimed she was raped at the age of 32 by one of the most high-profile figures in SA sport.

Jennifer Ferguson, now 56 and living in Sweden, named Danny Jordaan (66), president of the SA Football Association, in a blog that detailed her alleged ordeal in a Port Elizabeth hotel. She believed she wasn’t the only woman he’d assaulted, she said, and others were bound to speak up too. Since then one other woman has come forward anonymously.

“There are powerful ways of change and portals for transformation,” Jennifer says. “I feel #MeToo has allowed for the expression of truth in varying degrees.”

She wasn’t looking for revenge when she wrote her blog, she says. She also isn’t sure that she wants to lay a criminal charge and go through the harrowing experience of a court case.