Date: 13/12/2002
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: 16 Days of Activism
ADDRESS BY MPUMALANGA PREMIER NJ MAHLANGU AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM ON NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN, KaNyamazane Hall, 13 December 2002
Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
A little over two weeks ago we joined thousands of South Africans in a campaign to Blow the Whistle on the abuse of women and children. The campaign was part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.
On that day all caring political leaders across party-political lines joined public servants, business, organised labour, artists, sports personalities, NGOs, CBOs and faith-based organisations in fighting violence against women and children. This was a campaign that is aimed at getting each one of us to mobilise for zero violence against women and children and working to combat it.
On that day we promised to expose, oppose and combat all violence directed at women and children - in whatever form - wherever we encounter it; be it in our homes, our workplace or in the community. As we come to the end of that 16 Days of Activism let us pause and see how much we have achieved.
More than 130 000 South Africans signed the pledge thus adding their voice to those in our society who are prepared to do extra-ordinary things to combat violence directed at women and children, wherever it occurs.
They vowed never again to keep quite when they know of abuse taking place. It is my conviction that we have been able to get more people onto the side of those who have for years been actively involved in bringing into the open a matter considered by many as a private one. We got our traditional leaders, young and old men, workers and learners to take to the streets in sending a clear message to those, who abuse women and children, that their time is up.
Indeed our campaign scored an important victory in that regard. The challenge for all of us is to build on our victories and to ensure that we do more to get those, who use women and children as punching bags change their way. We must work hard to ensure that the victims of abuse as well as neighbours, friends and family members report abuse to the authorities. We must make sure that every home in our street is safe. We should also remember that while the 16 Days campaign may be ending today, our ultimate goal is to eradicate violence against women and children. Therefore the struggle continues.
ALUTA CONTINUA!
But as we celebrate our victory let us spare a thought for those women, young girls and children who died from being assaulted and sexually abused in homes or on the streets. Let us think of the young defenceless toddlers and children who suffered abuse at the hands of their parents or relatives.
A few weeks ago a 26 year-old mother of one was raped and shot five times by armed robbers in Msogwaba near Nelspruit. Apparently two armed men approached the women and her friend as they walked to a night vigil. One of the women allegedly tried to fight them off. She was shot once and fell down.
While on the ground the two robbers raped her and later shot her four more times In another incident we read about the sorry plight of a four year-old old at a hospital in Nelspruit who cries every time personnel touches her.
The reason? The last adult who touched her did so violently. Not only did he abuse her, but he also raped the little girl. This man is the little girl's stepfather. How base can one get? He was obviously not satisfied sleeping with the girl's mother, but also saw the young girl as easy prey. The little girl from Matsulu has difficulty walking and has signs of bruising on her body and other signs of physical assault and anal penetration are also visible. And in Witbank another animal calling himself a stepfather forced himself on a toddler.
The poor toddler repeatedly suffered such severe abuse at the hands of his stepfather that he has to spend the next four months in hospital. Surely these incidents make absolutely no sense. Animals don't rape. They don't sleep with their young.
I believe that with each one of us lending a hand, we can overcome domestic violence and abuse of women, children and the disabled.
As a people we must create a climate in our province and our country hostile to crime, including crimes against the elderly, women, children and the disabled.
We surely must do whatever is necessary to effect that RDP of the soul. Real men don't rape. Real men don't abuse women.
I know that gender violence is still a taboo subject. Some people may look on male violence against women as legally intolerable, but it is still considered an acceptable part of life in many societies, including by its victims.
In many places it is considered a private matter, not to be discussed publicly. This is an unacceptable situation. Gender violence, rape and other forms of sexual abuse are gross violations of human rights. For too many families, gender violence rips apart the fabric of their lives. It is a tragedy they must confront every day.
Mothers are often too afraid to speak out. Even when they are victims of constant and brutal abuse, they prefer to stick it out because "EMENDWENI KUYABEKEZELWA". There are things that can be tolerated. Violence and constant beating and abuse ARE NOT one of them.
