Speaker, on Sunday 24 October 2009 the community of Sir Lowry's Pass in the Helderberg region in the Western Cape woke up to the grisly discovery of the lifeless body of a seven-year-old girl in a shallow grave. According to the police, Juanita Josephs was raped before she was killed.
This deed was inflicted by people known to her family. Fortunately, the perpetrators were arrested by the police. As we continue to strengthen our request to build a society whose norms and values are premised on the right to life, those amongst us who harm the vulnerable and do not respect the rights of our women and children should be banished from society.
As we embark on the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, starting on 29 October, all South Africans should proactively be protagonists of a society that is free from violence against women and children, embracing the spirit and the letter of our constitutional democracy.
We urge the Josephs family to be strong in these trying times. They have the support of all South Africans. To the perpetrators, justice will be served and you do not belong to our community. Thank you.