Chairperson of the NCOP,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers present,
All Members of Parliament,
Members of the Public present,
Youth and Children present,
Comrades,
Ladies and gentlemen
After developing one of the few progressive Constitutions in the whole world in 1996; the Government led by the African National Congress (ANC), started in earnest to complement this Constitution with legislative framework that would destroy the apartheid laws and develop human rights at all levels of human existence. We thus would be forgiven by the world when we as South Africans, post 1994, prided ourselves with having such a progressive Constitution with legislative framework that protects women and children while promoting human rights culture.
As a society post-94, we were also applauded by our neighbouring countries (SADC) for having such a vibrant civil society such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), faith-based organisations (FBOs), working and campaigning in partnership with business, traditional leaders, state-owned enterprises (SoEs), and media to raise awareness about the abuse of women and children. Indeed, post 1994, as South Africans; we were progressing to solidify our hard-won freedom and democracy. Notwithstanding, as we entered our third term as ANC-led National Government, we realised that increased statistics about domestic violence, child rape and pornography and women abuse were reported both by police and to those NGOs dealing with women and children abuse. In the fourth term in 2009, it was vividly clear to us as ANC-led Government that, more needed to be done to consolidate our gains of the past 16 years then in Government as informed both by our lessons and mistakes as ANC Government.
Indeed, as we are here, yet again commemorating and celebrating the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children for the twelfth year, we all need to acknowledge that, this event had to surely evolve as prompted by the following recent historical developments. First, we are now having a special Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities established in 2009.
Secondly, we have, as Ministry of Police, re-introduced the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in 2010; and, thirdly, as a UN-member State, South Africa submitted to the UN in June 2011, a ground-breaking resolution that asked the International Body to undertake a study on discrimination and sexual orientation and related crimes.Chairperson, we as Government, led by the ANC, yet again find resonate to the wise words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jar, who said: “the arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice”. With all these developments as mentioned above, we yet again say the ANC-led government, with its long walk to freedom, has and is continuing to indeed help bend history towards justice!
Yes, admittedly, we could agree with the other NGOs, when they say: “changing laws and strategies can be swift, but giving them effect, and changing the mindsets that often render them ineffective, is a much more demanding task”. Just as on Monday, we still witnessed a hate-crime case of the late Zoliswa Nkonyana, dragging for six years with no apparent solution. Yes, justice cannot bring back Zoliswa Nkonyana, or a mother her daughter back. But visibly and swiftly prosecuting sexual violence and hate crimes, may tell the survivors of these crimes – and any potential perpetrator – that Government does care for all victims of crimes, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. But for us the Police, it is not enough to just change mindsets to make our laws effective.
It is also not enough to read into much of the recorded high statistics of gender-based and sexual violence against children. Statistics are there to observe and record factual trends of crime, so as to plan operations. Statistics are not solely there for picturing a gloomy, hopeless situation. As we know, statistics are not only at times unreliable, but they are also very abstract to the layperson. After all, behind all those statistics or percentage, there is always a one –one daughter, one child, one mother, one sister, who is violated or murdered, as we have seen with the case of Zoliswa Nkonyana. And each one is unique and irreplaceable. As leadership of Police, we continuously seek to align with Government’s approach to review and improve the way we fight all types of crimes. Thus, a fundamental paradigm shift in the core operations of the Police needed to be changed.
Changing the way Police operate in fighting and preventing crime meant a dramatic change in strategies. But, all these strategies are informed by three critical fundamental principles. Firstly, a high visibility of police in all crime hotpots whilst executing high-density operations. Secondly, an enhanced partnership in fighting and preventing crime between Police and other Government Departments such as SARS, Home Affairs, Transport, etc. And, thirdly, an enhanced responsibility of communities to work together with Government and Police to fight and prevent crime in our townships, suburbs, and the farming-rural community. The emphasis on community responsibility to help fight crime, is informed by the call made by our Government to working together to do more to make a better life for all our people. Chairperson and colleagues, as a Deputy Minister of Police, as a Woman, as a Mother, and as Grandmother, I think the third critical issue I just mentioned: that of the responsibility of communities is totally fundamental. Of extra fundamental, is the role of the family as part of the community, in fighting and preventing crime, especially, the fight against children and women abuse.
