Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members of the executive council and hon members, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender- based Violence campaign started at the Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991. This annual campaign takes place from 25 November to 10 December. South Africa added violence against children to its 16 Days of Activism campaign because of the high incidence of child abuse. The campaign symbolically links violence against women and children to human rights violations.
Violence is not bound by nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, culture, ethnicity or race. The 16 Days of Activism campaign is used by interest groups and world leaders to create public awareness of the elimination of all forms of violence against women and children. The campaign seeks to inform the public of abuse and bring an end to abuse in any form. A study by the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, has revealed that South Africa is among the countries with the highest number of rape cases. This necessitates the continuation of this campaign.
Abuse stems from a misinterpretation of power. It creates a lower status for women and children. When control of women and children is misinterpreted, it leads to physical, emotional, financial and verbal abuse, to sexual harassment and to human trafficking.
According to the "survivor journey" on the website www.rape.co.za, it is estimated that a woman born in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped than learning to read. According to the survey, 25% of men in the survey admitted to having raped someone.
Our Parliament has introduced laws on family abuse, protecting children, domestic violence, maintenance and unfair discrimination. These pieces of legislation seek to address the consequences for perpetrators, stating that they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There are allegations that the criminal justice system lacks the capacity to redress injustice to human dignity. The justice system must be more accessible to the most vulnerable in society. We need to provide people with the means to protect themselves. The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities was created and the government is seriously showing that it wants to combat this issue.
International conflict and power struggles impact negatively on violence against women and children. In South Africa we have a democratic system with a strong focus on human rights. Breaking the silence requires that all of us must act against women and child abuse and inform people of their human rights. It is also important to show compassion and support for the survivors of abuse and to protect their human dignity. This campaign further seeks to create an environment that encourages victims of abuse to come forward and speak out.
Human trafficking remains a huge global challenge and can only be combated with the co-operation of the international community. South Africa has a Bill of Rights which includes the most advanced human rights laws, but as a nation we are struggling to combat this challenge. This challenge impacts on people's health, education, lifestyles, social conditions and human rights.
It is imperative that we generate a constructive response from civil society and understand the root cause of violence in all its forms. Some practical campaigns include speaking out against women and child abuse, reporting violations to the authorities and forming family-based networks.
In conclusion, the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign once again reflects the vulnerability of society. If not addressed adequately by all stakeholders, this form of violence will have destructive consequences for future generations. It is therefore imperative that all South Africans unite in the fight against women and child abuse.
On behalf of the DA I take this opportunity to encourage all members and all South Africans to participate in a plan of action to change the behaviour towards women, children and disabled people. I want to encourage this House to take the ribbons that were handed out when you walked in here today as a sign that the NCOP is serious about this campaign. Now is the time to stop abuse. Now is the time to protect our women, children and people with disabilities. [Applause.]
Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Minister Xingwana, hon Deputy Minister Sotyu, hon MECs present, hon Chief Whip in absentia and hon special and permanent delegates of the NCOP, I am very happy to participate in this debate on the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The subject of the debate is very close to my heart as a mother and human rights activist.
The exclusion of women from wage labour and their relegation to the lowest- paid and least-skilled jobs were determining factors in women's consciousness. A woman's consciousness is determined not only by the way she is socialised through education, culture and upbringing but also, and more importantly, by the position she holds in the production process. The traditional form of family relations, where the woman's area of production was the home - seeing to the domestic economy, growing and cooking food, caring for and socialising children - is no longer suitable for working women. If these traditional women's tasks continue to be her sole responsibility, she is faced with two jobs, namely housework and wage labour. This is a continuation of women's oppression and exploitation and, if not addressed, it becomes an obstacle to women's participation in community life. Through our struggle, our theory guides us to define motherhood and fatherhood in nonoppressive ways and to undertake the practical tasks of housework and work in general without discrimination and exploitation.
Violence and aggression against women and children are some of the most brutal forms of oppression and exploitation. As we know, they are always the least powerful people in any situation, be it at work, at home or in the community. Women and children are the most vulnerable. Aggression against them - be it physically crippling manual labour, rape, wife battering, sexual harassment at home and work or child molestation - is rife in our society, which has a violent historical background.
The Women's Charter of 1954, a document of the Federation of South African Women that acknowledged the triple oppression of women and their role in the struggle for national liberation in general and women emancipation in particular, has informed the approach to building a nonsexist South Africa. The charter defined a vision of the South Africa we seek to build - a united, nonracial, equal, democratic and nonsexist society. South Africa is a country that upholds women's rights and human rights. The 1985 Kabwe Conference of the ANC mapped out a clear goal to ensure women's equal participation in the building of people's power and in all four pillars of our struggle.
As Parliament is the supreme institution in the land, we are bound to be exemplary to the nation and to the continent by taking the lead to protect the rights of the vulnerable, who, in this context, are the women and children. The NCOP is strategically positioned to locate this 16 Days of Activism campaign from the perspective of provinces, because the Constitution gives the NCOP a representative role of ensuring that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government.
Indeed, the NCOP has played a critical role in educating the nation to uphold the rights of children and women. This is attested to by the programme about the role of the NCOP in protecting the rights of children, which was convened by this august House towards the end of the Third Parliament. The programme was aimed at consolidating the parliamentary achievements for children of South Africa.
It is obvious that more needs to be done to ensure that the decisions taken here in Parliament and the policies and plans that are implemented have the desired effect, and that they actually benefit women and children in our country who are in desperate need of help. The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is an important campaign in assisting Parliament to play a fundamental role in generating an increased awareness of the negative impact that violence has on women and children and on society.
The abuse ...
... ubulwanyana, nokungabinasazela neentloni ... [... brutality, lack of consciousness and disgraceful conduct ...]
... of our children has also become rife and endemic. Girls between the ages of 12 and 16 years are the most vulnerable. They are abducted in broad daylight at shopping centres, taxi ranks and schools. Often the children are gang-raped and forced into prostitution.
Women and children are not only subjected to violence but they are also severely affected by poverty. The struggle for gender equality and children's rights in South Africa is a battle that is far from over. We must intensify our efforts and turn the tide against one of the most heinous crimes in the world: women and child abuse.
The other issue that we must address is the issue of people with disabilities. We need to raise community awareness about the need to address the plight of people with disabilities. This debate should provide us with an opportunity to highlight the barriers that still limit the realisation of the rights of people with disabilities. Perhaps, in future, we need to ensure that we include the disability sector so that these stakeholders can play an active role in the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. Hon Minister, you would know how to process it in the United Nations.
We all agree that people with disabilities worldwide are among the poorest of the poor. They have been on the receiving end of oppression and discrimination for years. Some have been ridiculed and treated like minors all their lives. In line with respecting the motto of the disabled people of South Africa, which is "Nothing for us without us", we should not do things for people with disabilities without consulting them. [Applause.]
Sihlalo weBhunga lamaPhondo, Mphathiswa umama uXingwana noSekela- Mphathiswa, umama uSotyu, ndivumele ndithi ngqanga neentsiba zayo. Kuluvuyo kum ukuba ndibe yinxalenye yale ngxoxompikiswano ejongene nokulwela amalungelo oomama, abantwana kunye nabantu abakhubazekileyo emzimbeni ngenjikalanga enomahluko eyandulela ukuqalisa kweNtshukumo yeHlabathi yeeNtsuku eziliShumi elinesiThandathu.
Siyawuxhasa umgomo wezi ntshukumo nobekwe yi-ofisi yakho othi: "Uxolo kumakhaya ethu nasekuhlaleni ukunqanda ukuxhatshazwa koomama nabantwana". Siyavuma ukuba amalungu eentsapho zethu, ingakumbi abantu bethu abadala oomama kunye nabantwana, azibona eyinxalenye yamaxhoba engcinezelo kwezoqoqosho, ekuhlaleni, ukuxhatshazwa ngokwesondo kunye nokubulawa ngokumasikizi ngenxa yesini sawo.
Izolo sibone amakhulu ngamakhulu phaya eQonce eMpuma Koloni, abantu abakhulu betarhuzisa kwizihlobo, kwizalamane noluntu jikelele besithi mayiphele impatho gadalala, ukubulawa, ukudlwengulwa nobuqhophololo obenziwa kubo. Sileli phondo lweMpuma Koloni, sisophisa ngenxa yobugebenga obuthe bondela kwiphondo lethu bokubulawa ngokumasikizi koomakhulu bethu, betyholwa ngobugqwirha. Umnqa ke esinawo singurhulumente ngowokuba, la maxhoba ngoomama abadala abahluphekileyo abajongelwa phantsi ekuhlaleni, abathi babaxwe bade baphixwe ngezi zityholo kuba bengenawo amandla okuzilwela kwabo bafika babe yimpi kubo.
Silwa nalo mkhuba mihla le, kwaye siye saphehlelela amaqumrhu abantu abadala kuquka ne-Eastern Cape Older Persons Forum kuzo zosibhozo iingingqi zethu ukuze simanyane ekuthabatheni inxaxheba yokulwa lo mkhuba ngenjongo yokubuyisa isidima sabantu abakhulu. Liphondo lethu lodwa elinala maqumrhu.
Ekuqaleni kwale nyanga ka-Oktobha, siliSebe lezoPhuhliso loLuntu lorhulumente wephondo siye sandwendwela kula mhlaba waseLusikisiki naseFlagstaff apho kubonakala ukuba lo mkhwa ude watsiba uphungela ngenkqu. Sibambe ingxoxompikiswano ke ngoko ukufundisa nokuthetha nabantu basekhaya ukuba le nto ibubugqwirha yintswelo mbeko nentswelo buntu kuba kaloku ubugqwirha abubambeki, yimpixano nje yangaphakathi yokwenyelisa abantu abathile.
Ukuxhatshazwa ngesondo kwamantombazana phantsi kwento ekuthiwa kukuthwalwa akuvumelekanga ngokwesiko nesithethe ukuba makuthwalwe umntwana. Umntu othwalwayo yintombi endala enamajingxeba kwaye esele ikulungele ukuba izilwele xa kufanelekile. Ukuba oonongqovu abafana nathi bangakhe bame apha phandle bathi mabathwalwe, akukho nomnye umntu onokusondela. Ukuthwalwa komntwana kukucima kwesibane kwelo khaya.
