Deputy Speaker, there is a massive disconnect between claiming that the protection of women and children is a priority in our country and actually making it so. There is a massive disconnect between claiming that 80% of murders are committed by someone known to the victim and actually solving the cases, and there is a massive disconnect between claiming that because we, hon members, have passed legislation in this House, we will make the lives of our citizens better, and it actually being implemented. We had such an example this week, as we heard of the plight of Ntombi Fikile Ngidi of New Germany. She ran from her husband, fearing he would shoot her. She told the police and asked them to accompany her back to her home so she could collect some clothes and belongings.
What did the police do? Did they search the husband or the house for the firearm? No. They simply asked him if he had one, he said no and that was good enough for them. She went into their bedroom, the husband followed, he pulled the gun from his belt and shot her dead right there with the police sitting in the lounge and her three children hearing every sound. The husband died in custody and the orphans went to be raised by a relative. We passed the legislation here in the House, but when our SAPS members don't take it seriously, when a woman is treated as an inconvenient liar and the man as someone who automatically tells the truth, well, that is the massive disconnect.
Ntombi Fikile Ngidi is dead today because the police did not do what they are paid to do. They believed a man over a woman. They lounged outside allowing a man from whom she had fled in terror to enter the bedroom and shoot her dead. So how does such a man, with murder in his heart, get his hands on a firearm? Well he didn't have a licence, not that he would have been prevented from obtaining one. When a woman reports that she is threatened or beaten by her husband or partner, this is supposed to be entered into the domestic violence register. On the committee and my personal oversight visits to stations I have noticed that, inevitably, the register is the Cinderella of stations. Frequently they can't find it and when they do it is covered in dust and so poorly tendered as to be irrelevant. That is the register those in charge of handing out firearm licences are supposed to go through with a fine-tooth comb to ensure that no abusive husband or partner is given one.
Not that this man had applied for a licence, so where did the firearm come from? Let me take an educated guess, 13 438 South African Police Services firearms had disappeared over the last five years. Now, they had to obtain figures for the 11 years before that, but we will probably be looking at the over 30 thousand SAPS firearms out there in our country shooting at our citizens. What our SAPS members do is nothing short of fuelling the illegal firearms trade. Guns don't kill people. People kill people, but our SAPS members are losing and selling these firearms in the full knowledge that there will be no repercussions or ensuring that citizens with murder in their heart have the easy access to them.
The SAPS members don't even have to pay for the firearms they loose and less than 1% of cases are charges brought against them. The SAPS could not even tell if there were serial offenders. Last year, 4000 new Beretta pistols ordered by the SAPS were mostly to replace lost and stolen SAPS firearms. That is an amount of R16 million spent on procuring weapons almost entirely as a consequence of the fact that thousands of SAPS firearms are disappearing and the recovery rate is a dismal 7%. We have seen hundreds of firearms stolen from the police forensic building in Port Elizabeth, hundreds more from SAPS stations in Durban, its never-ending.
The Minister introduced a new system when he took over - it is not working. The truth is that SAPS firearms are out there in the hands of criminals who are shooting and killing our citizens. Its not legally earned firearms held by our citizens. Hon members, there is a huge disconnect between saying, year after year after year in this House, that we honour the 16 days of no violence against women and children, when we had not only the 56 000 reported sexual offences last year, but 28 000 of them were committed against children, which means that 77 children are sexually violated in this country every day. Furthermore, 42% of all sexual offences committed specifically were against children.
The current government's response to this crisis was to simultaneously declare this to be a top priority and then shut down the only unit capable of investigating them. From 2006 they began shutting down the family violence child protection and sexual offences units dispersing those expects from dealing, for example, with raped toddlers to ordinary police stations. My colleague the hon Mike Waters did an expos on what had happened to those expects and the truth is they were tossed aside like yesterday's garbage. So it became even more difficult for women and children to get help and protection from the SAPS. What they did was nothing short of criminal.