It is a fact that sexual violence against children and women hold the entire community into ransom. Women cannot walk freely to work, to neighbours, or to just take a jog. Children cannot get safely to schools. These days, schools are even themselves, haven for crimes. As we are here commemorating 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children, I want us to remember the fundamental role the parents ultimately play in the development, safety, and general wellness of their family and their children in particular. Yes, our Police have a key role in fighting and preventing crime in our society, especially during this time of festive season. But, we must all believe that fighting crime often begins with tackling unacceptable and anti-social behavior, beginning in the family sphere within the community. I am saying this because, scientific research has shown that, a high number of women and children have and are still being raped, murdered, molested and sexually exploited by those who are closer or familiar to them. South Africa cannot forget a high-profile case, which featured a British tourist as implicated in the murder of his wife. There is also another current trial involving yet again a spousal murder of a high court judge. And, then there were these horrific murders of four children in a space of a week in the Western Cape, just last month. These are all horrific crimes perpetrated by so-called “loved-ones” or people familiar within the family sphere! We are therefore saying, as we commemorate the beginning of 16 Days of Activism for no Violence against Women and Children, let us all enhance the partnership in fighting crime with police by emphasising the importance of family as part of the strong link with creating a safer environment for the young in particular. We have to support the multi-faceted approach also, endorsed by the leadership of Police that, a success of SAPS operations such as When Duty Calls and beyond, will largely be due to a close working relationship with the community at large, with the school in general, and with the family in particular.
As parents and families, we must catch the children early enough to teach and shape their knowledge, behavior and attitudes to safety and security matters. Therefore, we call for the parents, educators and community leaders to form a sustainable partnership with police because children’s earliest interactions occur within the family and communal sphere. Family and community members are the first ones to see earlier signs of risks or threats to the well being of the child. For instance, some signs of risk can be seen as early as infancy or early childhood, such as aggressive behavior, lack of self-control, or difficult temperament. As the child gets older, interactions with family, at school, and within the community can affect that child’s risk for later drug abuse, crime- prone, and being vulnerable to human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Our strategy as Police then has indeed shifted for the better and for the smarter, to effectively and efficiently address the vulnerability of our children and women to violence, abuse, and sexual exploitation. SAPS acknowledges that most of the times, family situations heighten a child’s risk for all sorts of abuses. It is also a fact that, when there is a lack attachment and nurturing by parents/caregivers; and where there is a parent who abuses alcohol, drugs, or who is violent, then the child is immediately put at risk at all levels of his/her formative years and development. It is with this reason that we, as Police Leadership, also encourages Programmes such as SAPS Women Prestige Award, where women police officers and civilians are encouraged to go beyond the call of duty, and help uplift families within the communities.
We are therefore proud of this year’s overall winner of this ward, Ms Dimpho Prudence Nkosi, who had also adopted a baby, amongst her outreach work, whose mother died when the baby boy was only a month old. Dimpho is one of the many unsung heroes and heroines of SAPS, who are building the public's trust and confidence and showing that police officers are visible and available, and that Police are always on communities side and keeping them safe. As SAPS, we are emphasising the Family/Parent factor as one of the strong link for Policing Partnership, solely because we know as parents and as mothers that,"Kids don't read their parents' lips, they watch their parents' actions. We have a challenge where children under 18 years of age live in a household where a parent or other adult uses illicit drugs or distribute drugs. We have children who live in a household where a parent or other adults are binge or heavy drinkers. We have children who live in a household where a parent or a relative is a child molester and woman beater. We are calling on Parents to use Police information on FCS Units to help themselves and their children develop preventive actions before problems occur. We are calling on schools and educators to strengthen learning and bonding at schools by addressing aggressive behaviours and poor concentration in partnership with Police.
We are calling on community leaders to assess community risk and protective factors associated with all types of crimes in our communities, and partner with our Police to prevent and combat crimes. We want to encourage our Policewomen and men to continue doing a sterling work in our quest to make South Africa a safer and a better place. In conclusion, as we go to COP 17, let us put this theme of climate change into context. Just as when natural disasters strike, those least empowered suffer the most. So, in the same vein, sexual violence prevention is inseperable from the empowerment of women, who still remain the least empowered.
I thank you.
Speech by Deputy Minister of Police, Ms Makhotso Maggie Sotyu at the NCOP Debate on 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children
