Programme Director
Premier of Gauteng
MEC for Community Safety
Tshwane Mayor
Councilors present
Community of Atteridgeville
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We are here today to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism Campaign on No Violence against Women and Children. The Campaign starts today to coincide with International Day for No Violence against Women and it will continue until December 10, which is International Human Rights Day. With the event we are having today, we are demonstrating South Africa’s commitment to the global effort to stop gender based violence.
South Africa has run this campaign since 1999; therefore this year marks the 12th anniversary of the Campaign in the country. While it started with a focus on gender based violence, the 16 Days Campaign has evolved to include issues relating to violence against children as well. Since the establishment of the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities (DWCPD), the campaign is being broadened to also look at issues of violence against women and children with disabilities.
The Theme for this year is: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Proliferation of Small Arms and their Role in Domestic Violence.”
In line with this theme, I would like to today talk about domestic violence so that we all understand what it is and how we can protect ourselves when we are faced with this problem.
The conduct which constitutes domestic violence may be divided into different categories which include:
- physical
- emotional
- psychological
- sexual
- and economic abuse between persons who are in a domestic relationship with one another.
In addition, the conduct between persons who are in a relationship which also qualifies as domestic violence include:
- intimidation
- harassment
- stalking
- damaging of property
- entry into the residence of the victim without consent, where the parties do not share the same residence
- or, any other controlling or abusive behaviour towards a victim, where such conduct harms, or may cause harm to the safety, health or well-being of the victim.
When you are faced with any of these problems, we need to approach the police to seek help. We have the Domestic Violence Act which indicates what police need to do under these circumstances.
The Act requires police officers to determine whether you as a complainant you are in any danger and take all reasonable steps to protect you from any further harm. This includes confiscating firearm – legal or illegal and any other weapon that may be used to harm the victim.
The police are also required to provide assistance to the complainant as may reasonably be required in the circumstances. As a victim of violence, you have a right to lay a criminal charge against the person who is abusing you. You also have a right to apply for a protection order to stop him or her from further abusing you. You can exercise both of these rights together or separately, it depends on how you want to deal with your circumstances.
Police are also required to assist you to find a suitable shelter or make arrangements for the complainant to find suitable shelter. They must assist you or make arrangements for you to obtain medical treatment if this is necessary like in cases of physical and sexual assault.
I must emphasise that it is not only the police officers who are required to take action against abuse. Health workers who are treating someone who have been abused have a duty to assist that person to lay charge or use any provision of the Domestic Violence Act to protect themselves. Also the Children’s Act requires anyone in position of authority, for example a teacher, church or community leader, to report to the police or social workers if they suspect that there is an incident of abuse against a child.
The Campaign we are launching here today seeks to mobilise all of us as members of the community to also join in this effort. When we know that someone is being abused in our own home or in our neighbour’s house, we have a duty to report that. We also have a duty to stand in court as witnesses to make sure that these abusers are prosecuted successfully.
Domestic violence is not something that should be left to families to resolve. An uncle who rapes a niece needs to face the full might of the law. Once a crime has been committed, let us allow the law to take its course. We have to work together to reduce the number of sexual offences, attacks and murder of women and children in our country.
The Green Door Campaign that is going to be launched this afternoon is part of the efforts by Gauteng government to provide support to victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse.
Over the next 16 Days, this campaign will also focus on other problems facing women and children including killing related to witchcraft. Tomorrow, we will have a sod turning ceremony for a memorial park to be built in honour of Masego Kgomo. Masego was a 10 year-old girl from Soshanguve who was allegedly raped and murdered and her body parts removed for muti purposes.
We will also meet will meet will traditional healers and other stakeholders to discuss measures that need to be taken to stop incidents of ritual or muti killing.
I also urge you to join us on November 28 at Pretoria High Court where Masego’s murderer is expected to be sentenced. Our department has submitted a motivation to the court to impose the heaviest possible sentence in this case.
The 16 Days Campaign will end on December 10 with an event to be addressed by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe outside Ermelo in Mpumalanga. The event will include the launch of the National Council against Gender Based Violence to coordinate a multi-sectoral response to this scourge, and drive the 365 National Action Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.
Murderers and rapists have no place in our community. Let us work together with the police, prosecutors and courts to make sure that these criminals are arrested and convicted of crimes they commit against women and children.
Let us use the laws available to create peace in our homes, in our community and in the world.
Thank you.