The Domestic Violence Act has been in operation ten years, but the SAPS don't seem to care about implementing it - 65% of stations are not compliant. Today the Ministry in the Police must pay Ntombis children for her death, but it will not bring her back and hopefully we will finally be given a new National Commissioner that we deserve - a career officer who takes seriously the need to protect our women and children. [Interruption.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, today, as we launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Children campaign, we join nations of the world in denouncing violence against women and the violation of human rights.
On behalf of Cope, I dedicate this debate to Ntombekhaya Yvonne September who was murdered in her peaceful and quiet house in Groenkloof, Pretoria, two months before she was to be ordained as an Anglican priest, and her killers are still at large. I dedicate this debate to all women and young girls gang raped and murdered in their homes, on the streets and in the line of duty. I dedicate this debate to lesbians and gays who have been attacked, gang raped and killed in the comfort of their homes and on the streets. I dedicate this debate to the young girl who was snatched away from her parents and boyfriend and raped by the thugs at UMhlanga bridge during the September holidays. I dedicate this debate to a paramedic lady who, together with her colleagues, were accosted by thugs wielding guns, kidnapped them and gang raped her. A male passerby who was at the wrong place at the wrong time was invited to participate in the rape and on his refusal he was beaten up and forced to participate. He pretended to be raping her and whispered in her ear that "I am not going to rape you. Let us pretend." He is the kind of man who does not rape woman. The woman has lost everything because of the ordeal. Her husband divorced her because he thinks she asked for it. I dedicate this debate to Zoliswa Nkonyana of Khayelisha who at the age of 19 was clubbed and stoned and beaten to death by a mob of young men in 2006. The only crime that she has committed was that her sexual orientation is recognised and protected in our esteem Constitution.
Something has gone terribly wrong in our society. Let us join hands as South Africans and fight this moral decay. Let us all be the pride of our nation. Let us all provide leadership and not point fingers. Let us use the 16 days of activism as an organising strategy to call for elimination of all forms of violence against women and children. Let us not end there, but continue with education and awareness programmes in all public places and where people meet for fun.
Hon Deputy Speaker, parents must also play their role at home and stop blaming government. Children take knives and guns to school. What are the parents doing about that? Parents must know that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women. A major factor to female homicide, a contributing factor to female suicide, a major risk of child abuse and a major precursor for future domestic violence offenders and violent youth offenders. They will put a stop to that.
The Independent Complaints Directorate presented a numbing statistic to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities of the failure of the South African police to protect women and children and their failure and refusal to open up rape cases and arresting the perpetrators. Many women have been killed by their partners whilst having restraining orders against them. We call on government to intensify the fight against this terrible sickness.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is not enough. Let us all join hands from all walks of life to declare war against abuse and violence against women and children. Enough is enough. I thank you.
Hon Deputy Speaker, there is a tragic point of departure in this entire debate. More people are killed with small arms than by any other means. In the IFP we have always defended the right of people to bear arms. We do not believe in lawful citizens being disarmed and the lawbreakers being armed. However, there must be regulations because weapons are what fuel conflicts in our communities.
A few kilometres from here an ignored war is taking place. Every night shootings are taking place at Hanover Park. Police seem incapable of dealing with the situation. Residents are invoking a state of emergency. This war is the product of illegal drugs and illegal weapons having found their way on a large scale into one of our poorest communities. This is a situation which is repeated over and over again all over the country, affecting every family living in these areas.
If one looks at the statistics of this war in our backyards, which the media is silent about, women and children are amongst the daily casualties. They bear no guns, they participate in no war and yet they are always the ones who pay the highest price.
Hon Deputy Speaker, we carry the final responsibilities for their suffering, if instead of being active we remain inactive and continue to ignore problems while they fester and grow, just because we don't quite know how to deal with them. I thank you.
Hon Deputy Speaker, violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights abuses and a key human security issue of our time. Urgent steps must be taken to guarantee women's security by addressing violence and abuse in all its manifestations. The South African Constitution prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation.
It is government's responsibility to demonstrate its commitment to action in this area by condemning among others violence, harassment, discrimination, and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The rising tide of violence against our gay community, especially against lesbian women, is rapidly getting out of control. In our home situations, it is difficult to identify just how complex a weapon is. The reason for this is that any object can be used as a weapon if there is a will to do grievous harm.
