Ramaphosa says he's disgusted by men who sexually exploit young women in the workplace

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was disgusted by men who sexually exploited young women in the workplace for a step up the corporate ladder.

This form of gender violence and exploitation was raised by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya at the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) conference currently underway in Cape Town.

Ramaphosa has urged for more conversations to be had about sextortion.

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As the women judges' conference grapples with issues of gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Ramaphosa said that more needed to be done to root out patriarchy in society and the spill over into the workplace.

"There’s nothing as demeaning as a big ogre, a man in a senior position, requiring and demanding sex from a younger subordinate so that they may rise, so that they can get better pay, so that they may be better treated."

Ramaphosa said he was also aware that women in business were often preyed upon by men in influential positions, or those who held the purse strings to finance, demanding sexual favours.

"When I see my male counterparts using extortion against women, particularly young women in the workplace, and expecting them to give them favours, so that they can rise up the ladder. This is something that needs to be talked about. Light needs to be shed on this."

Ramaphosa said that men and boys needed to be part of the conversation to prevent sextortion, while women should speak out to have better control over their economic independence.