Into esivuyisayo ke singurhulumente kukuba sidibene neenkokheli zemveli savumelana ukuba ukuthwalwa kwabantwana akusayi kuphinde kwenzeke apho zilawula khona. Nizakukhumbula ke ukuba kukho ilali yakwaCele ebikhe yaba yindumasi nondabamlonyeni kwizizwe ngezizwe. Ndinovuyo lokuchaza apha ukuba uphelile unyaka ngoku kungakhange kubekho mntwana uthwalwayo kwaye siza kuqinisekisa ukuba akukho mntwana uza kuthwalwa. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Siliphondo siyawuxhasa umbono wokuba abantu abathengiselwa utywalwa mababe ngaphaya kwamashumi amabini ananye eminyaka. Sizibonile iziphumo ezibi zokuthi xa kuselwe utywala kunye neziyobisi abantu abangamakhosikazi, abantwana kunye nabakhubazekileyo baba ngamaxhoba okuqala. Sithi ke masiwuncothule lo mkhuba kunye neengcambu zawo.
Siyayazi sileli phondo ukuba kukho ukusilela okungumangaliso xa kujongwe amatyala okuxhatshazwa koomama kunye nabantwana. Ngoko ke, senza ikhwelo lokuba kubekho oomahambanandlwana beenkundla zomthetho, nanjengoko kwenziwa ngexesha loMdlalo weBhola eKhatywayo yeHlabathi. Kungani na ukuba singabinakho ukwenza njalo nangoku, kusetyenzwe nangempelaveki ukuze kuphele la matyala. Ibuhlungu into yokumana uxoxa ityala iminyaka emithathu ube umanyelwe ngabantu uxoxa ngendlela owathi wadlwengulwa ngayo libe neli tyala lingade lixoxwe ligqitywe.
Xa ndisiya ekugqibeni, sisuka kwixesha apho iinkonde ezifana nootata uMandela, oomama uSisulu, uMathole, uMandlangisa namanye amaqhawe omzabalazo athi alwela uMzantsi Afrika okhuselekileyo nobumbeneyo. Ukuze sikwazi ukulwa nolwaphulo-mthetho, kufuneka sibambisene sonke; loo nto iyakuthi isincede ukuze sazi unobangela walo. Thina sileli phondo sityikitye izibhambathiso neQumrhu leeTyalike zoMzantsi Afrika, iSACC, kunye neNdlu yeeNkosi, ukuba makhe kuvuselelwe izimilo, ubuntu nobuthandazwe kubantu bakowethu. Umntu omthandayo nomhloniphileyo awukwazi ukumphatha kakubi okanye umvise ubuhlungu
Eli sebe ke ndilikhokelayo lezoPhuhliso loLuntu kunye neenkonzo zabucala, sinenkqubo ejongene nkcakasana namaxhoba ezi zihelegu bendithetha ngazo ukuze angabutyesheli ubomi ade acinge ukuzibulala. Senza ikhwelo kwiNCOP lokuba lisincedise xa kufakwa imali nanjengoko iliBhunga lamaPhondo. ISebe lezoPhuhliso loLuntu kufuneka libe ngathi lifumana uchatha wemali ukuze likwazi ukuphuhlisa ezi nkqubo zijongene nkcakasana namaxhoba olwaphulo- mthetho.
Ootata bonke kuquka naba bangamaLungu ePalamente, siyacela ukuba bakhe bathi oku akuzi kwenzeka egameni lamadoda. Amadoda okwenene namadoda oqobo awayenzi into embi kangaka, yimani ke. Sithi mathol' anyongade nje kukudlelana; amaqobokazana angalal' endleleni yazini kunyembekile. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms P MAJODINA (Eastern Cape): Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Minister Xingwana, Deputy Minister Ms Sotyu, all protocol observed. I am pleased to be part of this debate on fighting for the rights of women, children and people with disabilities, on this special afternoon that precedes the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
We support the theme of this campaign that your office has crafted and which reads: "Peace in our homes and communities - putting an end to violence against women and children". We agree that our family members, more especially our elderly people, women and young children, find themselves being subjected to economic discrimination, sexual abuse and gender-based brutal killings in our communities.
Yesterday we witnessed many old people in King William's Town appealing to friends, relatives and the community at large to stop the abuse, killing, rape and corruption directed at them. We are still in pain as the Eastern Cape province because of the brutal killing of our grandmothers who are accused of witchcraft. What astonishes us as the government is that these victims are old, poor and disregarded women who are alleged to have committed these acts, and they are powerless to resist the vigilantes that come to attack them.
We are fighting this scourge day in and day out, and we have launched old age forums, including the Eastern Cape Older Persons Forum, in all eight of our regions to unite us in the fight against this scourge, and with the aim of restoring the dignity of the elderly. It is only in our province where you will find these forums.
At the beginning of the month of October, as the department of social development of the province, we visited the Lusikisiki and Flagstaff areas, where it seems that this scourge is more prevalent. We held public hearings, educating our people against accusing people of witchcraft, because it has the elements of ill-discipline and inhumanity, as witchcraft is baseless. It is an internal conflict which seeks to undermine some people.
Sexual abuse of young girls under the guise of the so-called ukuthwala [forced marriage] custom is not accepted. A person who is subjected to this custom must be a grown-up girl and a person upon whom will be bestowed the status of a woman if she passes away. If we, fully fledged women, were to avail ourselves of this custom, no one will even approach us. To subject a child to ukuthwala is to kill the future of that child.
As the government, we are glad that we have met with traditional leaders and agreed that the ukuthwala of young girls will not happen in their jurisdictions. You will remember the Cele village, which has been notorious recently and newsworthy among the nations. I am glad to announce that a year has passed now without a child being subjected to the custom of ukuthwala, and we are sure that there won't be any more instances. [Applause.] As a province, we support the minimum legal age of 21 years for the purchase and consumption of alcohol. We have seen that alcohol and drug abuse resulted in the victimisation of women, children and people with disabilities. We are saying: let us nip it in the bud.
We know as a province that there is an appalling ineffectiveness in dealing with cases of women and child abuse. We therefore propose that there should be mobile courts of law, such as the ones we had during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. What is stopping us from doing that, having the courts up and running even on Saturdays to conclude these cases? It is traumatic to spend three years in court with people listening to your narration of how you were raped without the case being concluded.
In conclusion, we come from an era where elders such as Mandela, Mama Sisulu - Mathole, Mandlangisa - and other heroes of the struggle fought for a safe and united South Africa. We have to work together in order to fight crime, and that will help us to get to the bottom of this. We, as the province, have signed a memorandum of understanding with the SA Council of Churches and the House of Traditional Leaders to revive moral regeneration, ubuntu and patriotism in our people. You cannot abuse or inflict pain on the one you love and respect.
The department of social development, led by myself, has programmes that deal specifically with the victims of the crimes that I have already mentioned, so that they do not give up on life and think of committing suicide. We appeal to the NCOP to assist us during the Budget allocation, as this is a "council of provinces". The Department of Social Development must receive a greater allocation so that it will be able to develop these programmes that deal specifically with victims of crime. All men, including Members of Parliament, must stop this from happening in the name of manhood. Real men do not commit such acts; now stop it. Working together we can do more. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon members, you will remember that the MEC is a former member of this House. We have groomed her very well.
Chairperson, I just want to direct your attention to the speakers' list. Speaker number 6, the hon Fritz, is the MEC of the Western Cape and not an hon member or chairperson of the committee. Thank you.
Chairperson, on a point of order: I thought the Western Cape did not have MECs but "ministers". [Laughter.]
You can discuss that outside with your colleague.
Modulasetulo, ha ke o lebohe. Ke lebohe Letona, Mme Xingwana, Matona kaofela a tswang diporofenseng le ditho tsa Palamente kaofela. [Chairperson, let me thank you. I would also like to thank hon Minister Xingwana, all MECs from provinces and all Members of Parliament.]
After developing one of the few progressive constitutions in the world in 1996, the ANC-led government started in earnest to complement this Constitution with a legislative framework that would destroy the apartheid laws and develop human rights at all levels of human existence. Thus we would be forgiven by the world when as South Africans, post 1994, we prided ourselves on having such a progressive Constitution, with a legislative framework that protected women and children while promoting a culture of human rights. As a society, post 1994, we were also applauded by our neighbouring countries, SADC, for having such a vibrant civil society, with nongovernmental organisations and faith-based organisations working and campaigning in partnership with business, traditional leaders, state-owned enterprises and the media to raise awareness about the abuse of women and children.
Nevertheless, as we entered our third term as the ANC-led national government, we realised that an increase in domestic violence, women abuse and child rape and pornography was being reported by both the police and those NGOs dealing with women and children abuse. In the fourth term, in 2009, it was vividly clear to us as government that more needed to be done to consolidate our gains of the past 16 years in government, as informed by the lessons learnt from our mistakes as the ANC government. Indeed, as we are gathered here yet again to commemorate and celebrate the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, for the 12th year, we all need to acknowledge that this event has surely evolved because it was prompted by the following recent historic developments.
Firstly, we now have a special Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, which was established in 2009 and is currently being led by hon Minister Xingwana. Secondly, the Ministry of Police reintroduced the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in 2010. Thirdly, as a UN member state, South Africa submitted to the UN, in June 2011, a groundbreaking resolution that asked the international body to undertake a study on discrimination, sexual orientation and related crimes. Hon Xingwana was part of this collective.
We as the ANC-led government yet again find resonance with the wise words of Dr Martin Luther King, who said: "The arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice." With all the developments mentioned above, we as government, in our long walk to freedom, have helped and are continuing to help bend the arc of history towards justice. And yes, we agree with the NGOs who say that changing laws and strategies can be swift but giving them effect and changing the mind-sets that often render them ineffective is a much more demanding task.
As recently as Monday, we witnessed a hate crime case - the case of the late Zoliswa Nkonyana - dragging on for six years with no apparent solution. Yes, justice cannot bring Zoliswa Nkonyana back to her mother. But visibly and swiftly prosecuting sexual violence and hate crimes may tell the survivors of such crimes - and any potential perpetrator - that government does care for all victims of crime, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. We would further like to commend the courts for the guilty verdict imposed on the heartless criminals in Zoliswa's case. But for us as the police, it is not enough just to change mind-sets to make our laws effective. It is also not enough to read much into the high statistics recorded for gender-based and sexual violence against children. Statistics are there to observe and record factual trends of crime so as to plan future operations.
As the leadership of the police, we continuously seek to align ourselves with government's approach, and reviewing and improving the way we fight all types of crime. Thus, there needed to be a fundamental paradigm shift in the core operations of the police. Changing the way the police operates in fighting and preventing crime meant a dramatic change in strategies, but all these strategies are informed by three critical and fundamental principles: firstly, the high visibility of police in all crime hotspots while executing high-density operations; secondly, an enhanced partnership in fighting and preventing crime between police and other government departments such as Sars, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Transport; and thirdly, enhancing the responsibility of communities to work with the government and police to fight and prevent crime in our townships, suburbs and rural farming communities. The emphasis on community responsibility to help fight crime is informed by the call made by our government to work together to do more and make a better life for all our people.
As the Deputy Minister of Police, a mother and a grandmother, I think that the third critical issue I have just mentioned - that of the responsibility of communities - is fundamental. Nothing is more fundamental than the role of the family as part of the community in fighting and preventing crime, especially the fight against the abuse of children and women.
It is a fact that sexual violence against children and women holds the entire community to ransom. Women cannot walk freely to work, to neighbours, or just take a jog. Children cannot get to school safely. These days, even schools are a haven for criminals. We recently saw a 16-year-old girl being kidnapped, raped and killed on her way back from school.
As we are gathered here, commemorating 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, I want us to remember the fundamental role that parents should ultimately play in the development, safety and general wellness of their family and their children in particular. Yes, the police have a key role in fighting and preventing crime in our society, especially during this time of the festive season. However, we must all realise that fighting crime often begins with tackling unacceptable and antisocial behaviour, beginning in the family sphere within the community. I am saying this because scientific research has shown that a high number of women and children have been and are still being raped, murdered, molested and sexually exploited by those who are close or familiar to them.
South Africa cannot forget the high-profile case of a British tourist who was implicated in the murder of his wife just a year ago. Then there were those horrific murders of children in the space of a week in some of our provinces - in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, to mention some of them. But this also happens in other provinces that we might not be aware of. Horrific crimes are being perpetrated by so-called "loved ones" or people from within the family sphere.
We are saying, therefore, that as we commemorate the beginning of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, let us all enhance the partnership with the police to fight crime by emphasising the importance of the family as part of the strong link that creates a safer environment, for the young in particular. We have to support the multifaceted approach, as endorsed by the police leadership, which says that the success of SAPS operations, such as "When Duty Calls" and others, will largely be due to a close working relationship between communities at large, schools in general and families in particular.
As parents and families, we must catch our children early enough to teach them and shape their knowledge of behaviour and attitudes to matters of safety and security. Therefore, we call on parents, educators and community leaders to form a sustainable partnership with the police, because children's earliest interactions occur within the sphere of the family and community. Family and community members are the first ones to see the early signs of risk or threat to the wellbeing of a child. For instance, some signs of risk can be seen as early as in infancy or early childhood, such as aggressive behaviour, lack of self-control or a difficult temperament.
Our strategy as police has indeed shifted for the better to become smarter. This has happened so effectively and efficiently that it addresses the vulnerability of our children and women to violence, abuse and sexual exploitation. The SAPS acknowledges that often the family situation heightens a child's risk of all sorts of abuse. It is also a fact that when there is a lack of attachment and nurturing by parents or caregivers, and where there is a parent who abuses alcohol or drugs, or one who is violent, the child is immediately put at risk at all levels of his or her formative years and development.
We the police are therefore proud that we have introduced the SAPS Woman Prestige Award in order to encourage female police officers and civilians to go beyond the call of duty and help uplift families within the community. This year our winner, Ms Dimpho Prudence Nkosi from Mpumalanga, did very well throughout the financial year. In addition to her outreach work she adopted a baby boy whose mother had died when he was only a month old. Dimpho is nurturing this child. [Applause.]
Dimpho Nkosi is one of the many unsung heroines in the SAPS who are building the public's trust and confidence by showing that police officers are visible and available, and that the police are always on the community's side, keeping them safe. As the SAPS, we are emphasising the role of the family and of parents as being one of the strong links in the policing partnership. That is because as parents and mothers we know that kids don't read their parents' lips but watch their parents' actions.
We have the challenge of children younger than 18 years of age living in households where a parent or other adults use illicit drugs or distribute drugs. We have children who live in households where a parent or other adults are heavy drinkers. We have children who live in households where a parent or a relative is a child molester or a woman beater.
We are calling on parents to use the information made available by the police in regard to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units to help themselves and their children take preventive action before problems occur. We are calling on schools and educators to strengthen learning and bonding at schools by addressing aggressive behaviour and poor concentration in partnership with the police. We want to encourage our policewomen and policemen to continue doing sterling work in our quest to make South Africa a safer and better place to live.
In conclusion, as we go to Cop 17, let us put the theme of climate change into proper context. When natural disasters strike, those who are the least empowered - the women - suffer the most. So, in the same vein, the prevention of sexual violence is inseparable from the empowerment of women, who remain the least empowered. [Applause.]
Mr Chairperson, I just want to start off by acknowledging Minister Xingwana and Deputy Minister Sotyu. I must say that I really miss you and that portfolio. To all the MECs from other provinces I would like to say welcome to Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Hon members, ladies and gentlemen, 2 594 women were murdered last year in our country. This is up from 2 457 the previous year. On average, 175 sexual crimes were committed against women and children every single day last year. More than 150 000 cases of assault against women were reported in 2010. More than 24 000 children fell victim to assault last year.
While these are all frightening statistics, we have actually seen a very slight decrease in the number of cases against women and children. Yet, as we acknowledge that, we need to say that these figures are still alarmingly high and a clear message must go out about violence against women and children. As a country we need to do something very constructive about it.
Today, I want to say to the children of Lavender Hill and Hanover Park, and to a lot of children in our poorer communities - and it is so apt, hon Minister, that the theme for this year is "From peace in the home to peace in the world" - that we will focus specifically on the role of small arms in domestic violence. Unfortunately, we have seen the scourge of gang violence in the Western Cape. We have seen mainly our poorer areas being affected by this. If this had been in one of our rich areas, such as Constantia, I promise you it would have been resolved immediately. But no, these are people in our poorer areas.
Hon Deputy Minister of Police, I am really passionate about this and I am not pointing fingers at you - you know that we have a good relationship. But I really want to urge you to ask Minister Mthethwa to look at bringing back the specialised units such as the family violence unit that we had. We need to get the gang and antidrug units back. I really want to ask that we look at that possibility. Ek smeek [I am begging], to use Afrikaans. We are begging the Minister to look at that because I think our commissioner is not even paying attention to it.
As we support the 16 Days of Activism, we also need to look at practical and tangible ways to prevent violence against the women and children of our province and our country. It is important to note that all departments have a role to play in this process. In terms of my department, the department of social development in the province, we have a mandate and we have contributed - and will continue to contribute - to this debate in a fruitful and practical way.
I want to start off by saying what we are doing practically. We have just embarked on a youth programme. We call the first programme the "two till six programme", that is, two o'clock to six o'clock in the afternoon. It's a programme that we are doing with the department of cultural affairs and sport to give incentives to our children and to attract them so that they will get involved in our after-school programme from two o'clock to six o'clock. We hope to prevent them from going home alone and getting pregnant - sometimes this happens to girls as young as 15 or 14. We want to keep our children constructively busy and prevent teenage pregnancy, which is another scourge we have seen in this province, which is the only one I can speak for specifically.
My department's contribution in this regard will be to provide the afternoon meal for those young children. All of us were at school. When two o'clock or half past two came, we would be very hungry and had to run home. So, we give food to these children to encourage them to stay after school and take part in activities. We want to keep them in programmes that will help them in sports and cultural activities. They will also learn soft skills that will help them to know who they are and why they must not beat a woman. They will learn that it is not normal to beat a woman and it is something one mustn't do. We need to get these skills into our schools because we have also seen violence against women and girls at schools, among boys and girls. We really need to reduce that constructively.
We will continue to promote initiatives that teach the youth that there are other alternatives to violence, such as the Chrysalis Academy and the youth safety ambassadors in the province. When I became MEC for community safety, I started the youth safety camp. It is a wonderful camp for getting our youngsters involved in crime prevention and becoming part of the youth ambassadors instead of being in a gang. The next camp is on the 14th, 15th and 16th and it will look at personal safety, environmental safety and community safety skills. There is also a focus on soft skills, which will teach responsibility and pride in their achievements. Through this initiative we hope to create community safety ambassadors to assist the police and to teach the youth about alternatives to crime.
Similarly, we have the Chrysalis Academy, which aims to develop and build youth who are at risk of violence. These are mainly young people who failed or fell out of the school system from Grade 10 onwards and are just lying around at home. They are very good candidates for becoming gangsters. We catch them before they become gangsters and bring them to the academy and make them run up that mountain - I promise you it's a steep mountain - at 4 o'clock in the morning. You will see how great those guys turn out. The graduation of the first course for this year will be on 3 December and I want to invite anyone here today to come and show their support for such programmes for young people that offer alternatives to becoming gangsters.
There is also a programme for preventing early pregnancy. I have said this many times but I cannot stress it enough: When a school girl falls pregnant and has to leave school to take care of her baby, she not only cuts off her own opportunities but also condemns her child to a life of poverty and, probably, state dependence. We recently saw a spate of early pregnancies on the West Coast and in the central Karoo area. In the light of this phenomenon we have strengthened ties with the Department of Education and Department of Health to bolster our preventive campaigns and remove the stigma associated with young girls who go to clinics for contraception only to be asked by nursing sisters, "What are you doing here?" You may have your own moral stance on this, but when these girls come to clinics and are given contraceptives, they don't fall pregnant and become a burden on the state at the age of 14 or 15. By the way, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act allows for an early termination of pregnancy from the age of 10, without having to tell the parents. All I am saying is, let us deal properly with our young people when they get to school.
I also want to talk about making alternatives available to prevent the dumping of babies. In this province we have seen an increase in the phenomenon of baby dumping. Even if it is five or six, that is five or six too many children who are dumped into bins, and many of them don't survive. I am deeply concerned about this phenomenon. It also includes children being abandoned by parents. A parent comes to a house and leaves her child there, saying she will be coming back just now, but then does not return for years. This is another form of abandoning children with friends or family.