In respect of the 16 Days of Activism Against the Abuse of Women and Children, the ID calls on government to recognise hate crimes against lesbians and transgender women as a specific crime category, supported by the necessary resources to investigate and bring these crimes to court. I thank you.
Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members, good strides have been made to deal with high levels of inequality in South Africa. The South African Constitution advances for equality in all respects, including on issues relating to gender equality. Despite our progressive Constitution, we live in a country where gender-based violence has become an everyday occurrence.
Everyday we read and hear about stories of how men rape women and children, how they ill-treat and physically abuse their partners. We hear of conduct of mainly men who commit despicable crimes against women and children, which show disdain for our personal and constitutional values.
As I speak right now, as a party, we are horrified by the story of a pregnant 16-year-old girl, Simphiwe Mmola, a Grade 10 pupil from Mankweng village in Limpopo, who was allegedly stabbed to death by her jealous 26- year-old boyfriend. Her story and many other similar stories, illustrate how sick a society we have become, and the brutality of the violence our women and children face on a daily basis.
While the law enforcement agencies have, to some extent, play their part in dealing with this problem, domestic violence against mainly women and children appears to be getting out of hand. If we are to successfully rid ourselves of this challenge, and ensure durable peace both at home and in the world, we all need to make extensive investments in educating our people, particularly males about domestic violence. I thank you.
Deputy Speaker, Ministers and hon members, the debate that we are engaged in today comes just a few days before the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, during which we once again focus our energies on spreading the message that violence against women and children cannot be tolerated in any form.
Whilst we spread this message throughout communities across the length and breadth of the country over a 16-day period, we also have to ensure that this message is not emphasised for just 16 days, but that it lasts for 365 days. We've got to ensure that, in our constituency work and wherever we go, we make this message known.
As Members of Parliament, it is also high time that we make our voices heard. In our respective constituencies, we need to speak out against the continued abuse of our women, children and people with disabilities.
During his address of the closing ceremony of the campaign in 2009, President Zuma stated, and I quote:
It should be well known that we are pleased that this government and the past successive ANC administrations have been steadfast in creating an environment conducive to the empowerment of women and children, particularly the girl-child.
This has resulted in progressive legislation that guarantees the promotion and protection of human rights in general, but women's rights in particular. While these measures have generally impacted positively on their lives, we nevertheless acknowledge that a number of challenges still remain. These exist both in implementation as well as in transforming societal attitudes and harmful practices that manifest themselves negatively against women and the girl-child.
The ANC committed itself in its 2009 election manifesto to, and I quote -
... combat violence and crimes against women and children by increasing the capacity of the criminal justice system to deal with such violence.
During June 2010, the South African Police Service commenced with the re- establishment of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units or, as we call them, the FCSs. These units have been established at a cluster level and are allocated in all 176 clusters around the country. Many of the members that are assigned to these units at cluster level have previous FCS investigative experience and training.
These steps are welcomed, as these units will play an important role in the fight against violence against women and children. What is important though is that these units are well publicised, so that the community knows where to access them and how to contact them. In addition, the SAPS will need to ensure that these units have the necessary resources so that they can perform their duties both effectively and efficiently.
Often, we hear of people who do not come forward to report crimes to the SAPS for fear that community members might find out that they have reported these crimes to the SAPS. We also hear, in instances, that there are people who are not keen to report such crimes because of the manner in which some SAPS members treat them.
The SAPS has a programme called the Victim Empowerment Programme and it provides training to SAPS members on how to provide a victim-friendly service to victims of crime. The SAPS will need to urgently look at how they can roll out this programme and speed up the training of all SAPS members, so that we can ensure that our members at police stations treat victims of crime in a friendly manner and in a manner that will reassure them that they need to come forward and that their problems will be dealt with.
Victim support centres have been established at over 900 police stations around the country. These support centres also enable a victim of abuse to come forward, be interviewed, and have their statement taken in an environment that is safe, friendly and secure. We also want to use this opportunity to call on the SAPS to speed up the roll-out of victim support centres to the remaining police stations where they do not yet exist.
