Hon Deputy Speaker, the ANC welcomes the commitment by the department of social development in KwaZulu-Natal to build daycare centres, to protect grandmothers living in small villages from sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The province's department of social development resolved to construct many centres in KwaZulu-Natal after a spate of attacks on elderly women. According to the department, the first centre will be constructed in KwaSwayimane in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, the village where two grannies were raped a week apart. About four grannies were raped in the province during the past three months. At the court appearance of a 26-year- old culprit, a man accused of raping a 94-year-old woman, desperate KwaSwayimane grannies said that they were considering moving into one home to protect one another. The department confirmed that at least R7 million has been set aside for the construction of a centre in KwaSwayimane. This centre will have a gym and will offer occupational therapy and counselling. These centres will operate like crches, with families dropping off the grannies on their way to work and then picking them up later. Such violence perpetrated against our aged citizens is unacceptable. [Time expired.] [Applause.]