Violence Against Women

Rhoda Southgate, MP – ACDP

Tuesday, 10 September 2002

Rhoda Southgate MP for the African Christian Democratic Party gave the following speech in Parliament today during a debate on violence against women.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Honourable Minister

South Africa is a land of opportunity. The women are integral to society’s taskforce in creating opportunities for every person’s well being of all in this country. As such, we commend the women of the year award recently held in Cape Town. These are role players that add to the rich economic tapestry and competencies South Africa is well known for. Sad to say, women’s status as equal citizens is undermined by the lack of commitment to enforce current legislation protecting the status of women. The Domestic Violence Act may soothe the conscience of Government by doing something through it legislative arm, but its unwillingness to effectively enforce the law renders such intervention null and void.

The report of violence against women highlights the struggle women face in getting law enforcers to take their concerns and problems seriously. For instance, the onus still remains with the woman to show reasonable evidence or proof of assault. This obligation prejudice against the rights of women to be treated free and fair.

Women are also disadvantaged on the assumption that their roles are automatically subservient to men; as such women’s sexual rights are treated as inconsequential. The report indicates as much in that sexual abuse against women, especially coercive marital relationships, is very often viewed as abuse, adding to the vulnerability of women in our society.

The report calls for greater public education on domestic violence. The ignorance around domestic violence impacts on women and men alike. The hidden hand behind domestic violence is degenerative social values. The report highlights a number of factors that contribute to domestic violence, such as patriarchy, militarisation, race and gender oppression, changes in social order and others. We must however realise that certain value systems like hedonism, centralism and humanism are some of the social values that play a big part in destroying the strong regard we once had for traditional family values. These are related factors that strain domestic relations.

What concerns me about the report is that initial submissions presented by the public in 1998 and 1999 have been raised again in 2000 and 2001. Although there has been an attempt by various departments to an efficient service, they have been hamstrung by issues such as:

- Difficulties experienced by women “victims” accessing the justice system
- Application forms for domestic violence interdicts were too lengthy and shorter forms were requested, even though there has been an undertaking by Justice that this would be done.
- Public is still illiterate and uninformed about the legislation.
- SAP considers the violence against women as an extra burden placed on them and is not part of their ordinary work.
- There is still a lack of manpower and capacity at Magistrate Courts.
- Massive backlogs of cases, which cause delays of about nine months between complaint and trial.
- Domestic violence act has financial implications and all aspects have not fully been covered.
- Anti – retroviral drugs like AZT are still not administered to rape survivors. Many are not able to afford the treatment.

I trust that this report will not land up on a shelve somewhere and forgotten. Some of the recommendations therein should be adhered to. Government should take the leading role and show political will by addressing the concerns with immediate effect.

There is a strong need to raise the quality of debate around family values. Without the proper social preservation of the family, a nation is lost in the despair of social alienation and indifference to others’ needs. Domestic preservation goes beyond legislation against domestic violence. Domestic preservation is all about developing unity among family members for the purpose of protection and nurturance of a value system for the preservation of life and human dignity.

The report in violence against women brings to light the great divide that still exists between the equal treatment of women and men in this country. It is a gross injustice that women must fear to live as equal partners in this society. The ACDP stands in unequivocal support for the treatment of all its citizens in this country whether women, children or men.

We need to stress that reports like the one on violence against women is not pitted against men but as a reminder that the duty of all of us, men and women, is to identify our domestic problems and redress these in favour of a better family life.


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For further comment please call Rhoda Southgate MP 082 875 8194 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037