Recently released crime statistics for 2010-11 reveal that the number of rape and sexual assaults continues to rise. According to the Crime Information Analysis Centre, 75% of rapes and 90% of assaults involve victims and perpetrators who know one another. Crimes against women older than 18 have, in the main, decreased whilst murder has increased by 5,6%. Crimes against children younger than 18 years are also decreasing except for the category under all sexual offences which shows a 2,6% increase.
Even though some of these crimes have decreased, the levels of crime still remain way too high in our country. At the same time, we must congratulate the men and women in the SAPS who work tirelessly to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice. We must also ensure that sufficient resources are available for even greater advances to be made in defeating this scourge.
Whilst we should welcome the decrease in some of these crimes, we cannot sit back. One crime against a woman, a child or a person with a disability is simply one crime too many. According to the International Network on Small Arms, women are three times more likely to die violently if there is a gun in the home. Women are often most vulnerable behind close doors where they can be intimidated, controlled, injured or even murdered through the use of guns.
In South Africa, we have introduced stringent firearm legislation which promotes responsible gun ownership and possession, but we have to be concerned about the manner in which guns are often used against women, children and persons with disabilities. It is said that a gun in a home is more likely to be used against a family member than for providing protection. In this regard, more work needs to be done to look at how to deal with the violence against women, children and persons with disabilities in which guns are used.
Substance abuse also plays a part in some of the crimes committed. And, of concern to me, in particular, is the high number of taverns and shebeens which exist in residential areas, particularly in our informal settlements. Many of these operate throughout the night until the early hours of the morning. This means that people can consume alcohol, get drunk and simply walk back home around the corner. Who knows what then happens behind those closed doors.
There are many contributing factors which lead to violence. These include situations where, for example, a man may have been retrenched and might be stressed. However, no matter what the situation, it's absolutely no excuse for somebody to turn around and resort to violence in any form. The various mechanisms on how to support persons going through stressful times need to be put in place in our communities, but the message has to be loud and clear. No person has the right to abuse another. No man has the right to abuse a woman, a child or a person with disabilities. Men who engage in such activities can't call themselves men.
In my own constituency, we have recently been seeing a rise in violence against women perpetrated by men who do not necessarily agree with these women's viewpoints on certain issues. We have been trying to encourage many of these women to come forward and report these incidents to the police, but many of them are scared. They worry that there will be reprisal attacks against them for having reported the men who abused and assaulted them. We need to get the message out: If you don't come forward, we can't catch these people. The message must go out: Please come forward and report these crimes.
Also of importance is that, as we go forward, we need to ensure that government departments play their role as they are supposed to. As parliamentarians, we also have to ensure that government departments work together and co-ordinate their efforts.
But, government alone can't deal with this issue. It is an issue for our country and therefore it is incumbent upon all of us - whether we are here in this House, whether we are residents in communities - to join hands together with government and, together, stand up, make our voice heard and find solutions on how to deal with particular situations in our community. I thank you very much. [Applause.]
Agb Adjunkspeaker, die onderwerp van vandag se debat is "Van Vrede in die Huis tot Vrede in die Wreld". Wat is die kern van di onderwerp? Die kern is dat as ons as ouers ons kinders reg opvoed sal hulle in die samelewing in vrede met mekaar kan saamleef, en sal ons ook 'n vreedsame wreld h.
Ja, ons kan hier op hierdie podium kom staan en s wat die taak en die plig van die staat en die regering is, en ons kan beskuldigings rondstuur om te s dit is as gevolg van die vermeerdering van vuurwapens. Ons kan s dit is as gevolg van alkoholgebruik. - dis realiteite - maar die vraag moet afgevra word, "Hoekom is daar, byvoorbeeld, die misbruik van alkohol? Hoekom is daar die gebruik van geweld?" Ek wil vandag s elkeen van ons moet onsself die vraag afvra tot watter mate ons daartoe bygedra het in ons opvoedingstaak van ons kinders.
