Date: 25/11/2002
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Omar: 16 Days of Activism: Breakfast Train


SPEECH BY ABDULAH MOHAMED OMAR, MP, MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, AT BREAKFAST TRAIN, Park Station, Johannesburg, 25 November 2002

1. We are greatly honoured by the presence at Park Station today of South Africa's First Lady, our First Lady, giving a huge boost and impetus to the programme of "16 Days Of Activism: No Violence Against Women and Children". We thank our First Lady and look forward to her address to us at Park Station but also to the whole nation.

2. We want to thank management at Park Station, Intersite and South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC). Without you we would not be here today. Of course you have made Park Station available on previous occasions and we commend you for all your initiatives, enthusiasm and support. Metrorail, also not for the first time, has made a train available for the symbolic ride to Pretoria. I say thank you to Metrorail as well. To the many individual workers and to the trade unions that have also come out in support of the event, we also express appreciation.

3. During the next 16 days commencing today, activities and events have been organised involving government, institutions, civil society and the private sector. The central message in all these events and activities is: "Say No to Violence Against Women And Children. Let Us Build Respect For Mothers, Sisters And Our Children". And because this is a transport sector venue we also add "Say No To Violence On Trains, Buses And Taxis".

4. We want to send out a message of hope to our mothers, sisters and children. We will work together to end the violence against women, children and especially the girl child. The culture of violence in which women, girls and children generally are the victims, is not part of the culture of a free South Africa. The culture of a free South Africa is one that respects everyone's freedom, including women. The culture of a free South Africa respects everyone's human rights. And women's rights are human rights. The culture of violence is alien to the culture of our liberation struggle. Today we pledge to overcome and destroy the culture of violence in our society. Slowly we build a society, which respects the life and dignity of all our people and which will not accept, violence against women and children.

4. Much of the violence against women and children takes place in the family, in the home or amongst family friends. Only we can stop that violence from occurring - not the police, not the justice system - but we together by making sure that we address these problems in our homes.

5. I also draw attention to violence - rape, assaults, and robbery - which occur on our trains, buses and taxis. This must come to an end. Our local communities must play a role to educate our young men and boys and to instil discipline. I also appeal to Metrorail, Intersite and SARCC - and also the SAPS to provide visible policing to deter would be offenders but also to hunt down, arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators.

6. This means we all have a role to play, government, the police, the prosecuting authorities, the courts, civil society, NGOs and the religious sector. We can all make a difference.

Thank you

Issued by Ministry of Transport
25 November 2002