Together with our nongovernmental partners, we have a number of measures in place to promote the care and protection of children. These include public awareness and education exercises aimed at behavioural changes and promoting a community response to child protection. We are aware that we need community support.
I want to talk about this thing of awareness. When are we going to proceed to action and stop just making people aware? We are always "making people aware". Let us make examples of young people who dump their babies through the law and the police system. [Interjections.] Let them be punished severely for doing it, so that others can see the example and realise that they must not dump their babies but rather hand them over to the department of social development. We will take the child and give it up for adoption. Don't dump or kill the baby in that sense.
In addition, my department funds organisations that specialise in child protection services, including parenting programmes and programmes that target men and boys as role models. No one spoke about role models today. Where are our men? Where am I? I must ask that of myself! Let me also be a role model to my son and to other children, so that we set the example that women are equal to us. We must treat them as equal beings, not as subordinates or slaves, and certainly not as sex slaves.
I heard a motion here earlier tonight about Mavericks and that big billboard of theirs. I want to warn the hon member who brought the motion that Members of Parliament will be the first to complain. They go there because it's around the corner from Parliament. [Interjections.] I am saying this because I have seen a few of you there, I must say. [Laughter.]
Recent research has shown that women in poor communities often suffer from mental health problems, including depression. This sometimes goes undetected at the clinics where they give birth and even more so when babies are not born at a hospital or clinic. This is a very interesting phenomenon that we have found in the research. We have found that sometimes our nursing and medical staff don't detect that. We are talking to our department ...
Hon member, your time has expired.
I want to conclude by saying that I think the campaign against violence against women and children demands of all of us to change our behaviour. I also want to say that HIV is a behaviour-change issue. It is not so much about whether people get medicine. We must change our behaviour. To men and parliamentarians, let's start with ourselves so that we can be an example to the community out there. [Applause.]
Dr U ROOPNARAIN (KwaZulu-Natal): Chairperson, members of this House, I think it's very clear that violence affects women. It cuts across political lines and borders and knows only one gender: women.
I want to talk a little about domestic violence. It is very clear that it's a serious social evil. Unfortunately, South Africa has one of the highest incidences of domestic violence, which manifests itself in a number of forms.
Domestic violence also has serious social, economic and psychological consequences for both women and children. Often it is the children who are unprotected from violence.
The lack of verifiable statistics makes it very difficult to quantify the level of abuse or the extent of the scourge. The Department of Justice estimates that one in every four women is a survivor of domestic violence. Also, 60% of all abuse is committed by someone we know, whether a partner or a spouse. Domestic violence is not a once-off incident but occurs on a continuum. It's actually a seriatim of events. Also, domestic violence is not something that is cultural; it is criminal. It is every nation's problem and it needs a response that is commensurate with the seriousness of these crimes.
To end the violence we need to treat the causes and symptoms. This requires an increase in prosecutions. Perpetrators need to know that it won't be business as usual - a slap on the wrist. We need tougher measures. In this way women will be able to reach complete equality in every sphere of life, whether in the private or public sphere.
Gender-based violence is not simply a woman's issue. It is also a global challenge to human security and human rights. We must ensure and try to promote the engagement of men. I think it even needs to start with this House. We need to hear more men's voices on the subject. Violence against women and children continues unabated and it starts with every one of us. We need to go back and educate our constituencies and our communities.
Women are the key to progress and prosperity. When they are marginalised, maimed and mistreated, humanity cannot progress. When they are accorded rights and afforded equal opportunities, whether in education, health care, employment or political participation, they uplift their communities, families and, more importantly, their nations.
It is time that ending violence against women becomes a priority for us all, not just during the month of the 16 Days of Activism but 365 days a year. Strong political leadership is needed, including advocacy in international forums. It is critical and we need to seek sustained progress. We have good legislation but legislation needs to be implemented. It must not be theoretical but has to translate into action.
The first form of violence against women is the one that takes place by intimate partners or by somebody we know - and I think most of the members said this. The second form is by others - maybe somebody from the community. There are three main strategies for dealing with this. We need to increase women's access to justice. Women need to know that if they go to the police station, policemen are sensitised on how to deal with rape. We need to increase women's access to support services and they need to know how to prevent violence. We need more funding for crisis centres or shelters. Most of the time, NGOs operate on the smallest of budgets. Again, we need to ensure that policy translates into practice.
South Africa strongly supports the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. All eight of them are equally important, but Millennium Development Goal 3, which relates to gender equality and the empowerment of women, is particularly critical. If men and women don't have equal social and economic status, then progress in other areas will be slow, if not hollow.
To be effective we must have a programme of action that challenges and addresses long-term attitudes that perpetuate inequality. There has to be a change in mind-set. Progress has been made - we can't deny that. But a lot more needs to be done. The public silence needs to be broken. We always assume that domestic violence is a private matter because it occurs at home.
We know that children are the most vulnerable group. They are powerless and voiceless, but it is they who are subject to abuse and rape in the home. It is the men who tell them, "Let's keep this a secret; let's not tell anyone." I know that many of us are mothers, daughters and sisters. Women need to rise up and teach their children ... [Time expired.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, members of executive councils, MECs present, women make a great contribution to the family and to the development of society. If that contribution is not forthcoming, development is arrested.
It is well documented that women and children in South Africa are living in constant fear. This is despite the fact that gender-based violence and HIV/Aids feature on the highest political and governmental agenda. On the other hand, women in South Africa are six times more likely to be killed by their male partners in the home than elsewhere in the world. This means that four women are killed every day by their intimate partners.
A study by the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, revealed that South Africa leads the world in rape. It is also estimated that 500 000 rapes are committed annually in South Africa. A 2010 study, led by the government-funded Medical Research Council, said that in Gauteng province, home to South Africa's most populous city, Johannesburg, more than 37% of men said that they had raped a woman. Nearly 7% of the 487 men surveyed said they had participated in a gang rape. Rape victims in the country range in age from a few months to 80 years. Perpetrators are relatives, intimates, casual acquaintances and strangers.
A high percentage of rapes occurred either at or near home. More than half of the offences, whether by an individual or gang, involved the use of a weapon. The majority of victims do not report the violation of their human rights to the police. The most common reasons for not reporting the crimes to the police are, first, victims fear reprisal; second, victims feel that the police would not be able to solve the crime; and third, the embarrassment. The violation of women is an injustice that puts them at high risk of HIV. Women who are in abusive relationships are particularly at risk of exposure to HIV infection due to the threat of further violence, abandonment or loss of economic support if they attempt to negotiate safer sex or refuse sex.
We need drastic measures to put a stop to this. Hon Deputy Minister, Cope urges the police to conduct more blitzes randomly and countrywide, to search for dangerous weapons and firearms. [Applause.]
Hon House Chairperson, hon Chief Whip, hon Minister and hon Deputy Minister, this is indeed a very important subject. Having peace in the home and community is more important than having money because if you have peace in the house, everything will be fine. The prevalence of gender-based violence in Southern Africa is very high. The World Health Organisation, the WHO, estimates that one out of every three women experience some form of violence at some point in their lives. This both reflects and reinforces the inequalities between women and men and often compromises the dignity of the affected parties.
The question we ask is: How many cases are not reported? The under- reporting of violent crime against women and children remains a serious concern. Violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights abuses and a key human security issue of our time. Emotional abuse is one of the worst forms of abuse and it must be stopped. Urgent steps must be taken to guarantee a woman's security by addressing violence and abuse in all its manifestations.
It is crucial that government recognises the important contribution and role of NGOs in raising the visibility and consciousness of gender violence and the ripple effects thereof. We therefore call on the government to make greater investments in the causes of NGOs to improve services to South Africans who are subjected to violence, especially during this time of the year.
Allow me to say - and I say this with all respect and all men need to listen now - that it is time that men take the lead and set an example by seeing women as equal partners. As men who are visionaries, cultivators and protectors, we must allow these characteristics to be the foundation of our relationships with women, whether it is in the household, workplace or society.
Let me just say this one thing: There is nothing in this world that is more beautiful than women. [Applause.] If you take women out of this world, you take beauty out of this world. So what I am saying today is that as men and as Members of Parliament, we really need to set an example. As fathers, we must be role models to our children. As fathers, we need to tell our sons that it is not good even to scream at a woman, or your sister, in the house, in order for us to build the future of this country. [Applause.]
Mrs N D SIKHOSANA (KwaZulu-Natal): Hon House Chairperson, the South African government has a plethora of sensitive laws and programmes and the 16 Days campaign is but one of them. Despite all these efforts, violence against women and children continues unabated. Violence against women and children permeates all sectors of our society and we therefore need to develop programmes to reinforce the existing ones.
The escalation of teenage pregnancies in schools has reached alarming proportions. We are also witnessing unacceptably high incidences of substance abuse, human trafficking, HIV and Aids - the list is endless.
More often than not the economic dependency of women on men keeps women in abusive relationships. It therefore becomes critical that we strengthen our efforts for women's economic empowerment by developing new strategies to mitigate the persistent challenges that prevent us from achieving our ultimate goal of creating a caring society that is based on a culture of human rights. The new strategies should also be linked to the relevant government oversight committees at all levels to periodically monitor, evaluate and review the effectiveness and sustainability of the programmes.
There is therefore a necessity to ensure that programmes with a human rights ethos cross-cut through all development activities and all spheres of government and civil society, with a special focus on local government, as part of our government's 2004 extension of the 16 Days campaign to 365 Days of Activism.
I would like to mention that I was quite happy to hear that hon Minister Lulu Xingwana had already set up the committee that I had in mind when I was writing this. She is already saying there is going to be some co- ordination. We need to commend you, Minister. You are a forward-thinking person. The chairperson, hon Magadla, then proposed in her input that the NCOP should play a critical role. I think that is also appropriate, because quite a number of proposals have come out today and I hope the NCOP, as challenged by hon Magadla, is going to put together the ideas and ensure that a programme comes out as a result. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our ANC-led government on hosting Cop 17. Climate change affects all of us in the world, especially the most vulnerable in our communities, who are the women and children. This has been witnessed in many parts of the developing world, such as the famine devastating experienced in the Horn of Africa. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon members and comrades, I will be speaking about cultural practices and quasi-customs that directly affect the lives of women and children specifically.
