Thank you, Deputy Speaker. August 9, 2009 was the 53rd anniversary of the Women's March. This was the day when 20 000 women from all corners of South Africa staged a march on the offices of the then Prime Minister J G Strijdom, who was unable to receive them in the Union Buildings.
Those courageous women left numerous petitions containing over 100 000 signatures on the door of the Prime Minister's office. The message to the Prime Minister was that the women of South Africa would not rest until they had restored for their children their fundamental rights and freedom, justice and security.
Today, as we celebrate this women's month, they continue to face challenges in their lives. They face challenges of poverty, abuse and illiteracy. They are still victims of discrimination, oppression and suppression. Studies reveal that one in every four South African women is assaulted by her boyfriend or husband every week. One in every five women is battered by her partner.
The average woman stays in an abusive relationship for ten-and-a-half years before leaving. One in three women in South Africa will be raped. Only one out of every 25 women who are raped report it to the police. In 1993, 27 056 rapes were reported; only 8 988 were prosecuted. Thank you. [Time expired.]