Speaker, Cope calls on ANC women MPs to honour the consensus that was reached at the Women's Parliament that the Traditional Courts Bill should be withdrawn and to insist that Minister Jeff Radebe withdraws this draconian Bill immediately.
The Bill before the NCOP is exactly the same as the 2008 Bill. This is despite the fact that the SA Law Commission, in consultation with interest groups, including the Alliance for Rural Democracy, presented a revoked draft to the Minister in 2003. This revoked draft provided a so-called opt- out right for rural women who preferred to access magistrates' courts instead of customary courts.
Unfortunately, Minister Radebe stands firm, refusing ...