Hon Deputy Speaker, today, as we launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Children campaign, we join nations of the world in denouncing violence against women and the violation of human rights.
On behalf of Cope, I dedicate this debate to Ntombekhaya Yvonne September who was murdered in her peaceful and quiet house in Groenkloof, Pretoria, two months before she was to be ordained as an Anglican priest, and her killers are still at large. I dedicate this debate to all women and young girls gang raped and murdered in their homes, on the streets and in the line of duty. I dedicate this debate to lesbians and gays who have been attacked, gang raped and killed in the comfort of their homes and on the streets. I dedicate this debate to the young girl who was snatched away from her parents and boyfriend and raped by the thugs at UMhlanga bridge during the September holidays. I dedicate this debate to a paramedic lady who, together with her colleagues, were accosted by thugs wielding guns, kidnapped them and gang raped her. A male passerby who was at the wrong place at the wrong time was invited to participate in the rape and on his refusal he was beaten up and forced to participate. He pretended to be raping her and whispered in her ear that "I am not going to rape you. Let us pretend." He is the kind of man who does not rape woman. The woman has lost everything because of the ordeal. Her husband divorced her because he thinks she asked for it. I dedicate this debate to Zoliswa Nkonyana of Khayelisha who at the age of 19 was clubbed and stoned and beaten to death by a mob of young men in 2006. The only crime that she has committed was that her sexual orientation is recognised and protected in our esteem Constitution.
Something has gone terribly wrong in our society. Let us join hands as South Africans and fight this moral decay. Let us all be the pride of our nation. Let us all provide leadership and not point fingers. Let us use the 16 days of activism as an organising strategy to call for elimination of all forms of violence against women and children. Let us not end there, but continue with education and awareness programmes in all public places and where people meet for fun.
Hon Deputy Speaker, parents must also play their role at home and stop blaming government. Children take knives and guns to school. What are the parents doing about that? Parents must know that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women. A major factor to female homicide, a contributing factor to female suicide, a major risk of child abuse and a major precursor for future domestic violence offenders and violent youth offenders. They will put a stop to that.
The Independent Complaints Directorate presented a numbing statistic to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities of the failure of the South African police to protect women and children and their failure and refusal to open up rape cases and arresting the perpetrators. Many women have been killed by their partners whilst having restraining orders against them. We call on government to intensify the fight against this terrible sickness.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is not enough. Let us all join hands from all walks of life to declare war against abuse and violence against women and children. Enough is enough. I thank you.