Zuma speaks out in Reiger Park about violence

Each year, South Africa marks the campaign between November 25 and December 10. The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, and other Ministers and Deputy Ministers were present, as well as councillors, religious leaders, representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, and Ekurhuleni mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele.

The President launched the campaign themed ‘Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa forward’.

This year’s 16 Days Campaign is important because South Africa commemorates many milestones. The year 2014 marks 60 years since the signing of the Women’s Charter on April 17, 1954, in Johannesburg.

“We are also marking 20 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa, as well as 16 years of the 16 Days Campaign,” said Zuma.

“The ANC government adopted the 16 Days Campaign in 1998 as one of the intervention strategies towards creating a society free of violence. The campaign has since grown and attracts people from all walks of life. We are all united by the objective of building safer communities for women and children.

“One of the key achievements of freedom and democracy is the Constitution of the Republic. The Constitution contains a Bill of Rights which promotes human dignity and equality, including gender equality, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms,” says Zuma.

“The constitutional vision of equality, which incorporates redressing gender and other imbalances, is taken forward in the legislation that promotes equality.

“This legislation includes, among others: the Employment Equity Act; the Protection from Harassment Act; which goes further than the Domestic Violence Act in that it aims to protect all victims, the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amended Act.

“There is also the general criminal law architecture in the country that is available to be used to promote women and children. In this regard, this country has the right policies and legal framework to protect women and children.

“However, despite this wonderful Constitution and very good laws, the scourge of violence against women and children continues,” he adds.

He noted that violence takes different forms. It includes sexual harassment, abuse, assault, rape and ‘corrective’ rape, domestic violence and other cultural practices that are harmful to women and children.

“We have had tragic cases of women being brutally killed by their partners or husbands or serial killers.

“There have also been tragic and horrific cases of children being attacked and killed, such as the little girls from Diepsloot, Anelisa Mkhonto, and cousins Zandile and Yonelisa Mali. Right here in Reiger Park, little Taegrin Morris was also brutally killed by alleged car hijackers. There are others cases here as well and around the country.”

Zuma said that Gauteng Premier David Makhura has assured him that the Provincial Task Team that is working on the Morris case is doing everything possible to find the perpetrators of this cruel act.

“We know the pain that this incident caused. We share the pain of the loss of all children in this community and in the country as a whole. This campaign is aimed at highlighting all these forms of abuse and violence and to say enough is enough.

“As we mark 20 years of freedom and democracy, let us today make a commitment to work together harder than ever before, make South Africa free of violence against women and children. Working together we want to bring an end to the attacks on women and children.

“Working together we want South Africa to be safer for women and children.”

This year, government is reaching out to men and boys by encouraging greater participation of men in the campaign of preventing violence against women and children. Zuma urges young men and boys as well to commit themselves to become activists against gender based violence.

“We are focusing our message on men as well not because South African men are abusive. It is because excluding men from participating actively in this campaign has been a serious shortcoming. Men also have solutions to offer in fighting violence against women and children.

“All of us have a role to play. That is why the 2014 theme says ‘Count me in’. We also remind women and children that nobody should make them feel guilty for speaking out, even if the perpetrator is a family member. Children in particular need particular care and assistance so that they can speak out and end the abuse.

“Today we also want to send a clear message to the public. Abusers, murderers and rapists have no place in our communities. We must work with the police and the courts to ensure that these criminals are arrested and convicted of crimes against women and children,” he added.

All cases of abuse, in both rural and urban areas must be reported to the authorities and police for immediate action.

“And, indeed, the police and the courts are making progress in fighting this scourge, with the support of communities. The South African Police Service’s Family violence, child protection and sexual offences units have been doing good work. The number of perpetrators receiving life sentences for violence against women and children has been increasing.”

“In the financial year 2010/11, 299 perpetrators were sentenced to life imprisonment. In the 2011/12 financial year, the number of perpetrators sentenced to life rose to 389. These numbers have been steadily increasing to an extent that in the current financial year, there has been 645 perpetrators serving life terms for committing similar deeds.

“In total, 1 832 criminals have been sentenced to life imprisonment since the year 2010.

“Over and above these there are many others serving lengthy jail sentences.

“As part of our commitment to fight this scourge, the re-establishment of Sexual Offences Courts continues to be prioritised. Since inception in August 2013 to date, 31 regional courts have been upgraded into sexual offences courtrooms compliant with the new Sexual Offences Courts Model.

“Through these specialised courts, government intends to reduce the secondary trauma often suffered by the victims. The courts are also intended to reduce the turnaround time in the finalisation of cases, to improve the performance of witnesses, increase the conviction rate and most importantly, contribute to the reduction of repeat offences.”

He said that government believes that it is making progress in the fight against this scourge. But much more needs to be done. And most of the work requires the support of communities.

“To protect children, we need the support of families and parents in particular. Irresponsible parents and guardians who leave young children unattended and vulnerable to abuse are as guilty as those who commit the crime. We must unite against irresponsible social behaviour and practices.

“Another contribution that we need from communities is to deepen the fight against alcohol and illegal substance abuse. Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the key root causes of domestic violence, children born with disabilities, abuse, rape and killings. Let us work together to isolate drug dealers and illegal alcohol outlet owners.

“They must be reported to the police. They should have no place in our communities.”

The start of the 16 days campaign coincides with United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This campaign also ends on an important day, December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.

While the international campaign is marked for 16 days, Zuma urge all South Africans to ensure that this becomes a campaign for all 365 days of the year. He adds that government has a vision of a society where we no longer read or hear about the abuse that some women and children suffer at the hands of heartless perpetrators.

“We are building a society where the women and children are safe at home, at school or at work. We are building a society where children play safely outside and where women walk freely in the streets, without fear of attacks.”