Chair and members, I spent yesterday in a public hearing dealing with the Domestic Violence Act. It was a harrowing experience listening to the sad accounts of what has happened in women's lives, and I'm sorry that our Minister isn't here today to listen to our debate.
It is obvious that gender-based violence is destroying individuals and communities. South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world in which all citizens are protected and entitled to basic necessities as well as having freedom of movement, expression, religious or sexual orientation. Pregnant women are provided with free health care and the right to terminate pregnancy. There are laws which make marital rape and violence illegal; laws which amend patriarchal customary traditions to ensure that women do not become property in marriage. And yet, according to the Medical Research Council, South Africa has the highest femicide rate in the world, with one woman being killed by her intimate partner every six hours. It also has the highest rape statistics for a country not at war, but the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders, Nicro, estimates that only one in 20 cases of rape are actually reported. Of reported cases, only 7% are successfully prosecuted.
According to the annual report of the SA Police Service for 2008-09, the number of crimes committed against women totalled 188 425. That's 516 crimes against women per day. Although acts of violence against women occur across all socioeconomic, racial and cultural divides, poverty is an important factor in gender equality. Financial dependence, as well as a lack of access to education and resources often trap women in violent and oppressive relationships. Entrenched patriarchal beliefs, the stigma surrounding abused women, rape and HIV/Aids make these laws meaningless for many. This is one of the reasons why the 16 Days of Activism is so important. We need to draw attention to the underlying problems and find solutions.
The Constitution of South Africa is a document of transformation intended to address social and economic inequalities of the past, to reconstruct society, to transform the unequal power relations and eradicate all forms of discrimination. Unequal power relations lie at the heart of domestic violence. Women are expected to be sexually available and submissive. Woman lack economic, political, social and religious power and this leaves them vulnerable. Men are brought up to be tough, to fight and not to show their feelings. Mothers, bring up yours sons to show care and respect for others.
Fifty-three percent of women have no income and are totally dependent, so poverty has become feminised. Because of gender oppression, women do not appear to have the same value as men in society, so this makes men think that they have the right to beat women. Recognising these problems, government developed the Victims' Charter, providing the right to be treated with fairness, respect, dignity and privacy and the right to receive protection, assistance, restitution and compensation.
This was a great step forward, but in our hearings we've been told that this does not work in practice. We heard how victims have struggled to get the SAPS to respond, either because there's no vehicle available, or because the officer feels that the incident is a minor quarrel aggravated by alcohol abuse. Victims are not informed of their rights or advised about protection orders. It's also been said that women must have deserved the beatings because they've been lazy or cheeky. Statements are often taken down incorrectly, because the police officers cannot speak the language of the complainants.
In one case that I know of, this led to the perpetrator being charged with assault instead of rape, and he was released. No crime kit was issued to the victim; no medical examination for rape was performed, nor was material sent away for forensic testing. Where is justice? Communication is vital. Officers must be able to speak the language of the area. Is there anyone to interpret in sign language for the deaf? Are female officers available in cases like these? Police must be sensitised and properly trained. Budgets need to be revised so that vehicles can be provided and adequate services rendered to all. The headlines in Tuesday's Beeld read: "Polisie het my verkrag. Ma van drie is deur beamptes aangeval. Hoekom help die SAPD nie?" [Police raped me. Mother of three attacked by officers. Why does the SAPS not help?]
The report continues to tell how the woman, a mother of three, was raped and beaten and her husband attacked by the police, and then also cites reasons given by the police why they couldn't help the couple. This is scandalous. Police must enforce the laws of the land; protectors must not become predators. Of course, not all police are like that. There are many dedicated, good and caring officers, but the rest must be investigated and retrained. We must eradicate the scourge of violence and commit ourselves to strengthening the SAPS and the judiciary. [Time expired.] [Applause.]