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Dear friends and fellow South Africans.

For generations South Africans have struggled to achieve a free,
democratic, non-sexist, non-racist and prosperous country, in which
the measure of opportunities and dignity is not based on skin colour,
gender or financial means.

Many have given their lives to reaching this goal, and our shared
history is replete with heroes and heroines who have brought us
closer. As we join the world in marking 16 Days of Activism for No
Violence Against Women and Children, we are standing on the shoulders
of these giants. Knowing what they achieved and knowing the difficult
path that still lies ahead, we are committing ourselves to take the
struggle further.

Violence and abuse of women and children is pervasive in our society;
it is happening across South Africa. But it is not a cultural thing.
It is never acceptable. I think we need to shatter the myths as 16
Days urges us: ?Don't Look Away!?

The IFP Women's Brigade has a legacy of being at the vanguard of human
rights protection. Our women are continually educating the most
vulnerable segments of our communities about their rights and
recourse. I encourage them to never tire in the pursuit of justice,
equality, security and dignity for all our people.

This pursuit has not been fruitless. South Africa has come a long way
since the dawn of democracy in terms of changing laws and policies to
protect women and children. Among this legislation is the Domestic
Violence Act of 1998, the Children's Act of 2005, the Maintenance Act
of 1998, the Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair
Discrimination Act of 2000, and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and
Related Matters) Amendment Act of 2007.

This list translates into a tangible change in the way we deal with
violence and abuse against women and children. For example, last month
we were all shocked by a rape case that caught the attention of the
media, in which a 15 year old girl claimed she had been raped by two
fellow learners at Jules High School in Johannesburg. The boys were 14
and 16 years old. But shortly thereafter, the young girl admitted in
court that it had been consensual sex, and all three were charged with
statutory rape.

The public response was one of shock and outrage. The Young Communists
League called the decision to charge the young girl ?yet another
indictment to the women of this country? who ?still slave away under a
patriarchal criminal justice machinery.? The ANC Youth League went
further, calling on the Public Prosecutor to ?drop criminal charges?
against all three learners, reasoning that the incident ?is not really
rape?.

But these responses fail to take into account that the law relating to
sexual offences has changed, in order to ensure gender equality.
Sexual intercourse with a minor is against the law, and a minor is
anyone under 16 years of age. Until recently, this applied only to
girls, as the court ? and society - has traditionally held the view
that men cannot be victims of rape. But we know that this is not true,
and in order to protect young boys from sexual assault and sexual
indecency, South Africa changed its law so that provisions on
statutory rape ? which simply means sex with a minor ? apply to both
males and females.

Thus, the youngsters in the Jules High School case are not victims of
?a patriarchal criminal justice machinery?, but are rather among the
first to be prosecuted under new legislation that ensures gender
equality in the protection of our children.

What really baffles me is the statement by the ANC Youth League that
this was not really rape, and that therefore there should be no
repercussions for any of the three. By prosecuting these learners, in
accordance with the requirements of our law, the court was able to
place them in a diversion programme, which means they will receive
guidance, counseling and instruction to equip them to make better and
healthier lifestyle choices in the years to come.

South Africa is taking slow but meaningful strides towards creating a
non-sexist democracy in which children are protected. It is not
helpful when the ANC Youth League jumps up and down over legislation
passed by the ANC-led Government. It should have been a big red
warning flag to all of us when the President of the ANC Youth League,
Mr Julius Malema, refused to abide by the ruling of the Equality Court
that found him guilty of hate speech, when he jovially claimed that a
woman in a rape claim had actually enjoyed herself.

Violence against women and children flourishes in an environment in
which their dignity is disregarded and their status diminished. It is
not limited to single people, or poor people, or uneducated people, or
even people of one nationality or skin colour. Violence against women
and children is found in every culture and every society.

But some countries, like our own, have more fertile ground for the
development of abusive situations. The stresses we live under as South
Africans are tremendous. Our unemployment levels are high, as are the
levels of crime and poverty. Corruption plagues our leadership.
HIV/Aids plagues our families. And a lack of access to basic services
is still a problem for far too many of our people.

The message of ubuntu botho suffers in a society where we have
difficulty taking care of ourselves, never mind others. But in my 82
years I have seen women do remarkably selfless work for the sake of
others. I have seen women sacrificing to meet the needs of their
communities, and I have seen women who are all but strangers pull
together to create cooperatives, vegetable gardens and development
projects.

This has taught me time and again that women are the backbone of our
society, and I have founded the IFP on the principle of promoting the
role, strength and contribution of women. It has pained me to see our
opponents accuse the IFP of persecuting women. For throughout my own
political career, and throughout the 35 year history of the IFP, I
have championed women and seen to it that women are valued, empowered
and promoted. I have taken many pioneering steps to protect the rights
of women in law and in practice.

In the same way, the IFP is committed to empowering South Africa's
youth to liberate themselves from the bonds of poverty, unemployment
and a lack of opportunities. From SADESMO, which supports students at
institutions of tertiary education, to our MPs, like Mrs Pat
Lebenya-Ntanzi, the Acting Chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade, who
sits on the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth,
Children and People with Disabilities ? the IFP is working for our
youth.

Our youth need support. Our children need protection. Where national
structures are failing, people of goodwill need to step in. Indeed,
wherever there is need, abuse or violence, the people of goodwill need
to speak out and take action. Abuse can only continue when it is
hidden. Our communities need to break the silence that tacitly
consents to violence in our homes and on our streets.

For generations we have struggled for a just, non-sexist, non-racist,
democratic South Africa. Let us continue that struggle as we seek to
change the hearts and minds of our people. Let us keep taking giant
strides forward in the protection of our women and children. Let us
create a future in which all our country's children can reach their
full potential, without fear and pain. May our women of the future
live in safety.

On the 10th of December, as 16 Days of Activism ends, South Africa
will celebrate International Human Rights Day. In this way, we will
join hands with the world in seeking a better tomorrow, and the IFP
Women's Brigade will be at the forefront of this cause. I am proud of
our women.

Yours in the service of the nation,

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP