Date: 08/04/2006
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mlambo-Ngcuka: Northern Cape Moral Regeneration Summit


  Address by the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the Northern Cape Province Moral Regeneration Summit,

Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Dipuo Peters,
Members of the Provincial Executive Council,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Esteemed Judge President and members of the Judiciary,
Traditional leaders,
Religious leaders,
Business leaders,
Community representatives,
Mayors and councillors,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honoured to be part of this auspicious gathering of the people of Northern Cape, when they meet to look at the moral state of affairs in their province. This summit gives me hope and indeed the entire country should be inspired by such actions. It shows that as people we are concerned about the moral well being of our nation.

The moral degeneration of our country which has manifested itself in various ways such as the high rate of abuse of women and children, abuse of our senior citizens, abuse of alcoholic substances and drugs, members of the security services shooting people at the slightest provocation, the rise of child headed households as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic and many other forms are both unacceptable and will soon reach a crisis point if not combated soon. These issues go to the core of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) business.

I hope that as you were meeting since Monday you have deliberated around these critical matters and formulated responses that will help combat women and child abuse. Among some of those responses we need to look closely and critically at the impact of alcohol and the abuse of drugs in exacerbating the spread of women, child and abuse of the elderly. Most of the cases of abuse of women and rape are reported after weekends after people were engaged in heavy drinking sprees.

This shows that alcohol abuse and abuse of other substances plays a role in the spread of violence directed at women. We also need to deal with the attitude of men who think that by buying drinks for women that gives them a right to do as they wish with them. Buying drinks for a woman does not give you a right to force yourself on her. It does not give you a right to rape her. If she is not willing to be with you after a night of drinking together it does not mean that you must compel her to have sex with you. That is a crime.

This year in particular we cannot tolerate any women abuse as we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Women’s March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria which took place on 8 August 1956. The celebration of that heroic and historic women’s struggle calls upon us to be extra vigilant about the rights and the dignity of women in our country. We must re-affirm our commitment in fighting against women and child abuse.

The 50th Anniversary of the Women’s March speaks of the important role that women have played in our country. We cannot therefore allow a situation which continues to allow women to be subjected to human rights violations. Women fought for those rights and the democratic dispensation we have today. The Bill of Rights powerfully affirms women’s rights and says that: “Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.”

It further states that “everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected… to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources; not to be tortured in any way…”. This means that the safety of our citizens and the respect of human dignity are enshrined in our Bill of Rights. The Government has put in place mechanisms to enable the realisation of these rights but the responsibility of ensuring the safety of women and children in our homes and our bedrooms, in our playing fields and schools, indeed everywhere, is our joint responsibility as citizens.

Our country cannot be found to be wanting when it comes to the protection and promotion of these rights. It must take all the necessary measures to ensure that women not only enjoy these sacred rights, but must also ensure that their right to dignity is practised at all levels.

When we meet today we must send the strongest message possible that people who abuse, rape and torture women and children cannot be tolerated. Such people have no place in our society and we will do everything in our power to ensure that they face the full force of the law and of public opinion, operating within the law.

We must categorically state that “if you rape you go to jail”. The laws of our country are there to protect the people, to give the people access to justice and to punish those who prey on the weak and vulnerable. Women’s rights to dignity and equality are enshrined in our legal framework – today all women and men here should commit themselves to defending these rights.

In this regard, to further strengthen our fight against women, the Department of Justice is reviewing the proposed amendments to the new Sexual Offences Bill and this legislation will come before us for finalisation in Parliament this year. This law must show the sensitivity to women who are survivors of violence, it must empathise with women who find themselves in abusive situations.

Many women who have been victims of violence want a number of things to be done to see to it that this violence perpetuated against women ends, among them they want:

* Sexual Offences Act passed.
* Proper reporting of incidents of Domestic Violence, as promised in the Domestic Violence Act.
* Male rape identified as just that and not as sexual assault.
* More publicity for services that we do offer so that people know what is available to help them. * Conviction rates of offenders to be drastically increased.
* More support groups for victims of gender-based violence, including the MRM playing a bigger role in helping the victims of violence.
* Community Policing Forums taking a more active role in their communities.

We would like to see much bolder and visible actions from the MRM, to show that the situation about the moral state of our country is urgent. We need to see MRM playing a much more pivotal role in ensuring that its programmes permeate the whole of society. Urgent actions must be taken to strengthen MRM activities in all spheres of Government structures and ensuring that such actions are better co-ordinated for MRM to be more effective and visible.

MRM needs to play its role in Social Cohesion programmes, be part of building moral fibre of our society, and be part of processes that are geared towards ensuring that we build a country that cares about its citizens. We look forward to MRM to play a leading role in ensuring that children who are orphaned are cared for, to ensure that the destitute, the elderly and the weak are cared for.

We also expect MRM to play a pivotal role in our anti corruption and crime combating initiatives.

We are aware of the critical role that MRM is involved in trying to combat crime in many communities, its work among the poor and weak, its work among young people who are on rehabilitation centres. The opportunities that it offers to young who are prepared to listen to its alternative behavioural practises. All these are worthy causes that need to be commended which are part of what MRM is doing.

In conclusion I wish you well and hope that your summit will achieve its objectives which are:

* To maximise the participation and commitment of sectors in driving the activities of the movement;
* Working towards a campaign that is sustained and to develop programmes that will have an impact and stem the tide of moral decay in our communities.
* Consolidating the strategies aimed at greater grass-root involvement in driving the campaign and ensuring that there is buy-in at all critical levels.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
8 April 2006