House Chairperson, this International Women's Day must enshrine a renewal of our commitment and pledge to continually protect and hold in the highest esteem the mothers and daughters of our country. For the Gender Agenda to truly gain momentum, we must transform our ideals into commitments and our words into actions.
We see the ravages of a growing moral decay abounding in our streets. We see wanton and flagrant disrespect and violence being perpetrated against women. We see a breakdown in core family values. We see a dismantling of everything that is good, true and beautiful in our society. We cannot continue down this road. We know where it will lead; it is unthinkable. In South Africa, a woman is raped every minute of every day. Why is this so? Gang rape is considered fun and it is even being perpetrated by schoolchildren, with videos being made and touted as if they were trophies to be shown off and to be proud of.
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi recently spoke about how the vicious mutilation and gang rape of Ms Anene Booysen earlier this month somehow brought our nation to a tipping point. We knew that girls and women were being attacked in their homes, schools, on the streets and even in hospitals. We knew that the figures were astronomical. But this government turned a blind eye. [Interjections.] Yes. It has taken outrageous decisions like suspending the Family Violence and Child Protection Units and the Sexual Offences Courts and then standing on the sidelines in silence while community-based organisations like Rape Crisis struggled to keep their doors open for lack of funding. Violence against women is rife, with not a single one of our communities being immune to this scourge. This situation is not unique to South Africa, or even Africa, but it is rather a worldwide degenerative social disease.
Our women are our most precious treasures and must be treated as such. They are the roses that adorn, create and sustain our families, our homes and our country. They are our mothers, our wives, our sisters and our daughters. Respect them, love them and cherish them. This is a task in which we cannot and dare not fail, bobaba. [gentlemen]
The IFP therefore calls upon every person in this country. We call for a national return to core family values - values that build strong families; values that engender respect for our women, our children and our elderly; values that are the very foundational building blocks of the moral regeneration of South Africa.
We call upon the men of South Africa to be men, and real men do not rape. This is a task in which we cannot and dare not fail. This is a solemn and sacred call to action in defence of our women. I thank you. [Applause.]