Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, members of executive councils, MECs present, women make a great contribution to the family and to the development of society. If that contribution is not forthcoming, development is arrested.
It is well documented that women and children in South Africa are living in constant fear. This is despite the fact that gender-based violence and HIV/Aids feature on the highest political and governmental agenda. On the other hand, women in South Africa are six times more likely to be killed by their male partners in the home than elsewhere in the world. This means that four women are killed every day by their intimate partners.
A study by the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, revealed that South Africa leads the world in rape. It is also estimated that 500 000 rapes are committed annually in South Africa. A 2010 study, led by the government-funded Medical Research Council, said that in Gauteng province, home to South Africa's most populous city, Johannesburg, more than 37% of men said that they had raped a woman. Nearly 7% of the 487 men surveyed said they had participated in a gang rape. Rape victims in the country range in age from a few months to 80 years. Perpetrators are relatives, intimates, casual acquaintances and strangers.
A high percentage of rapes occurred either at or near home. More than half of the offences, whether by an individual or gang, involved the use of a weapon. The majority of victims do not report the violation of their human rights to the police. The most common reasons for not reporting the crimes to the police are, first, victims fear reprisal; second, victims feel that the police would not be able to solve the crime; and third, the embarrassment. The violation of women is an injustice that puts them at high risk of HIV. Women who are in abusive relationships are particularly at risk of exposure to HIV infection due to the threat of further violence, abandonment or loss of economic support if they attempt to negotiate safer sex or refuse sex.
We need drastic measures to put a stop to this. Hon Deputy Minister, Cope urges the police to conduct more blitzes randomly and countrywide, to search for dangerous weapons and firearms. [Applause.]