We must be like those women of 1913, 1956 and 1959, who fought fearlessly against the abuse of human rights. They never feared death. We must stand up and speak out against these horrible, abusive employers.
Dink net daaraan. Om die dop in jou le maag te sit sonder kos is verskriklik! [Applous.] [Just think about it. Putting that alcohol in your stomach without food is terrible! [Applause.]]
In an incident as recent as 7 March 2011, a grandmother was assaulted by an official of the department of social development in the Western Cape when he called her a kaffir. She works as a messenger in this department. She was pulled by her arm into the official's office and questioned about letters to be delivered outside the building. She defended herself by explaining her lines of duty and he started calling her derogatory names. This is totally unacceptable. If things like this are still happening, we are definitely far from reaching the goals of what the women of 1913 and the ANC fought for.
According to my Bible, we were all created equal, and I quote from Genesis, chapter 1, verses 26 to 28:
All men and women are created in the image of God and given dominion to rule over the creatures of the earth.
It never said all farmers or men only.
House Chair, as for the women of the ANC who laid the foundation, I am appealing that we should again lay the foundation to make sure that the remaining recognition of women's human rights in the economy, politics, religion and domestic situations are realised and increased. We do have the tools.
As we celebrate this Human Rights Day, we cannot but be conscious of the fact that every woman in South Africa, irrespective of her race, class, religion, language or political affiliation, has something in common, namely her fear and risk of being the victim of gender-related violence. Neither social status, economic empowerment nor political affiliation ensures a woman's safety. Violence against women is pervasive, systematic and knows no race, class or cultural barriers. Violence against women acts as an instrument of control over women, to maintain inequality, just as apartheid was used to control black people.
Chair, according to research, the following facts about violence against women persist: The home is the most dangerous place for women; the perpetrators of gender violence are often known to women and may be their partners, fathers, uncles, employers and acquaintances, or they may be total strangers; and most women remain in abusive relationships due to financial dependence on a partner. I know of various situations where women are still being raped and killed, when they live alone, or are elderly and are murdered by their own.
On Morning Live this morning, two young orphan girls told of how they were lured to Johannesburg with promises of a better life. Once there, they were instead shown a pornographic movie, and ordered to do the same afterwards. These are the things we will not keep quiet about until our rights and integrity are respected. [Time expired.] [Applause.]