Any discussion of custom must start off by pointing out the difficulties and limitations inherent in the idea of custom itself. The main source of information about indigenous custom before colonisation is our oral tradition. This means that systems of oral custom have the ability to allow forgotten rules to sink into oblivion, while simultaneously accepting new rules to take their place. In addition to its link with both contemporary and ancient practice, the rules of custom can sometimes overlap and contradict one another without detracting from their legitimacy as customary tradition.
The practice of ukuthwala, or child abduction and forced marriage, originates from Xhosa customs of arranged marriage. The intending bridegroom, together with one or two friends, would waylay the intended bride in the neighbourhood of her own home and forcibly take her to the young man's home. Sometimes the girl would be caught unawares but, in many instances, she would be caught according to a plan and an agreement between her parents and the groom's parents.
On the day of ukuthwala, those who had effected the ukuthwala were required to report to the girl's home that her parents need not be worried as the girl was safe with them. The girl would immediately have been placed in the midst and care of the womenfolk and would have been treated with the utmost kindness and respect. This was one of the treatments meant to induce her to choose to go ahead with the marriage and be part of the caring family that performed ukuthwala on her. A friendly relationship would be established between the two families and the status of the girl would immediately be elevated to that of young wife. When ukuthwala took place and there was no offer of marriage, custom dictated that a fine of one beast would be imposed, the girl would be returned home to her parents and there would be no marriage.
The practice was used for a number of purposes. These included forcing the father of the girl to give consent; hastening matters if the woman was pregnant; persuading the woman of the seriousness of the intent to marry her; or avoiding payment of lobola.
Sadly, this is not how the custom is currently being practised. It has degenerated into a practice where men sometimes force young girls and their families into marriage negotiations by making them participate in sexual acts, mostly against their will. This is a corrupted version and a distortion of an age-old tradition and custom which does not reflect the actual practices of traditional communities. This practice increases the risk of HIV infection, particularly where the perception persists that sleeping with a virgin is a cure for HIV.
Ukuthwala has come under scrutiny for endangering the lives of many young females by forcing them to engage in sexual acts with men who in many cases are up to 20 years their senior. The large age difference, more extensive sexual history of the men and coercive circumstances make the negotiation of safer-sex options for the girls very difficult. Ukuthwala has also come under scrutiny from the SA Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities as being a cover-up for the abduction and rape of young women.
In a meeting of the Minister of Social Development and the House of Traditional Leaders with traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape, it was stressed that this practice never involved - and should not involve - children. The current practice, when it involves girls between 12 and 15 years old, directly and indirectly impacts on their development, education, life skills and risk of exposure to early pregnancy and HIV and Aids.
The Department of Social Development has strategies for early intervention against this form of gender-based violence: Children who are identified as being vulnerable or at risk of harm are removed into alternative care. These prevention and early-intervention programmes attempt to focus on retaining the family unit, developing appropriate parenting skills, providing psychological and therapeutic services for the children as well as preventing future neglect, exploitation and abuse.
However, challenges include the fact that many arrangements that are being made with parental consent are not reported. Fortunately an integrated awareness campaign has been conducted by the Department of Social Development and the police on the legislation protecting women and children, emphasising that failure to adhere to the law will result in prosecution.
This matter relates to the rights of children as set out in the Constitution, as well as the Domestic Violence Act, Act 116 of 1998; the Criminal Law Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007; the Criminal Law Amendment Act, Act 105 of 1997; the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996; and the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, Act 120 of 1998. The Children's Act specifies that a child has the right not to be subjected to social, cultural and religious practices that are detrimental to his or her wellbeing. A child below the minimum age of marriage may not be married or engaged, nor may a child above the minimum age be married or engaged without his or her consent. Chapter 7 of this Act focuses on the protection of children and would regard ukuthwala as exploitation, while Chapter 17 focuses on child abduction, giving effect to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.
The rights of children as set out in the Constitution, the United Nations Convention and the African Charter must be upheld at all times. Child protection must be child-centred, with decisions and actions being taken in the child's best interests. All services must be aligned with the principles of Batho Pele and ubuntu.
Another abominable practice against women that is labelled as custom or tradition but cannot be condoned is that of the burning of so-called witches. This phenomenon, which has become a national scourge, according to the Commission for Gender Equality, has its centre in the poverty-stricken Limpopo province. Witch-hunting is closely tied not only to prevailing superstitions but also to socioeconomic pressures, natural disasters and personal jealousies. Hunger, poverty and unemployment can create jealousies that can quickly turn to anger and vengeance which, in turn, lead to ritual killings related to witchcraft. Such ritual murders often bring retribution against innocents accused of witchcraft. Especially vulnerable are defenceless elderly women, against whom such action is taken without resistance.
This brings me to another abhorrent practice that does not deserve the title of tradition or custom, and that is killing, especially children, for muti purposes. The word "muti" derives from the Zulu word for medicine and involves the use of human body parts and vital organs to produce medicine. It has its origin in a deep-rooted cultural belief that body parts make the medicine more effective and able to solve any problem, from poverty to health issues, and increase the luck and health of the person who consumes it.
Most muti victims are innocent children who are lured, murdered and dismembered. Children are primary targets because they are weaker and defenceless against attacks. Young children are also targeted because it is believed that, due to their young age, they have used up very little of their good luck and health.
Numbers are difficult to collect because the investigation of muti murders is complex and difficult to undertake. They are shrouded in a code of silence because people are fearful of speaking out, which allows the practice to continue with little or no consequences for the perpetrators. Many witnesses do not come forward as they are afraid that the muti murderers will seek revenge upon them.
Something must be done to improve conditions. People must be provided with alternatives to muti medicine because many muti murders are the result of a lack of access to professional medicines and health care. Citizens must be informed of the criminal aspects of muti medicine and of its ineffectiveness. With an informed public, action can be taken to prevent further muti killings and to provide alternative forms of health care. Innocent lives are being lost because of the belief that being anointed with another person's organs and body parts will provide power, health and luck. United and educated communities can help put an end to muti murders and killings.
In conclusion, South Africa is party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which requires states to eliminate gender discrimination. The Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa enjoins states and parties to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of women and men with a view to achieving the elimination of harmful cultural and traditional practices. The protocol contains several references to the obligation to eradicate violence against women. The South African Bill of Rights protects women's rights to gender equality and to bodily and psychological integrity. South Africa therefore has both international and constitutional obligations to eradicate violence against women and to create effective legal mechanisms to protect women against violence. Wherever reference is made to women, one can obviously add the word "children" because they are as vulnerable, if not more so, than women. [Applause.]
Chair, hon Minister Lulu Xingwana, hon Deputy Minister Sotyu and hon members, good afternoon. I would like to start by presenting the following facts on domestic violence in South Africa.
Statistics on violence indicate the following facts: A woman is most likely to be killed and raped by a person she knows. The 2010-11 crime statistics indicate an increase in the number of reported rape cases from 55 097 to 56 272. A 2010 study conducted by Gender Links and the SA Medical Research Council reports that, on average, 25% of South African women will experience rape in their lifetime. The SA Police Service Crime Report for 2010-11 shows that 75% of rapes and 90% of assaults occur among people who know one another, as the Deputy Minister of Police said earlier in this honourable House.
Across the globe, when conflicts have ended, small arms often end up in the hands of criminals. Southern Africa in particular is awash with small arms that flow easily across the borders. The instability in Zimbabwe, the history of conflict in Mozambique and the relative ease with which arms can cross the borders of Botswana have no doubt made the proliferation of arms very easy.
The history of violence in South Africa also plays its role in the gun culture that has emerged and started to creep into the private domestic domain. The relative peace that South Africa enjoys today has come at a price.
The collapse of the militaristic and warmongering apartheid state, which specialised in undermining regimes and providing arms to Contra-style rebels, has left a significant proportion of arms in the hands of civilians and former combatants. While a large number of arms have been collected from civilians and eventually destroyed, many arms still remain in the hands of civilians and former combatants within Southern Africa.
These small arms are often traded on illicit markets and eventually find their way into our society and into our homes. As such, they become a threat to safety not only in the larger community but also in the private sphere of the home itself. Robberies, armed housebreakings, rapes, car hijackings and, ultimately, murders are committed using small arms that have found their way into South African society.
The culture of increased violence in South Africa threatens the very fabric of society itself. The fact that South Africa is still one of the states with a high rate of civilian violence also plays its role. According to research conducted by Ruchita Beri from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, the proliferation of small arms has played a major role in robberies, rapes, hijackings, gangsterism and taxi violence. The increased circulation of pistols and revolvers has played a very big role in the violence increasingly permeating the domestic sphere.
It is not only unlicensed firearms that are wreaking havoc on our communities. The "house gun" - a leftover from apartheid South Africa - continues to play a destructive role in the South African home. We have heard many times of the "house gun" causing tragedy in the home, either as a result of domestic altercations that eventually degenerated into violence or as a result of accidents that occurred after children had gained access to the "house gun", bringing about untold misery in the home.
Many women and children have ended up being the victims of the very guns that were supposed to protect them in the home. It has often been the case that guns, licensed or not, have destroyed those they were meant to protect. In many of these cases a history of domestic violence was prevalent in the home. Until we move to a position of accepting and accelerating equality between men and women, the scourge of domestic violence will continue to blight our homes. The fight for justice, freedom and equality cannot be divorced from the fight for the rights of women.
The demand for guns in the household is created by a perception that communities are under siege. This is one of the factors that contribute towards the increase in licensed gun ownership. The belief that the presence of a firearm in the home increases one's level of safety reflects a very disturbing trend in our society. The mentality that has gripped South African society has resulted in many private security firms using firearms and promising immediate armed response. We thus have a society in which guns are normalised as a way of life. Indeed, in such a society it slowly becomes imprinted on the minds of our children that guns are a way of life and one cannot be safe without a gun. It becomes rooted in people's minds that guns solve problems.
The SAPS Crime Report of 2010-11 indicates that there has been a steady decline in crimes committed against women and children. However, we rightly remain concerned that crime against women and children has not been fully managed. With regard to crime classification, the kinds of assault known as grievous bodily harm, common assault and sexual offences remain very high in comparison to other forms of crime. We can thus deduce that we remain a highly violent society, one that is more likely to use violence to resolve disputes and address challenges. More often than not the victims are women and children.
