UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 1 THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 ____ PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ____ The House met at 14:02. The House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation. DEBATE ON 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM OF NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN: #HEARMETOO – A WOMAN OF FORTITUDE The MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Hon Chairperson, hon Members of Parliament, representatives of Civil Society and Women’s Movements, ladies and gentlemen, I stand here before you to talk about one of the most and highly emotive issues in South Africa and the world. This scourge knows no colour, knows no religion, knows no race, knows no class and knows no political UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 2 affiliations. It ravages communities and families across class and the colour line. It is a societal challenge which requires a societal responses. IsiZulu: Ngicela nje ukuthi namhlanje ngingahlushwa uma ngikhuluma ngento ebuhlungu kakhulu kubantu baseNingizimu Afrika. Ngikhuluma ngento engakhethi ukuthi ungubani, unjani, unemali engakanani nokuthi ungubani emphakathini. English: Let us just for a moment put ourselves in the shoes of those who suffer in the hands of abusers. Let us even if it is for a minute feel their pain and trauma. As we do that, let us call upon for those who believe on our almighty and those who believe on ancestors to get into the hearts and minds of these heartless abusers so that they can understand and feel the suffering and the pain that they caused to their victims. This year marks 20 years since South Africa adopted the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign. 16 Days of UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 3 Activism is an international campaign aimed at building and strengthening a global movement that works towards ending all forms of gendered violence against women and girls. This campaign, led by the United Nations, takes place annually from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November to the International Human Rights Day on 10 December. South Africa was amongst the first nations to adopt the global campaign in 1999. Indeed, to defeat the unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence requires the collective efforts of all South Africans. Individually and collectively, we must commit ourselves to do everything in our power to reclaim every part of our land from those who terrorise women and children. These founding provisions demand of us ... We have a Constitution, part of which responds to the rights of women through such founding provisions such as human dignity, achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights. These founding provisions demand of us to respond to a clarion call that together we must make a solemn pledge that we will UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 4 liberate our homes, including our bedrooms, streets, workplaces, religious institutions and every corner of society from the scourge of gender-based violence. We must isolate and frown upon all who turn a blind eye to acts of abuse against women and children. In the 24 years of our democracy, government has made significant progress in fighting gender-based violence by formulating and promulgating substantive legislative and policy frameworks. No one can contest our assertion that in the 24 years of freedom and democracy, the ANC-led government has registered significant progress in restoring the dignity of women. Through our progressive policies, the living conditions of the majority of women have undergone significant qualitative change. Women now occupy their rightful places in society and are able to exercise rights and access opportunities that were a dream only about 24 years ago. However, Chairperson and hon members, violence against women and children threatens to reverse all these gains and to derail our national efforts to promote women empowerment and gender equality. UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 5 The Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, was promulgated to provide mechanisms to deal with subliminal forms of domestic violence such as emotional and financial abuse, threats and intimidation. The Act also provides for witnesses of domestic violence to report to the law enforcement agencies. The Criminal Law Amendment, or the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act 32 of 2007 provides for gender neutral definitions of rape victims and for special protection for survivors. The Criminal Procedure Act 51 was promulgated in 1997, and provides for procedural mechanisms for the prosecution of criminal activities which encompass acts of violence perpetrated against women. Despite all these efforts, we remain painfully aware that much more still needs to be done. Although South Africa has enacted progressive legislation as well as introduced measures to deal with gendered forms of violence, we know as a matter of fact that violence against women and children remains a reality. We base ourselves on the understating that the global importance of the struggle to end gender inequalities is encapsulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030. UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 6 South Africa is party to and signatory to various international conventions and protocols that call upon us to institute appropriate measures to eradicate gender-based violence. These include the United Nations, UN, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Cedaw, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Southern African Development Community, SADC, and African Union, AU, protocols on human rights and women rights. South Africa is an instrumental member of the global village, is party and signatory to various conventions. The women of South Africa have concrete expression to the #HearMeToo campaign during the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Summit which was held on the 1 and 2 November. Addressing the Summit, the President said: I am convinced that by working together, by confronting difficult issues, and by mobilising all South Africans, we shall create a society where women and children feel safe and are safe at all times and in all places. UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 7 Indeed, a multisectoral onslaught will help us defeat this scourge. The Minister for Women, Minister Bathabile Dlamini, is bringing attention to this year’s #HearMeToo theme through the Robot against gender-based violence. The Robot is an instant and critical determinant between healthy and unhealthy relationships. The Robot is about protection and safety. It is about taking precautionary measures, asking for help, and walking away from violent and abusive relationships. According to the theme #HearMeToo for 2018 is supported by the sub-theme ‘Women of Fortitude’, which focuses on unlocking women and girls’ potential, and reaching out to those in far-flung areas. The sustainability of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign is supported by the 365 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children initiative. This extends the 16 Days of Activism campaign to a longer term, enabling more inclusive, and continuous programmatic interventions and awareness. We must respect, appreciate and love women and children 365 days a year. Government’s strategic approach to the 16 Days of Activism Campaign is guided by the lessons provided by those who fought UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 8 for the struggle before us. The history of South African women’s movement and activism reminds us of the strength in women’s unity. It is only when women unite across race, class, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religious beliefs and political parties that the goal of total emancipation of women can be achieved. Under the umbrella of the Federation of South African Women in 1954, women dismantled the social barriers that divided them and united towards a common goal. It was through this unity that women in our country managed to deliver the historic victories such as the Women’s Charter in 1956. On the 9th of August 2018, President Ramaphosa made reference to the importance of honouring 100 years of women’s struggles that were led by Charlotte Maxeke through the Bantu Women’s League. The women of South Africa, in particular the women in the African National Congress, convened the Malibongwe Conference in Holland where gender activists and experts from across the post- independence world shared feminist insights with South African UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 9 women. This was one of the first meetings to feature internal women activists, exiles, and women from other countries evaluating and debating gender politics in post-apartheid South Africa. The African National Congress, the ANC, started the struggle for women emancipation many decades ago. At the conference, women criticised the domination of political structures by men and the marginalisation of women from decision-making structures. The conference gave great prominence to the concept of the struggle for nonsexism. I may take this opportunity hon members, to say that I am able to stand here and the majority of women who are here in this hall today, whether this side or that side of the House, are a result of that struggle which was started by the ANC Women’s League and fought for women during the liberation struggle itself because the women of the ANC Women’s League said that the struggle for liberation for women cannot be postponed until South Africa is free. It has to be during the time of our liberation struggle. It is also for this reason that we say during this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign, the Department UNREVISED HANSARD NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2018 Page: 10 of Women is leading the call to confront various ways that patriarchy is institutionalised.