Hon Deputy Speaker, it is not enough to condemn the violence against African nationals as well as the gender- based violence, and then fold our arms. The time has come for us to take responsibility by formulating legislation to deal with these problems permanently.
There is a foreign hand in the African on African violence. The intention is to have South Africa isolated from the rest of the
continent. The situation is made worse by the climate of South Africans being dominated in their own informal sector also known as the micro economy. South Africans must be the dominant players in the economy of their own country.
The micro economy must be the signature of Proudly South African and thus must be ring-fenced for local participation. All foreign nationals must be considered for work in South Africa, SA, on a scarce and critical skills basis. It makes no sense for a person to be a waiter or a driver, whereas there are tons of South Africans who can do that job.
On the gender-based violence, we have had enough summits, marches, pickets, as well as the 16 Days of Activism. It is 21- years-old and the situation is getting worse as we have gender- based violence rate five times higher than the global average.
All medical centres including clinics must be accredited by SA Police Service, SAPS, centres where gender-based violence cases can be reported. Each police station must have officers that are specifically for gender- based violence cases. They must process,
collect evidence and investigate gender-based violence cases. These cases must be prioritised for swift prosecution.
We need to learn from Malawi and Tanzania which had a similar issue, but for them it was for the killing of people living with Albinism. Both countries have a death penalty for such murders as a commitment they have a zero tolerance for those crimes. We need a death penalty for gender-based violence for repeat offenders; these are unrepentant people who have shown they have no regard for human life.
The death penalty must be only for repeat offenders and after a High Court has handed a sentence it must go on automatic review to be heard by the full bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal and a senior counsel be provided by the state.
We can't keep having outrage and issue condolences because of criminals who rape and kill our sisters. If you kill people for a living you must be deemed to have revoked your right to life.
The state must not be soft and be a boyfriend to these animals. For oodadewethu bayaphela! [Our sisters are perishing.] What is more cruel is that the parents of Karabo and Courtney will be paying food, clothes, and security and comfort of these killers. Let us listen to the women who come to Parliament to protest on a yearly basis. Saying enough is enough is not enough. We need tougher laws. Thank you.