Ek is oortuig daarvan dat 'n man wat geweldadig is teenoor 'n vrou moes iewers in die huishouding en in sy opvoeding 'n gebrek opgedoen het oor hoe om 'n vrou of 'n medemens met respek te kan hanteer. Ons moet ook begin leer om respek vir mekaar te h, want as ons wedersydse respek het vir mekaar, dan sal ons ook respek h vir die mindere, soos kinders en ook vir mense wat, byvoorbeeld, gestremd is.
Dan sal ons ook meer respek h, nie net vir vroue nie, maar ook vir mekaar. Dan sal geweld teen vroue en kinders in Suid-Afrika afneem. Laat ons nie elke keer die skuld op iemand anders plaas nie. Kom ons neem ons eie verantwoordelikheid op. Ek dank u. [Tussenwerpsels.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Deputy Speaker, the topic for today's debate is "From peace in the home to peace in the world ...". What is the gist of this topic? The gist is that if we as parents educate our children properly they would be able to live in peace with each other in society, and we will also have a peaceful world.
Yes, we can stand on this podium and declare what the task and the duty of the state and the government is, and we can bandied about accusations that this is due to the increase of weapons. We can claim it is due to the use of alcohol - these are the realities - but we need to pose the question, "Why is alcohol, for example, misused? Why do we have violence?" Today I want to say that every one of us have to ask ourselves the question, to what extend did we contribute to educating our children?
I am convinced that a man who is using violence against a woman somehow lacked in his family and in his upbringing knowledge concerning how to treat a woman or a fellow human being with respect. We must also start to learn how to show respect to each other, because if we have mutual respect for each other then we will also have respect for the vulnerable, like children and people with disabilities, for example.
Then we will also have more respect, not only for women, but also for each other. Then violence against women and children will decrease. We should not always place the blame on somebody else. Come let every one of us take charge of our own responsibility. I thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]]
Deputy Speaker, in response to concerns that the 16 Days of Activism campaign has run out of steam, one newspaper commentator put it like this, "It's all been said before, done before and heard before, but perhaps this is because the people who should be hearing about this are not."
I think the slogan, "From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World", is really profound and somehow key to a breakthrough. We know children learn by copying what they see and hear. Too many children in South Africa are just not getting the deep-seated emotional, psychological and educational benefits that come from living with a two-parent family. These children are at a real disadvantage.
A typical child today is raised by a mother in a single-parent household. Nine million children in South Africa are growing up without fathers in the home. That means 4,5 million boys with no role model and many more with television sitcoms shaping their lives and values. A UN slogan asks, "Have you been a Dad today?" A father's presence matters.
The African Fathers Initiative says fathers do care and that there are obstacles and disincentives for a father's involvement in existing approaches to public benefits, child support enforcement and paternity. We do not know enough about South Africa's men, how they experience marriage and fatherhood, or whether culturally gendered roles hinder men from being the men they would like to be. We do know, though, that men need support to improve their educational and economic circumstances so they can fulfil their caregiver and provider roles. Effort is needed to target more resources at young fathers, including those in low-income and rural communities.
Joblessness and unemployment are major impediments to family formation and father involvement. Being a breadwinner and provider is central to many men's sense of identity and self-worth. Loss of a job can be devastating, even emasculating, and some men compensate by becoming more controlling and even violent at home. As this violence could be pre-empted, the ACDP calls on trade unions to consider this issue. Community participation is a key prevention and protection strategy, and good neighbours can be critical. Everyday acts of kindness make the difference, whether it is calling the police or passing on the number of a local shelter or counselling service. Thank you.
Hon Deputy Speaker, an ideal world would be one with no arms - big and small. However, the real world is full of legal and illegal arms. Before we can have peace in the home, we must plant it in our hearts, water it in our heads and hold it aloft with our hands.
