Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Meshoe, I read that story as well. I took time to read it very carefully because I found it quite shocking and harrowing that a 91-year-old woman could be so traumatised and abused by her own 53-year-old son. Now, he is standing trial. The justice system has kicked in. As you have said, he is going to seek to apply for bail.
Clearly, the issue of granting bail is a magistrate's prerogative, but we have sent a clear message to the prosecuting authority, the NPA and all those that from now on, we need to be opposing bail where people who are suspected to have participated in sexual violence and acts of crime appear, whether it is rape, murder or femicide. So, we are hoping that it kicks in.
However, more than that, the91-year-old gogo will be assisted by these social workers that I was talking about. The social workers that we are now going to bringing in will be funded by this R1,6 billion and will be on hand to give her assistance. Apart from these social workers, there will also be psychologists and psychiatrists who will give her counselling.
Also, we will be setting more and more Thuthuzela Centres around the country to make sure that those who seek refuge, like this 91-year-old mama can go there to get assistance and support from people who are well trained. Clearly and obviously one of the things we have to do is to look at her own social situation - to look at the
challenges that she is facing. Our social workers should be able to do that.
More than that, we obviously need to embark on prevention measures and interventions. It is through prevention and it is through as I have been challenging even people in the faith-based sector, that we should all of us be participating in preaching the message, ensuring that there is more and more prevention. That those who have little understanding of what gender- based violence is: patriarchy and male chauvinism is. Get a better understanding of it!
We obviously want to focus on the boy-child; but we also have to focus on older men as well. So, the prevention message needs to go out more and more. This programme that - and I am glad to say - the women of our country have come up with is an overarching programme that is going to answer and address all these issues. So, I have put myself in front of that old lady and I have said: What is it that we can do as government. As you asked the question, I have asked myself precisely that.
I have said, what we need to lay out to her is that we are a caring and sensitive government. We are going to be there to support her, and we are also going to mobilise a number of other organisations to be there to give her as much support as we possible can. I hope that the religious or the faith-based sector that you are a part of, hon member, you will be able to ensure that she is given the support that she needs. Thank you very much. [Applause.]