Presidency, during the Lusikisiki Imbizo on girl child abductions, forced and
early marriages
24 March 2009
Programme director
Chairperson of Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA)
Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana
Amakhosi ngokuphelela kwawo
Mayor of OR Tambo District Municipality
Members of the Executive Council
Councillors
Our special guests - parents and children
Ndiyanibulisa mzi wase Lusikisiki, "Bhotani"
In less than 30 days from today millions of our people will be going to
elections as part of exercising their democratic right to choose a government
of their own. This will be the fourth time that South Africans of all races and
colour will be exercising this very important democratic right.
Equally important and significant, in 33 days from today, as South Africans
we will be marking the 15th anniversary of Freedom Day, a day that reminds all
of us of that historic moment on 27 April 1994 when the world witnessed what no
one thought was going to happen in our life time. For the children of
Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Bizana among others, can we as we are gathered here
today assure them that like all South Africans, this day is significant and
bears meaning for them as well us?
Of course when we first exercised the right to choose a government of our
choice in 1994 we were clear in what we wanted that democratic government to do
for us as far as transforming our society is concerned. Indeed our democratic
government, led of course by our organisation, the African National Congress
(ANC) set out a clear vision and programme in carrying out this work of
transforming our society. A lot has been done, especially in the area of
affirming the space and role of women in our society. This of course was done,
partly, in collaboration with various formations in our society including the
institution of ubukhosi bendabuko (traditional leadership).
More still needs to be done though, and as the ANC and government we will
count on the institution of traditional leadership to assist us in ensuring
that this democracy that we all fought for is indeed enjoyed by all including
girl children in all our rural areas including young girls here in
Lusikisiki.
It is very critical that this becomes a reality because if we fail in
achieving this we will not only be compromising our democracy, we will be
bequeathing to future generations a society and a legacy that no one will be
proud of. Nkosi Nonkonyana, allow me to humbly appeal to you to help us making
this dream a reality!
As a continent and as black people in particular, our culture, traditions
and heritage have always defined who we are. Among the many things that
characterise this culture, history and heritage are the many wars fought over
borders and boundaries, traditional leadership and of course phenomena of
social life such as marriages. It is the latter that I wish to confine myself
to this afternoon.
It is a known fact that like other cultures elsewhere in the world, arranged
marriages and ukuthwalwa are factors in our society that we are still faced
with. This practice of arranged marriages and ukuthwalwa still happens in many
parts of our country despite the democracy ushered in by the 1994 historic
moment. A critical and fundamental question begs to be asked therefore: Is this
practice of ukuthwalwa (and arranged marriages especially where young girls are
involved) something that we want to hold dear for future generations to
inherit? Do we as parents and leaders take pride in this practice? Can we
honestly and with confidence say that if we took a decision to do away with
this practice we would in essence lose our sense of identity and being as black
South Africans? Would one of our most famous sons of South Africa and Bizana
Cde OR Tambo support this kind of practice if was here with us today?
I will not even undertake to provide an answer to this question at this
stage. What I can say with utmost certainty however is that this practice
denies our girl children of their right to choose (in this context the right to
choose a husband). As we know this right is enshrined in our Constitution and
just three days ago we were commemorating and celebrating this right.
Apart from denying them the right and freedom to choose, this practice has a
tendency of denying these children, our children, life opportunities such as
education, and exposes them to social responsibilities such as parenthood for
which they are ill-prepared. Even more worrying though, this practice has yet
another consequence of exposing these children, our children, to sexually
transmitted infections (including HIV and AIDS) which are placing a huge burden
on our country's health system.
South Africa has a proud history when it comes to the struggle for
children's rights. It was young black South Africans, many of them children,
who played a leading role in the country's liberation. We are now celebrating
fifteen years of democracy in our country. We are all expected to make efforts
in strengthening our democracy to better the lives of all.
The denial of children's rights under apartheid, and the brutal treatment of
those who resisted, spawned a deep child-rights consciousness in those who were
to make the new state, as well as a commitment of putting the children first so
as to ensure their well-being and positive development.
The South African Bill of Rights is unique in granting children in South
Africa specific rights that are aligned with international instruments such as
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the context of
our African traditions, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the
Child.
All these developments and achievements need to be celebrated. But we need
to be mindful that, as much as we have made significant progress in ensuring
that the lives of children are improved, South Africa still faces challenges
with regard to the protection and development of children. As we have this
discussion today, let us do so with a clear sense of the kind of society that
we want our children to live in. They need our protection. They also have to
benefit from this freedom and democracy that they fought for.
As this collective we are meeting today to address what in our own view,
constitutes violation of children's human rights - the issue of girls who are
forced into early marriages with grown up men. We have learnt that, this
practice is still happening in the areas of Eastern Pondoland which covers
Lusikisiki, Flagstaff, Bizana and others.
It came to our attention as government that girls between the ages of 12 and
15 years are targeted for this practice called "Ukuthwala", meaning that when a
man wants to marry a woman that he never proposed love to, he will inform the
girl's family about his intention and a plan would be devised to abduct the
little girl. Apparently, these abductions happen when the girls are on their
way to fetch water or wood.
As much as people may argue that it is a cultural practice, we would like to
humbly sensitise everybody in this country that it is a practice that is
extremely contrary to the upliftment of human rights. As mothers, what role do
we see ourselves playing in putting an end to this practice? Are the fathers,
grandfathers, uncles and brothers seeing a role for themselves in this
practice? What kind of role is it?
The law in our country does not allow for any marriages to take place as
long as ages are below sixteen. In this case, it is even worse because it has
an element of girls being forced into this relationship.
We have also learnt that, there are times these girls are forced to marry
older men who are HIV positive. In my life as Minister of Health I have
consistently fought this myth that if a HIV positive man sleeps with a young
virgin he will be cured of this infection. I want to repeat, this is simply not
true. Having sex with a young girl will not cure anyone of the virus.
Further, as government, we would like to emphasise that, of course being
guided by the law, consent is an essential requirement in all marital regimes
in South Africa, including in customary marriages. Therefore, forced marriages
and abductions are legally criminalised.
Child marriage is regarded as a form of gender-based violence against girl
child. Given this, we need to acknowledge that this practice will ultimately
compromise the development of the girl child and can result in early
pregnancies, increasing the chances of maternal mortality. Furthermore, the
young girl will suffer from social isolation, with little or no education, poor
vocational training, responsible for household chores in running families at
young age, will increase her vulnerability to domestic violence. This simply
then reinforces the gendered nature of poverty.
We need to acknowledge that, as a country and collectively, we have a
potential to present far more developmental opportunities for our children as
systems of delivery are strengthened. Our government is continuously engaging
with the traditional leadership on a number of issues. We ensure that, this
collective working relationship continue, to also manage the development and
protection of our children.
In the words of one of the heroes and leaders of our country Oliver Reginald
Tambo, "A country that does not value its children does not deserve a
future".
In conclusion, I want to appeal to all of us to ensure that the work of
transforming our society that we started in 1994 is continued beyond the 22
April elections. Let us go out there and vote for the organisation that we know
will ensure that this project of deepening democracy and transforming our
society is indeed continued. The children of Lusikisiki and Bizana are also
waiting for this transformation. We can't fail them!
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
24 March 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)