A violent soul doesn't need small arms to inflict harm. They can do it even with their bare hands or a bread knife. The authorities must be scrupulous before issuing firearm licences. They should not only focus on the applicant's criminal record, but they must thoroughly study the applicant's profile. The applicant's family members, neighbours, psychologists and other professionals must determine whether an individual is fit to obtain a firearm licence or not. Thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, if we have to teach world peace and wage a war against violence and abuse, we would have to begin with the women and children. We have to broaden the potential impact of the campaign. The government, business and civil society must play an integral role. The Medical Research Council in 2009 pointed out that legal and illegal guns are still widely used to threaten and kill. Guns play a major role in violence and homicide.
In the light of this, it is absolutely imperative that in incidents of domestic violence, police officials deliver on the responsibilities to confiscate firearms which have been used to threaten and harm women and children.
The rights of women and children are fundamental rights. They experience challenges and difficulties in every facet of life. They live under inhumane circumstances. More funding undoubtedly must be directed to organisations that protect the wellbeing of our women and children. Sexual offences against children under 18 years increase by 2,6% and 18,7% of social contact crimes committed against women are sexual offences.
The MF hereby commends that we must commit ourselves to intensify the campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children, not only for 16 days, but for the entire year if we have to honour our women and children of this beautiful land. I am reminded of the beautiful Chinese proverb that: If a man is at peace with himself, then he is at peace with his family, and if his family is at peace with one another, then the neighbours, villages, towns, cities, provinces, country and the world will be at peace.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, the DA is not satisfied with a short-timed campaign as it focuses only on 16 days. The DA would like to see the campaign becoming part of daily lives. Parliament passed laws such as the Domestic Violence Act, Firearms Control Act and the Child Justice Act to address the problems of violence.
Re tshwenywa ke go lemoga gore bana ba bant?i ba gola ntle le batswadi ba bona ba bontate. Efela le ge go le bjalo, re tshwenywa ke taba ya boganka, ditlai?o le dipolao t?a ka malapeng t?eo di t?welago pele. Re bona go ?omi?wa ga dithunya t?eo di sego molaong le t?eo di lego molaong go t?wela pela, go timela ga dithunya t?a maphodi?a go oket?ega le maphodisa a bolaya maloko a malapa a bona ka dithunya t?a mo?omo.
Re le ba DA re tshwenywa kudu ke go lemoga le go bona ditlai?o, ditlhori?o le dipolao di golela pele nageng le dipolaseng. Re lemoga gore basenyi ba t?wet?a boganka bja bona pele mo go se nago t?hirelet?o. Re bolela se ka go bona dipego t?eo di laet?ago gore go tloga ka ngwaga wa 2001 go fihla 2009, go bolailwe batho ba lekanago 1 804 go ditlhaselo t?a dipolaseng le dinagamagaeng. T?homi?o ya dithipa le marumo go basadi dinagamagaeng e swanet?e go thibelwa.
Go utswiwa ga leruo ke tlhobaboroko dinagamagaeng ka lebaka la gore leruo ke lona le fago bana le batswadi t?a go kgona go iphedi?a. Taba ye e laet?a gore bohodu bja diruiwa le ditlhaselo dinagamagaeng di golela godimo. Batho ba phela ka let?hogo. Go katwa ga bana ke thogako set?habeng le go nyadi?wa ga bana le basadi ka kgang ke kgatelelo ya ditokelo t?a botho. Re le ba DA, re bona go hlori?wa, go tlai?wa le go bolawa ga bomme le bana e tloga e le tlhobaboroko nageng ya Afrika Borwa. Re rata go bona mmu?o, maphodisa le dit?haba ba t?ea karolo go fedi?eng mathata. Re rata go bona bahlolampherefere, babolai, le mahodu ba tswalelet?we ntlwanaswana; gona kgolegong. Gape re rata go bona boganka bo fedi?wa ka toka le molao. Bomme le makgarebe ba swanet?e go bega melato ya tlai?o go maphodisa.
Re rata go dira boipilet?o go mmu?o go tii?a molao le go ?omi?a melao yeo e lego gona go fedi?a ditlhori?o, ditlai?o le dipolao t?a set?haba sa Afrika Borwa. Re re mmu?o ga o tii?e letsogo. Re le ba DA re rata go bona mmu?o o hlahla maphodisa ka melao ya go swana le ... [Legoswi.] (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[We are more concerned about the many children that are growing up without their fathers. Despite this, we are more concerned about perpetual domestic violence, bullying, abuse and killings. Both legal and illegal firearms are still being used. There is an increase in the disappearance of police firearms and police officers are still using their official firearms to kill members of their families.
