Good afternoon, House Chair

The topics of these debates are becoming lazy. This is the Youth Debate topic, copy, paste and slight edit. We can’t keep talking about resilience, as said previously, young people and women should not have to be resilient, we are forced to be.

We cannot see socio-economic rights or empowerment having any true meaning when we are merely trying to stay alive and peaceful. Day 31 of women’s month, it’s always bittersweet.

We must accept the fact that it has become problematic, commercialized and clout chasing and romanticizes a painful existence riddled with violence in every aspect. It feels like being put on a pedestal made of water, collapsing at the brim, then back to the struggle for the remaining 334 days.

The struggle is continuous, living in South Africa is wild. We have a Police Minister using rape and lucky in the same sentence and trying to justify it without recognizing his comments were offensive to many. I guarantee, the ANC will unashamedly justify it to death, just like President Ramaphosa did yesterday, referring to it “being lost in translation”, we must speak about content.

Self-reflection is hard, but it is necessary to have the ability to recognize and admit when we are wrong and apologize, this is important for any person but more especially for leaders in our society.

There is a lack of self-awareness and a lack of accountability, this is a clear example from Minster Cele’s arrogance. It is infuriating because it shows that the Minister does not care and believes that what he said is perfectly ok – WILD! South Africa remains the rape capital of the world, one of the most violent societies for women.

We are sold porcelain dreams that shatter every day when another woman is claimed as a victim of violence. President Ramaphosa comes to Parliament and gives us stats, as if we don’t live these stats every day. He owes the women of this country decisive actions and must fire those Ministers who do not care, who have no political or moral will and the solutions we have hand fed them across the years.

Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) are a great resource, but they are struggling and it limits the amount of work they can do, with no change in sight. When a TCC does not have the ability to provide a range of its services, then it is not working optimally and it is directly affecting women on the ground.

President Ramaphosa must speak on the true state of TCCs across the country instead of selling an unrealistic expectation. As women we are tired, living in this country is exhausting enough, the least you can do is be straight up and honest! We must keep up the fight for women’s rights, equality and justice.

The road remains long, difficult and testing but we must put on our armor and defend our sovereignty as women for we are not only fighting for ourselves but for entire generations to come.

I thank you