South Africa has launched an investigation into allegations that the head of the public broadcaster, SABC, was given a wife as a gift, BBC.com reports.

South Africa’s Commission for Gender Equality said received a complaint that Hlaudi
Motsoeneng was given a bride by traditional chiefs.

They were part of a Venda lobby group asking for more programs to be broadcast in the Venda language, BBC reports.

The government described their behavior as “regrettable,” however it did not comment on Motsoeneng’s behavior. Motsoeneng also has not commented, according to the report.

The incident happened during Motsoeneng’s recent visit to the Northern Limpopo province where he and other SABC executives met the Venda lobby group, Mudzi wa Vhurereli ha Vhavenda, BBC reports.

About 10 girls paraded in front of him, said Humbelani Nemakonde from the Mudzi group in an interview in South Africa’s Sowetan newspaper.

“He chose the one he liked. All the girls were there with their parents,” Nemakonde said. “Their parents knew what was going to happen and they all agreed.”

Motsoeneng chose a 23-year-old human resources management student who was
pictured bare-breasted next to him, according to the Sowetan, BBC reports. He is also alleged to have been given a cow and a calf. Whether or not he accepted these gifts is unclear.

The South African women’s ministry said it viewed the process as an abuse of cultural values.

“The use of women as gifts as if they were livestock is a serious regress and an insult to the gains of 20 years of democracy and freedom, particularly the contribution of women,” a statement from the ministry said.

Lobola, or bride price, is a cherished but traditional African custom where a man pays the family of his fiancée for her hand in marriage. The primary purpose of lobola is to build relations between the respective families as marriage is seen as more than a union between two individuals. Traditionally the Lobola payment was in cattle — a primary symbol of wealth. However, modern urban couples have switched to using cash or electronic transfers and credit cards as a form of payment.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago told BBC he was unaware of the Commission for Gender Equality’s investigation and that if it had any issues, it should take them up with the Venda group.

Commission for Gender Equality spokesperson Javu Baloy told BBC that all those involved in the complaint received letters. Its recommendations will be made in July.