Hon Chairperson, hon commissars and fighters, President, you delivered a last state of the nation address for perhaps the most retrograde government term for the struggle for women and youth emancipation since 1994. [Interjections.] During this term, we have observed the escalation of violent crimes against women, children, gays, lesbians, transgender and queer people in this country. For nine years, we have been 'watching this space', looking for a decisive government intervention to stop this violence.
Our eyes have actually grown red from watching the space for conclusive solutions, while our hearts and our humanity have been torn into pieces by the brutality perpetrated against us, and those that we love. Our only sin is that we are women, or that some amongst us have different sexual orientation while the brutality of the inequalities sustained by your government since 1994 affect the majority of black people who missed the ANC gravy train. It is mostly black women who must suffer the consequences.