According to the police's crime research and statistics, approximately 70% to 80% of murders, 60% of attempted murders, 75% of rapes and 90% of assaults occur among people who know one another. There can be no doubt that small arms play a role in most of these cases.
The ANC-led government's response - the establishment of the Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, which is led by Ms Xingwana - has been correct. The people had spoken and so it was that at the 52nd conference of the ANC a resolution was adopted that we needed to have a special Ministry to focus specifically on issues that affected the most vulnerable in society. We also rely on the Justice cluster to ensure that we make the world a safer place in all aspects, particularly for our women and children.
In conclusion, let us as a country start having these debates. Let us talk about what we can rightly expect from government as the custodian of what it means to be a South African. What are the responsibilities that the state has towards our sense of safety, and what are the responsibilities that we as citizens have towards the state? [Applause.]
Modulasetulo, Letona, Mme Lulu Xingwana, Motlatsa Letona, Mme Sotyu le maloko a Makgotla a Tshebetso a tswang Mabatoweng, Modulasetulo, dibui tse ngata di se di buile ka ntlha ena ya tlhekefetso ya bomme le bana. Ha ke sheba, ho tloha sebuing sa pele e leng Lulu Xingwana ho fihlela jwale, ke bona re ntse re bua dintho tse tshwanang e ka re entse dipatlisiso tse tshwanang ho tloha tokomaneng e le nngwe hobane kaofela re bua tlhekefetso ena ya bomme le bana ka mekgahlelo e fapafapaneng.
Ha o sheba ho na le ntho e bitswang tlhekefetso mmeleng, maikutlong kapa moruong. Hobaneng bomme ba dula kgatellong tse tjena? O tla fumana hore mme o ile a hlekefetswa lenyalong ho thwe mme o ngalla motsheo. Ha ke so ka ke ya lenyalong, moo Modulasetulo, ke ileng ka utlwa hothwe ha monna a ho shapa, o ilo mo tshwarisa empa nako le nako hothwe ha monna a ho shapa o lokela ho ngalla motsheo. Ana ke eng eo re e susumetsang? Ka mantswe a mang ke setso. Kgalekgale setsong ho ne hothwe ha monna a ho shapa o se ke wa baleha lelapeng hobane o tlile moo ho tla aha motse, jwale o tlamehile ho dula ntlung.
Dintho tsena ke tse ding tse etsang hore le kajeno, rona re le setjhaba se setsho hangata re dula mona leha o utlwa hore seta se a ho tjhesa, feela o ntse o dutse maemong a jwalo bitsong la hore o aha motse, o aha lelapa. Ke tsona dintho tsena tseo qetellong o fumana hore bomme le bana ba hlekefetswa.
Taba e nngwe Motlatsa Modulasetulo, eo ke batlang ho e akgela hobane bongata bo se bo builwe ke dibui tse ding, ke tlhekefetso ya bomme ka lebollo. Hangata e ne e etsahala mane Limpopo jwalokaha Kgosi e se e buile empa ha a e ama. Ke ne ke nahana hore Kgosi o tla e ama. Taba ena ya hore bomme ba ya lebollong eo ka Sekgowa e bitswang ... (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.)
[Mr B A MNGUNI: Chairperson, Minister, Mrs Lulu Xingwana, Deputy Minister Mrs Sotyu, and members of the executive councils from provinces, most speakers have already spoken on the issue of abuse of women and children. When you look, from the first speaker who was Lulu Xingwana until now, I realize that we are all saying the same things as though we conducted the same investigations from the same document, because we are all talking about abuse of women and children at different levels.
If you look there is something called "physical, emotional or economic abuse". Why do women stay under such oppression? You find that a woman has been abused in her marriage but she is not expected to leave her home. I have never been to a marriage, Chairperson, where I heard that when your husband abuses you, you should have him arrested. But time and again they say you should never leave home. What is it that we are encouraging? In other words, it is a cultural thing. In the past, culturally it was expected that when your husband abuses you, you must not flee to your parents' house because you went there to start your own family, therefore you must stay in your house.
These are some of the things that even today cause us as black people to stay in a marriage even though it is not comfortable, but you stay in such a situation with the notion that you are building a home. These are the sorts of things that in the end cause women and children to be abused.
The other issue, Chairperson, that I would like to mention - because a lot has been mentioned by other speakers - is women abuse by circumcision. It used to happen a lot in Limpopo; the Chief who has just spoken did not touch on it. The issue of women going for circumcision, which in English is called ...]
... female circumcision ...
... ke e nngwe ya dintho tseo e leng ho tlhekefetswa ha bomme. Ke ntho e nngwe ya setso eo e sa leng teng hobane hothwe o tlamehhile o ikobele monna kapa molao. Jwalokaha leloko le tswang KwaZulu-Natal, Mme Roopnarain a boletse hore ha se hore ntho ena ke setso, empa e teng mahlakoreng oohle, ho sa kgathatsehe hore o moAfrika kapa lekgowa, e ntse e le teng.
Ha re hopola hore dinakong tsa rona tsa kgale, le ha ho hlaha thope, o ne o utlwa motho a re: (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.)
[... is one of the things that are abusive to women. It is one of the cultural aspects which have always been there, because they say you must humble yourself towards your husband or culture. As a family from KwaZulu- Natal, Mrs Roopnarain has mentioned that this is not because it's a cultural thing, but it exists in all societies. Irrespective of whether you are African or European, it is also there.
When we thing back to the good old times, when a man saw a woman, he would say:]
Nongenawo ubhasikidi uyangena emakethe. [Everyone gets what he or she wants.] Dintho tseo e ne e le setso nakong eo re neng re hola empa ka lebaka la hore ... [Those things were cultural during the time when we were growing up but ...]
... there are changes in society.
Leha o ya lekeisheneng kajeno, o utlwa bashemane ba re: "Eish, ngwana enwa o pakile", e ntse e le yona ntho ya hore ... [Even when you go to the townships today, you hear boys saying: "Eish, this chick is voluptuous." It is still a matter of ...]
Nongenawo ubhasikidi uyangena emakethe ... [Everyone gets what he or she wants ...]
... empa e nka ... [... but it takes ...]
... different forms.
Re etsa jwang re le setjhaba hore re rute batho ba rona, bana ba ntseng ba hola, bashemane le banana, ba dikolong hore ba hlokomele ntho ena ya hlekefetso ba sa ntsane ba le banyenyane hore ha ba hola ba bone hore ha ke etsa tjena, ke tlhekefetso kapa ke tlola molao jwale.
Modulasetulo, ho na le ntho ena hothweng ... (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.) [What do we do as a nation to educate our people, the ones who are still growing up, boys and girls who are still at school, to be aware of abuse at an early age, so that when they grow up they realise that when they do that, it is abuse, or that they are now breaking the law.
Chairperson, there is this thing called ...
... there is too much emphasis on keeping relationships together. People who stay together for the sake of the children are delusional. We are not supposed to do that. In most cases you will find that a wife will stay in a relationship because it's a long-standing one. However, nothing is worth living with an abusive partner.
The issue of domestic violence should be raised and addressed among teens. They might have supportive families and might not really understand what is happening out there, so domestic violence should be highlighted at schoolgoing age as a no-no, along with drugs and alcohol.
Ha re se re tla nneteng, Modulasetulo, ke e shebise ho Letona la Sepolesa hore re ke ke ra kgona hore ho be le lepolesa ntlo le ntlo ho sheba hore na bomme kapa bana ha ba hlekefetswe, empa re tshwanetse ho etsa hore bona batho bana ba hlekefetswang, ba nke boikarabelo. Ha motho a hlekefetswa, a bone hore o a tlaleha sepoleseng. Ha a sa tlalehe, ho be le nomoro ya mohala ya mahala moo a tlang ho letsetsa teng hore a bule nyewe. Haeba ho na le khamera katlung, a nke ditshwatsho ho bontsha moo a shapuweng, ho etsahetseng, a bolelle metswalle le baahisane ba hae hore o ya tetekwa ka mona ho etsetsa hore ho se ho uwa lekgotleng la dinyewe, ho be le bopaki bo tletseng hore motho enwa ke nnete, o tetekilwe ke mohlankana kapa monna wa hae.
Ha re etsa jwalo, re tla kgona hore dinyewe tsena tsa hlekefetso ka mohlomong re di fokotse, leha re ke ke ra kgona ho di fokotsa kaofela hobane ha re tsebe ho etsahalang ka matlung a rona bosiu. Ka mantswe ao, Modulasetulo, ke re kgomo ha e nye bolokwe kaofela. [Mahofi.] (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.)
[If we are to tell the truth, Chairperson, I should point out to the Minister of Police that we won't be able to have a policeman for every household in order to see that women and children are not abused, but we should see to it that the very people who are abused take responsibility. If someone is abused they should report it to the police. If they don't report it, there should be a toll-free landline which they can call and open a case. If there is a camera at home they should take photos to show where they have been assaulted, and what happened, tell their friends and neighbours that they are abused so that when the matter goes to court there is evidence to prove that indeed this person has been abused by her boyfriend or husband.
If we do that, perhaps we might just be able to reduce the number of abuse cases, even if we are not able to do away with all of them, because we don't know what is happening in people's homes at night. With those words, Chairperson, I would like to conclude here and leave the rest for another time.]
This is to remind members of Rule 31(a), which says that a member of the Council may not pass between the Chair and a member addressing the Chair. You may not pass through, according to Rule 31(a).
Chairperson, let me acknowledge the presence of hon Minister Lulu Xingwana, hon Deputy Minister Sotyu, hon MECs and hon members of the NCOP.
Ke nnete gore go na le di le dintsi tse di rerilweng mo Ntlong eno ya NCOP le di le dinnye fela tse re ka di buang. Fa re lebelela gore rona jaaka Maaforikaborwa re simolotse leng go keteka letsholo leno la malatsi a le 16 a ipelaetso kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya basadi le bana, re e simolotse ka 1999 mme fa re e simolola, go ne gona le kgatelelo ya gore ke goreng re sa keteke malatsi mo ngwageng otlhe gonne ... (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[It is true that there are so many things that have been planned by the NCOP but there are few things that we can talk about. If we take a look at when we as South Africans started the campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, it was in 1999. When we started this campaign, concerns were raised as to why we could not embark on this campaign throughout the year ...]
