Thank you, Chairperson. As a democracy governed by constitutional supremacy, which enshrines human rights and is central to our governance and existence through the Bill of Rights, a duty is incumbent on the government and every citizen to celebrate, enjoy and frolic in the rights that our freedom and liberation has given us.
The MF however finds a realisation of importance each and every individual has to play in this development. Liberation and growth is fundamental to meeting our goals. As democracy, we remember our horrid past of apartheid, as we look at the war-infested countries and human atrocities around the globe, hoping that they too shall have peace, freedom and respect for human life.
We pray that they too shall live in a nation of rainbow colours, cultures, religions, sex, shapes and sizes. We, however, wonder how many South Africans in reality are aware of the rights that we have in South Africa. The levels of crime, which many attribute to poverty, show a clear disrespect for human life.
Over the past few days news has been dominated by reports of murder of little girls, not to mention the growth in statistics of human trafficking.
Liberties are said to allow people to enjoy their lives and to maintain a harmonious state, but the reality is that we have evil people in society who find it right to rob us of this.
I cannot imagine what goes through a victim's mind in those last few breaths. But it is worse when I think of what must constitute the mind of a perpetrator when committing the crime. The sheer ability to take a life makes me feel so ill. And the punishment that these families have to endure for the rest of their lives makes the sentence we legislate seems a day in the park for the criminals. We have to tackle our crime situation in South Africa. We are a government of the people by the people, and the people have spoken. They do not want crime; they want us to act.
The MF calls for the recognition of the call of the nation an immediate action to stamp out crime; enforce punishment equivalent to the pain and suffering of the victims and the loved ones. Human rights are, and should be, a counterfoil in every sector of our daily lives. But discipline of an unruly person who jeopardise our democracy is unacceptable. Our Constitution certainly cannot shield our doom. The MF celebrates human rights and condemns all forms of atrocity. Thank you. [Applause.]