Talk to you in-laws. Talk to your family. Talk to your friends. Mothers often know that their children are being abused, yet are afraid to speak out. Let me stress that the health consequences of abuse are not limited to the obvious risk - getting infected with HIV by the abuser.
Children who are abused are wounded in their self-esteem; they feel dirty, ashamed, they lose faith in others. Later in life this may lead to many kinds of AIDS risk behaviour such as drug use, prostitution and unprotected sex.
For boys too, physical abuse as a social norm is carried over from generation to generation. Boys who watch their fathers abuse their mothers are more likely to become abusers themselves, thus perpetuating the cycle.
Programme Director, in partnership with all sectors of society, we must continue to give absolute priority to violence against women and children.
We must do this in partnership with religious bodies, trade unions, traditional leaders, youth structures, civic associations, women's organisations and others.
All of us must lend a hand so that we create that better life for all our people.
As we tackle the issues of moral regeneration, HIV/AIDS, racism and poverty, let us do so constantly thinking about our ultimate goal: A better life for all - black and white.
After all we all agreed that the global struggle to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment is fundamental to the well being of human society.
We know this as a matter of fact that the struggle to eradicate that poverty and underdevelopment in our own country is fundamental to the achievement of our own national goal to build a caring and people-centred society.
Clearly that better life cannot happen in the context of and in a climate of abuse and violence.
I believe, therefore, that it is important for all of us to educate each other about the evils of women and child abuse. Programme Director, on this joyous occasion my family and I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.
This Christmas let's take the time to give thanks for the blessings of the year just passed, to rejoice in our children, to enjoy the company of family and friends.
During this period I trust that everybody will continue to drive carefully. It is important that we reduce radically death and injury on our roads. All of us have to arrive alive, and that requires that all of us act together to protect the lives of our people.
Drive safely.
May the spirit of the season be with you today and throughout the new year.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless you all.
Thank you very much
Issued by Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga
13 December 2002
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: 16 Days of Activism
ADDRESS BY MPUMALANGA PREMIER NJ MAHLANGU AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM ON NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN, KaNyamazane Hall, 13 December 2002
Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
A little over two weeks ago we joined thousands of South Africans in a campaign to Blow the Whistle on the abuse of women and children. The campaign was part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.
On that day all caring political leaders across party-political lines joined public servants, business, organised labour, artists, sports personalities, NGOs, CBOs and faith-based organisations in fighting violence against women and children. This was a campaign that is aimed at getting each one of us to mobilise for zero violence against women and children and working to combat it.
On that day we promised to expose, oppose and combat all violence directed at women and children - in whatever form - wherever we encounter it; be it in our homes, our workplace or in the community. As we come to the end of that 16 Days of Activism let us pause and see how much we have achieved.
More than 130 000 South Africans signed the pledge thus adding their voice to those in our society who are prepared to do extra-ordinary things to combat violence directed at women and children, wherever it occurs.
They vowed never again to keep quite when they know of abuse taking place. It is my conviction that we have been able to get more people onto the side of those who have for years been actively involved in bringing into the open a matter considered by many as a private one. We got our traditional leaders, young and old men, workers and learners to take to the streets in sending a clear message to those, who abuse women and children, that their time is up.
Indeed our campaign scored an important victory in that regard. The challenge for all of us is to build on our victories and to ensure that we do more to get those, who use women and children as punching bags change their way. We must work hard to ensure that the victims of abuse as well as neighbours, friends and family members report abuse to the authorities. We must make sure that every home in our street is safe. We should also remember that while the 16 Days campaign may be ending today, our ultimate goal is to eradicate violence against women and children. Therefore the struggle continues.
ALUTA CONTINUA!
But as we celebrate our victory let us spare a thought for those women, young girls and children who died from being assaulted and sexually abused in homes or on the streets. Let us think of the young defenceless toddlers and children who suffered abuse at the hands of their parents or relatives.