As the DA we are more concerned about the abuse, violence and killings in the country, especially in the farms. We are aware that offenders continue with their violent activities and there is no security. The statistics from 2001 to 2009 show an estimate of 1 804 people being brutally attacked on the farms and in the rural areas. Knives and spears are used to kill women in the rural areas. An end must be put to this.
Livestock theft is of major concern in the rural areas, because livestock is the source of living to the people who live there. It is clear that livestock theft and attacks in rural areas are on the increase. People are living with fear. Rape and forced marriages among children and women are a violation of human rights.
As the DA we noted that violence, abuse and killing of women and children are of major concern in South Africa. We would like to see the government, the police and the public making an effort to solve these issues. We would like to see the perpetrators - murderers and thieves - sentenced to prison. We would also like to see violence coming to an end through law and justice. Women and children should report cases of abuse to the police.
We appeal to government to strengthen the law and use the existing laws do put an end to the violence, abuse and killings in South Africa. Let the law take its course. As the DA we would like to see government running workshops for the police on various Acts such as... [Applause.]]
... Domestic Violence Act, Child Justice Act and Firearms Control Act ...
... go matlafat?a maphodisa. Re rata go bona mmu?o o lemo?a set?haba ka melao gore set?haba se kgone go fana ka tshedimo?o ge molao o gatakwa goba o tshelwa. Re le ba DA re re mmu?o o swanet?e go dira bonnete bja gore ditshebi t?a dira di a ?irelet?wa. Mmu?o o swanet?e go romela molaet?a o maatla go manaba le bao ba tshelago molao ka kotlo e bohloko. Mmu?o o swanet?e go laet?a bahlori?i le babolai gore bosenyi ga bo lefe.
Mmu?o le ba Kgoro ya Maphodisa ba swanet?e go hlokomela gore dithunya t?a molao ga di ?omi?we go dira boganka. Dithunya t?eo di sego molaong di swanet?e go t?ewa ka mokgwa wa dithibelo mebileng le set?habeng. Bao ba bolayago ba malapa a bona - bana le basadi - ge ba ka hwet?wa ba swanet?e go otlwa ka kotlo e bohloko. Re le ba DA re rata go bona set?haba sa Afrika Borwa, mmu?o le maphodisa ba fedi?a ditlai?o, ditlhori?o le dipolao nageng ka bophara. Re ka kgona ge re ka swari?ana, ra thu?ana pharela ye. A re hlomphaneng, re godi?e Afrika Borwa go ikobela melao.
Re le ba DA re re, a re ageng naga ye botse ya khut?o, ya t?weleopele re le MaAfrika Borwa a "rainbow nation". Re rata go bona kgoelet?o ye ya go ba kgahlanong le bosenyi, tlhori?o le dipolao e eba ye e tsenywago tiri?ong. Ke kgale go bolelwa ka taba ye, efela ga go t?ewe magato. Bjale ke nako ya gore re emelele re t?eeng magato. Ke a leboga. (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[... to empower them. We would like to see government creating awareness around the Acts so that the public can in turn be able to share information in case the law is violated or not observed. As the DA we urge the government to ensure that people who report crime are protected. Government must show the perpetrators that crime does not pay.
The Department of Police must take extra caution to ensure that their firearms are not used randomly. Government should repossess all the illegal firearms through road blocks and other means. If found, those who kill their own family members, especially women and children, must be severely prosecuted. As the DA we would like to see South Africans, both government and the people, put an end to violence, abuse and killings at large. We can do it if we work together against this monster. Let us respect each other and the laws in our country.
As the DA we would like to see the country built into a peaceful progressive one - a rainbow nation. We would like to hear an outcry against crime, violence, abuse and killings. Laws must be implemented. This has been talked about more than enough, but no steps have been taken. It is time to take action. I thank you.]