... because violence does not only take place between 25 November and 10 December. Why don't we commemorate - if that is the right word - this particular campaign throughout the year? On 8 March 2007, a 365 Day National Action Plan to End Gender Violence was launched with the aim of increasing awareness and stopping the continuing violence against women and children. It is now four years after that particular launch and when we try to reflect on what we have achieved, it becomes very difficult because the carnage continues - our children are abused, our women are abused.
Let me raise a few issues that affect the province I am from: Mpumalanga. It has 3,66 million people and about 51,7% of them are female. When you look at the demographics of the province, 71,4% of the population is youth, in other words people younger than 34. When you look at unemployment, in the second quarter of 2011 the province was rated as having the highest unemployment rate, which was at 30,4%. Most of its citizens depend on social grants.
When you look at the crime statistics for the province, there has been a general decline, but some categories of crime have consistently remained high. At the top of that list is sexual crime. Looking at the period from 2003-04 to 2010-11, the number of sexual crimes has increased. When you look at the reasons for this increase, and when we do outreach in the province and into our communities, we realise that most sexual crimes are committed within families.
... Bomalome ba loma ditlogolo ... [Uncles abuse their nieces ...]
... and when you ask them why they don't report such cases, they say that has been the practice since time immemorial. The uncles will always sleep with the nieces. When you look at other family members who are also victims, you will find they are the ones who are disabled; who can't say much; who are more vulnerable and have no means of living. They cannot report the perpetrator because he is the breadwinner.
We must also note that this is the province where the prevalence of HIV/Aids is the second highest in the country, at 34,7%, so we actually need to do a lot in that particular respect.
The second-highest crime statistic is drug-related crime. Strangely enough, in the 2003-04 financial year, we had only 1 314 drug-related crimes and now, in 2010-11, we have 3 178. This is more than double - and we are talking about a period of five years. This is very disturbing for a rural province such as Mpumalanga.
... Le rona kwa magaeng ga se paje fela, re na le diritibatsi tse dingwe tse re di dirisang. [In our rural areas it is not only weed that is used, there are other drugs that are also being used.]
Kidnapping has increased from 149 cases in 2003-04 to 234 cases in 2010-11. And who gets kidnapped? It is the young children who will be the ones to disappear, taken by relatives to places beyond our borders and also to places such as Gauteng, where human trafficking abounds.
The use of drugs and alcohol has also increased, as is reflected in the number of people who are caught driving under the influence. When you look at all these figures and you relate them to the crime perpetrated against women and children, there is a very clear correlation.
We have a young community, with 71% being between the ages of 0 and 34. The kind of crime that is happening is related to drugs, alcohol and sex. As we move around the province, doing community outreach work, and when we engage some of the young people and ask them why they rape, they tell us that they rape as a form of entertainment since there are not enough sports facilities.
I am just trying to map out the route we have travelled since 1999 to now. What impact have we made on the country? We are aware that there are no quick-fix solutions for these social ills. We have various programmes as government, such as the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, which is there to try to encourage the creation of jobs. We have a number of social welfare programmes that are there to bring poverty alleviation to communities. We have come up with the National Drug Master Plan to try to address the issues of substance abuse. We are addressing the many liquor outlets that are prevalent in our communities. Some are next to schools, some are even next to churches, and there seems to be no control. We feel that if we are to make progress and talk about eliminating violence against women and children, we have to take these practical steps.
During the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, we are going to ... [Time expired.]
In conclusion, Madam Chair, I would like to express our support for the 16 Days campaign.
Hon House Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon MECs, hon members, the MEC for social development in the Western Cape stood up here and blamed national government for not helping with delivering service - but in the Western Cape the DA is in charge. They are in power. Now, the MEC and his counterpart, the MEC for community safety, go to communities and all they do is say, "Let's march, march, march. And march and march and march." [Interjections.] That is all they know in the DA now - march, march, march! They are in power. They have the resources. They have the utilities and resources to stop and help, but they go out to communities and say, "Let's march, march, march and march." They do not act. Today's theme is "Don't Look Away, Act Against Abuse". When are they going to act against abuse?
The MEC for community safety wants to fight with the Police Commissioner about power when the Constitution of South Africa says that the Police Commissioner deploys police and he controls the police - not the MEC for community safety. They want to negotiate with gangsters. They do not want to act, but they want to negotiate. We say, negotiate? You cannot negotiate with a gangster! The ANC says, "Act, act, act!" That is what the ANC says. The ANC says that criminals should be locked up. Criminals should be charged. You cannot go out there and negotiate ...
They are actors, yes!
... and you cannot ... That is what the DA members are: actors! You are so right, hon member Faber. [Interjections.] One of their own, a DA member, has now admitted that they are actors instead of people who do the actual work that should be done. [Interjections.] Now they come and blame national government. [Applause.] Why do they not act? Why do they not use their resources and utilities to act against this crime? [Interjections.]
Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. [Interjections.] I request that the previous speaker first read the report before he makes such unfounded comments. Thank you. [Interjections.] It is very clear that the speaker is quoting out of context and without understanding what is in the document. We heard something different from what he is saying here now. [Interjections.] Thank you.
You do not understand the Rules. [Interjections.]
That is not a point of order, hon member. [Interjections.] Hon Adams, you may continue.
Thank you, hon House Chair. The hon Joseph stays in Cape Town, on the Cape Flats, just like I do. Yet the hon Joseph was a councillor and he knows ...
Chair, I rise on a point of order: On a point of clarity, is the purpose of this debate for us to attack each other personally, or is it to address the issue of violence against women and the abuse of children? [Interjections.] I will not tolerate the hon comrade attacking me personally. I cannot accept it. I am sorry. [Interjections.]
What is the problem? You are out of order. [Interjections.]
You may continue, hon Adams.
Chair, with all due respect to the hon Joseph, this is not a personal attack. We stay in the Western Cape ... [Interjections.] ... and I am debating the abuse of women and children. The point is that the Western Cape claims that they are a government. The Western Cape even has its own constitution, which they are quick to quote from. The DA-controlled Western Cape comes to this House and attacks national government. They go on public platforms and attack the national government. Today their MEC said that the Police Commissioner ...
Madam Chair, I would like to know if the hon Adams would take a question.
HON MEMBERS: No! [Interjections.] Hayi, man! [No, man!] Take it, Freddie! [Interjections.]
Hon members, hon members! [Interjections.] Hon Freddie, are you able to take a question?
Chair, I have 10 minutes for my speech, so if I am done with my speech and there are minutes left, I will take a question. [Interjections.]
We are all ears.
Thank you, Chair. What we are saying to the DA is that they are the government. Stop blaming national government for everything that goes wrong. If something goes wrong in their party, they blame national government as well. Stop blaming national government and act! They have the power. They have the resources. [Interjections.]
The MEC came here and said that the Police Commissioner did not want to deploy special units, but there is a process in place. The Police Commissioner has explained the process. The provincial police commissioner has said, "This is the process and the way we should go." So, the ANC government has done a lot. The ANC government has also responded to the challenges.
Hon Bloem, do you have a point of order?
Chairperson, I have a request. Can the hon Mr Adams please lower his voice? [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, I learned that from the hon Bloem. Last week, when he was debating, he shouted like that. [Interjections.]
We are happy to note that the process is under way to re-establish specialised police units dealing with domestic and sexual offences and with other crimes against women and children. There are currently 17 established Thuthuzela Care Centres across the country in communities with a high incidence of sexual violence. These centres provide health and welfare services and initiate processes for the effective reporting and prosecuting of offences by qualified professionals in a dignified and caring environment.
The Directory of Services for Victims of Violence and Crime, which contains services provided by over 1 500 government and civil society organisations in all provinces, has been developed. The directory empowers people to access services that are available in their areas.
The ANC has done a lot, but a lot more still needs to be done. Those who live in glass houses must not come and throw stones. Those who are in power must use their power to stop the violence. They must use their power to stop the violence on farms. [Interjections.] They must use their power and not encourage the electorate to pay their domestic workers and their farm workers with the dop [tot] system, because that is where the violence comes in. [Interjections.] They must use their power to stop the dop system ... [Interjections.]... and to stop the drug scourge that is ruining our province. [Applause.] The MECs must not go to the media and blame national government.
The ANC's slogan is "Working together we can do more", but does the DA want to work together? No! The DA does not want to work together. [Interjections.] The DA wants to work as if the Western Cape were an island. [Interjections.] That is what they want to do! They do not want to work together. They don't have any plans to put on the table. [Interjections.]
At Minmec ... Maybe the Minister or the Deputy Minister can help me here, but I think at Minmec the MECs of the DA are all quiet. They go out to the newspapers and talk but they do not talk at Minmec, and now they want to go through the newspapers. [Interjections.] The MEC says that he will ask the national Minister through the newspaper ... [Interjections.] ... while women and children are hurting outside.
Madam Chair, this is also just a request: The hon Freddie said that after his speech I could ask a question. It seems that his speech has been over for a while now because he is just babbling. Is it possible for me to ask a question? [Interjections.]
Chairperson, is it parliamentary for a member to say that another member is babbling?
You still have time. You may continue.
Thank you, but I just want to ask this question: Is it parliamentary? I think the hon Faber ... You see, Minister and colleagues in the House, that is what the DA does instead of helping our poor people. Babies are being killed and dumped every day. Every day! [Interjections.] The MEC talks of a mind-set, but I wonder if the DA even has a mind-set, because it is black people doing these things. [Interjections.] Is it because it is happening to black and coloured people that they do not want to act? The MEC himself said in his speech earlier in this House that if it had been in Constantia, they would act. [Interjections.] If it had been in Constantia!
Hon House Chair, I would like the hon speaker, the hon Adams, to refrain from making racist comments here.
Hayi suka! [Get lost!] [Interjections.]
Chairperson, the hon Gunda is the last one to talk, because he is the ID in the DA stable.
HON MEMBERS: Ja! [Yes!] [Interjections.]
So, he should be the last one to talk. [Interjections.] The point is that the hon MEC said here in this House today that had it been in Constantia, the police would have acted quickly. But the hon MEC must tell the truth, because in Constantia they established neighbourhood watches. They fund neighbourhood watches in Constantia. They go out there and attend neighbourhood watch meetings, but they don't do that in Mitchells Plain. They don't do that in Nyanga, and they don't do that in Gugulethu, which is where the violence and the crime occur. [Interjections.] [Applause.] Why only in Constantia? Then he comes to this House and says, "Your national Police Commissioner this" or "Your provincial police commissioner that".
The police commissioner is doing his work. Lavender Hill is in my constituency - I just pick up the phone and then the commissioner deploys people there. But they want to tell the commissioner how to run the police - as if they are policemen, as if they know the Police Act, as if they are there to catch criminals! No, they go there and endanger people's lives - our women and children's lives - because they say, "Let's march, march, march, march, march." [Interjections.] They have no clear plan of action. [Interjections.] The ANC has a clear plan of action to fight this abuse. [Interjections.]
Hon Adams, there is a point of order.
Chair, I would like to ask a question. [Interjections.]
Hon members, order, please!
I would like to ask if it befits a former member of the National Party, the party that introduced the apartheid system, to speak like that? [Interjections.] He introduced apartheid - he and his National Party. [Interjections.] Now he speaks like that. [Interjections.] Now he speaks like that! [Interjections.] Former National Party people speak like that now in the ANC! [Interjections.]
On a point of order, Chair ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Hon Joseph, you must pose a question.
I asked if it befits a previous member of the National Party, which introduced the system of apartheid, to complain about other people. [Interjections.]
Hon members, we are wasting his time. Are you able to answer the question, hon Adams?
No, Chair. That is not a question. [Interjections.] The point is, Chair, with all due respect, the hon Joseph was either also a National Party member, or more than that - a Democratic Party member. [Interjections.] He was a DP member of the City of Cape Town that evicted our people; that put our people in Mitchells Plain; that cut off the water of our people; that cut off the electricity of our people ... [Interjections.] That is when the hon Joseph was a member - when people were being evicted. [Interjections.]
Chair, point of order, point of order, point of order! [Interjections.]
Hon Joseph, do you know that you are wasting hon Adams's time? [Interjections.] Are you aware of that?
Chair, with all respect, the member is making unfounded statements. I was never, ever in my life a member of the National Party. [Interjections.] I want to correct that. [Interjections.] Thank you. [Interjections.]
Chair, I really urge the two members - if they were members of the National Party - to go and fight their battles outside.
HON MEMBERS: Yes! [Interjections.]
Chairperson, I was saying that if he was not a member of the National Party, he was a member of the Democratic Party, which did even worse things to the people of the City of Cape Town. [Interjections.] Worse things! [Interjections.] I have seen the light, you know, like a man who has sinned and then seen the light. [Interjections.] [Applause.] I have walked over to the ANC. I have joined the ANC. [Interjections.] [Applause.] I am a reformed person. I am a born-again Christian of the ANC! [Applause.] I am no longer in the dark, like the hon Joseph and the hon Fritz and those who are sitting there! [Interjections.]
The fact of the matter is that we are saying to the DA, "Don't look away, act against abuse." [Interjections.] Use your powers in the Western Cape. [Interjections.] Help the communities of the Western Cape and act. Stop blaming the national departments! [Interjections.] [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Madam Chair, can you bring the meeting to order, please? I rise on a point of order: Firstly, please will you control this meeting? In terms of the Rules, members are not allowed to speak louder than you can hear. Please could you ... [Interjections.]
Point of order, Madam Chair ... [Interjections.]
On a second point of order ... Madam Chair, I have the floor! [Interjections.]
Chair, I apologise if I have raised my voice. [Interjections.]
Hon Lees, you yourself are out of order. [Interjections.] Will you please sit down? And hon Adams ... [Interjections.]
No, Madam Chair. I have the floor. [Interjections.] In terms of Rule 46 ...
A point of order! [Interjections.]
Oh, please, just go back to work!
No, hon members! I now call upon the hon Minister Xingwana. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Thank you, Chairperson and hon members. I want to thank all the members who have responded very positively ... [Interjections.]
Members are not listening to you! [Interjections.] That is what the Chairperson allows, I am afraid.
Order, hon Lees, I am the one who is in charge here in this House, not you. [Interjections.] Please continue, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: I want to thank all the members who have made a valuable contribution to this very important debate. I do think that the issue of women and children is not a political game, hon member. It is not a political football. I do appreciate the fact that all members took the topic and presented their views and inputs in a manner that fits with the seriousness of this debate.
I just want to say that the ANC-led government indeed takes the matter of women, children and people with disabilities very seriously. This is why a Ministry was created to mainstream and monitor the rights of children, women and persons with disabilities. I also think it cannot just be government alone that addresses the critical matter of the scourge of abuse and violence against women and children. All of us must speak together and fight this scourge. Whether we belong to the "Congress of the Courts" or the DA, or to the ANC, we all have a responsibility.
A point of order, Chairperson: It seems as if the hon Minister cannot read or understand. It is the "Congress of the People". Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: I don't know, Chairperson. The Congress of the People has no leader. We are still waiting for the "Congress of the Courts" to tell us who the actual leader is.
Hon members, what is going on today? [Interjections.] Why are you so crazy? [Laughter.] Hon Bloem?
Chairperson, very seriously, the Minister is provoking this type of behaviour. If the Minister concentrated on her response, we wouldn't be acting this way. I will not respond to her. All I'm saying is that she should not provoke other people. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: I would also like to thank, first of all, the MEC and all the MECs who have responded here. I'm very happy to see the MEC for social development from the Western Cape. I would like to make a special plea to him, particularly on behalf of people with disabilities, children and women. At the beginning of this month, on 5 November, we held national Children's Day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. When we hold national events, the only province that does not attend is the Western Cape. The children of the Western Cape don't know the Union Buildings. All the other children of South Africa were there, sent by their premiers and MECs to go and participate in national Children's Day in preparation for the Conference on Climate Change, which will be held in Durban on 29 November.
I also want to make an appeal to Ministers regarding people with disabilities. Last year, on 25 November, I was in Khayelitsha with the hon Premier Zille. We were going door to door, visiting the homes of abused women and children and people with disabilities. She visited the home of an 81-year-old woman who lived in a shack that had no water, electricity or toilet. People just kicked in the door and entered to steal her food. She's blind and can't even see who has taken her food. Today she is still living in that shack. [Interjections.] The hon premier promised that they would quickly ensure that she got a house.
Dit is ? skande! [That is a disgrace!]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: We also visited a couple, Mr and Mrs Kwinana of Khayelitsha, who are also living in a shack. They are both in wheelchairs. They have an 11-year-old son who has to take the bucket because there is no toilet in the shack, nor water or electricity. [Interjections.] The 11-year-old child has to look after these two disabled people. He takes the bucket because there is no toilet in the vicinity. The nearest toilet is in another section of Khayelitsha.
Therefore, I want to voice an appeal. I know that I went there and said we would do what we could as government. Unfortunately, I'm not the MEC for housing. We have spoken to the MEC for human settlements, Mr Bonginkosi Madikizela, but nothing has been done. The rains are coming and those people are going to be living in that shack until I don't know when. The MEC said he wanted to put them on a waiting list. It could take two years, I don't know. I'm just raising that issue and I hope that social development will send social workers there, because an 11-year-old child cannot look after parents who are completely disabled.
I want to agree with hon members who were saying we must fight together to stop the scourge of abuse and violence against women and children and people with disabilities. In many institutions, even those under government, people with disabilities are abused, especially those with intellectual disabilities. Women and girls are raped and they can't even give a statement about who raped them. I'm appealing to all the provinces and saying, let's work together. Let's look at those institutions and monitor what is going on there.
I want to agree with my MEC sitting there that we really need to fight the backlog in cases of abuse against women, children and lesbian women, who have to wait for the courts for a very long time. Finding a way of speeding up these cases is a matter that we are discussing with Minister Jeff Radebe.
We must also fight the scourge of the murder of elderly women. All of us are going to be ugly when we get old. People will then come and say you are a witch. What is funny is that it's only women who "become witches". I have not seen a man who is old and ugly being called a witch. Therefore it is gender-based violence. It is the women who look after grandchildren, orphans and so on, and they are the ones who are killed and burnt alive in those houses.
On the issue of ukuthwala, let us not glorify practices that are abusive to women. There is no Xhosa tradition called ukuthwala; there is no Zulu tradition called muti. These are satanic and evil practices that are meant to abuse women and children in this country. We must declare them as such and denounce them, reject them and ensure that in our laws and wherever we are, we fight these evil practices. I don't remember it being said in the olden days that you need to kill someone to be a great or good traditional healer. There is nothing like that. This is simple murder. We cannot glorify it and say it is a kind of traditional practice.
Regarding the police, we appreciate the work that the Minister and his department are doing. Many of our policemen are killed on duty, trying to defend our communities and women and children. They leave behind widows and young children as dependants. I want to commend the Minister for initiating support for these police members and their families by ensuring that those orphans are also given bursaries so that they can go to school. I also want to call on all of us, when we think about women and children who are suffering from abuse, also to support the families of police who have died on duty.
Finally, regarding teenage pregnancy I want to say that I support the MEC's call for antinarcotic units to come back, not only in the Western Cape but all over the country.
EmaMpondweni phaya kutshaywa intsangu, kuthengiswa neziyobisi. [In Pondoland they smoke dagga, and they sell drugs.]
All over the country, even in the rural areas, we now find drugs galore. With drugs come high levels of abuse, rape and the abuse of children. I think we need to revive these police units as soon as possible.
On teenage pregnancy, I want to say teachers who are involved must be charged. We must report them. We must work with the department of Education to charge teachers if they are responsible for impregnating children. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister, your time has expired.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Thank you very much. I just want to close by saying I trust that all the members who are here, the men, will be the kind of men who set an example in our communities. I hope they will teach our sons that real men do not abuse women; that real men love and respect women. I hope that all of us will go to Cop 17, especially women, because climate change will impact more directly on women and children.
Enjoy your festive season, have a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2012, until we meet again. Malibongwe! [Praise!] [Applause.]
Before I proceed, hon members, I would like to caution you that a request for a point of order should not be used to respond to a member's speech. Any request for a point of order that does not comply with the Rules will not be allowed.
Debate concluded.