A few weeks ago a 26 year-old mother of one was raped and shot five times by armed robbers in Msogwaba near Nelspruit. Apparently two armed men approached the women and her friend as they walked to a night vigil. One of the women allegedly tried to fight them off. She was shot once and fell down.
While on the ground the two robbers raped her and later shot her four more times In another incident we read about the sorry plight of a four year-old old at a hospital in Nelspruit who cries every time personnel touches her.
The reason? The last adult who touched her did so violently. Not only did he abuse her, but he also raped the little girl. This man is the little girl's stepfather. How base can one get? He was obviously not satisfied sleeping with the girl's mother, but also saw the young girl as easy prey. The little girl from Matsulu has difficulty walking and has signs of bruising on her body and other signs of physical assault and anal penetration are also visible. And in Witbank another animal calling himself a stepfather forced himself on a toddler.
The poor toddler repeatedly suffered such severe abuse at the hands of his stepfather that he has to spend the next four months in hospital. Surely these incidents make absolutely no sense. Animals don't rape. They don't sleep with their young.
I believe that with each one of us lending a hand, we can overcome domestic violence and abuse of women, children and the disabled.
As a people we must create a climate in our province and our country hostile to crime, including crimes against the elderly, women, children and the disabled.
We surely must do whatever is necessary to effect that RDP of the soul. Real men don't rape. Real men don't abuse women.
I know that gender violence is still a taboo subject. Some people may look on male violence against women as legally intolerable, but it is still considered an acceptable part of life in many societies, including by its victims.
In many places it is considered a private matter, not to be discussed publicly. This is an unacceptable situation. Gender violence, rape and other forms of sexual abuse are gross violations of human rights. For too many families, gender violence rips apart the fabric of their lives. It is a tragedy they must confront every day.
Mothers are often too afraid to speak out. Even when they are victims of constant and brutal abuse, they prefer to stick it out because "EMENDWENI KUYABEKEZELWA". There are things that can be tolerated. Violence and constant beating and abuse ARE NOT one of them.
Talk to you in-laws. Talk to your family. Talk to your friends. Mothers often know that their children are being abused, yet are afraid to speak out. Let me stress that the health consequences of abuse are not limited to the obvious risk - getting infected with HIV by the abuser.
Children who are abused are wounded in their self-esteem; they feel dirty, ashamed, they lose faith in others. Later in life this may lead to many kinds of AIDS risk behaviour such as drug use, prostitution and unprotected sex.
For boys too, physical abuse as a social norm is carried over from generation to generation. Boys who watch their fathers abuse their mothers are more likely to become abusers themselves, thus perpetuating the cycle.
Programme Director, in partnership with all sectors of society, we must continue to give absolute priority to violence against women and children.
We must do this in partnership with religious bodies, trade unions, traditional leaders, youth structures, civic associations, women's organisations and others.
All of us must lend a hand so that we create that better life for all our people.
As we tackle the issues of moral regeneration, HIV/AIDS, racism and poverty, let us do so constantly thinking about our ultimate goal: A better life for all - black and white.
After all we all agreed that the global struggle to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment is fundamental to the well being of human society.
We know this as a matter of fact that the struggle to eradicate that poverty and underdevelopment in our own country is fundamental to the achievement of our own national goal to build a caring and people-centred society.
Clearly that better life cannot happen in the context of and in a climate of abuse and violence.
I believe, therefore, that it is important for all of us to educate each other about the evils of women and child abuse. Programme Director, on this joyous occasion my family and I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.
This Christmas let's take the time to give thanks for the blessings of the year just passed, to rejoice in our children, to enjoy the company of family and friends.
During this period I trust that everybody will continue to drive carefully. It is important that we reduce radically death and injury on our roads. All of us have to arrive alive, and that requires that all of us act together to protect the lives of our people.
Drive safely.
May the spirit of the season be with you today and throughout the new year.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless you all.
Thank you very much
Issued by Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga
13 December 2002
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