Speaker and hon members, in this debate today, we are discussing the international theme, as stated by the first speaker, and it is quite impressive that everybody in this House is in agreement that violence against women is a sin against mankind and nature. My debate will be looking through the eye of a woman.
The Constitution recognises gender equality as the cornerstone of the South African democracy. The ANC-led government has developed several pieces of legislation to redress the wrongs affecting women and children. Although the global campaign focuses on violence against women only, South Africa added to its campaign the issue of children, because children are experiencing violence in the country, especially in the Western Cape where the brutal killing of children is rife. South Africa is still the home of high levels of violence against women and children, despite the renowned Constitution and legislative overhaul that safeguard women's rights.
Speaker and hon members, the campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children was introduced in this country in 1998, after the country had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Cedaw, following the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is the document which some countries are using against judgments held for individuals to fight their cases, such as in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and others. In South Africa, 12 years down the line, we are still experiencing violence and, as South Africans, we must be very well informed about these international instruments and their benefits, including the enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, officials and the population in general. To date, we have not done that homework as required by Cedaw effectively.
By the way, all Members of Parliament should have a copy of Cedaw in their offices, so that they can use it effectively for themselves and for their constituencies, particularly to address the issue of violence against women and children, as well as the judiciary.
As we all know, the Domestic Violence Act was written into legislation in 1998, but even today we are still experiencing domestic violence. This phenomenon is showing its ugly face practically every day wherever we walk and whenever we hear the experiences of people on the ground. We all know that violence begins at any stage of a relationship and may continue after the relationship. Children are often at harm and risk in families affected by domestic violence, whether from being directly abused or from what they witness. Implementation and enforcement of the laws have become a major problem at various levels, namely the police, families, relatives and communities. As the theme of the debate centres around families, this becomes even more complex.
The slogan of this country is "365 days of no violence against women and children," but this has not really become a reality. We must put on our running shoes to deal with this matter and to reduce and, finally, to eradicate violence against women and children. Crime statistics report that violence against women and children has been reduced, but we still have high incidences of domestic violence.
It is not surprising, as reported by communities, that some law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, send them back home to discuss the matter as this is a family matter. Are these officials really aware of what is expected of them in the implementation of the law? Where must these families go if they cannot go to the police station for recourse? This is a serious matter. Communities, at most times in our constituencies, state that they used to report the instances of violence but now they don't want to report them for two reasons: victimisation by perpetrators and the fact that communities usually say it is none of their business. So, they don't really involve themselves in that. One of the reasons given by women to return to violent partnerships is the difficulty in setting up a new life, starting over in a new home, in a new school, and finding new employment which can be overwhelming for them. Escaping violent relationships, especially where they have little or no support as well as no education is quite problematic and difficult.
We do applaud the work that is done by various organisations for the assistance that they give at times, voluntarily. It was further shocking news that the leader of Libya used women as his security guards, and, once he had abused them, he would get rid of them. Laws can change society; the justice system can provide effective means for women to demand accountability to put a stop to violence in relationships. The courts have been the site of some incredible groundbreaking legal decisions. Women all over the world have used courts to get justice, winning decisions that benefit not only themselves, but also expand access to justice for millions of other women as mentioned earlier.
The Department of Higher Education and Training can help to improve the skills of those who do not have formal education, as most women are breadwinners in the country, after all. Lastly, violence against women and children is a shame to humankind. We all must strive to end it. We cannot enjoy democracy where there is a lot of violence that goes unabated.
In conclusion, the need for the campaign against violence on women and children must really be done away with. After the campaign, we must see the real and serious action.
Konakele malungu ahloniphekileyo, masisukume sakhe kabusha, sisukume senze lokho okuzosiza ukuthi udlame olubhekiswe kubantu besifazane nezingane lwehle. Sonke sineqhaza esinokulibamba. [Things are bad hon members; let us stand up and start afresh, and do something that would assist in reducing the incidences of violence against women and children. We all have a role to play.]
Thank you very much, Speaker. [Applause.]