KZN Legislature
Hon Speaker and Hon Premier
All women in the past fought for better rights and should be appreciated for their contribution.
The IFP believes that August 9 is a day where women of 1956 shared a common goal and vision to present a petition against the carrying of passes by women to the Prime Minister, J.G Strijdom.
This Legislature is a multiparty institution and we can no longer afford to ignore the presence of other political parties when planning and organising these events. The Premier is the father figure for all women in KwaZulu-Natal. He is supposed to be seen unifying the women instead of dividing them according to their political affiliation. Please Macingwane don’t apply double standards when dealing with women issues.
The ANC led government still has no concrete and viable solutions to address challenges facing women on a daily basis. We expect the Premier to tell us how working conditions for Grade R teachers will be improved since most of them are females? Ngaphezu kwalokho sifuna ukwazi ukuthi izimo zokusebenza zabesifazane abasebenza emapulazini kanye nasezindlini zizophuculwa nini futhi kanjani?
Kulenyanga yabantu besifazane iQembu leNkatha liye laba nethuba lokubheka ukuthi ngabe ikuphi elikwazile ukukuzuza ngenyanga yabantu besifazane ngonyaka owedlule. Singabesifazane sikwazile ukunikezela ngezithombo zemifino kuzona zonke izifunda ukuze abesifazane bakwazi ukutshala ukuze baxoshe ikati eziko ngoba iQembu leNkatha liyakholelwa ekutheni uma abantu belima betshala ngeke babulawa indlala. Futhi lokhu besikwenza ngaphansi kwesiqubulo seNkatha esithi UKUZAKHA NOKUZENZELA. Emikhandlwini esiyiphethe njengeqembu leNkatha sikwazile ukufaka abesifazane ezikhundleni eziphezulu ekuphathweni kwemikhandlu. Sikwazile ukufaka ebesifazane ekutheni babe izimeya, osomlomo Kanye namaphini ezimeya. Lokhu sikwenze ngenhloso yokuqhakambisa ukukhalipha Kanye nokubuhlakani babantu besifazane.Siyakholelwa ekutheni abesifazane nabo baneqhaza elikhulu abangalibamba ekuthuthukiseni izimpilo zabantu.
We are very concerned about the prevalence of women abuse and children in this county. The Inkatha Freedom Party calls for viable programmes to stop violence against women and children since marches, meaningless slogans and fancy banners have proven to be futile in stopping this scourge that is tearing our communities apart.
Our government has held far too many marches and launched numerous programmes in its attempt to stop violence against women and children. Proof that all of these attempts have been futile is evident in the rising number of cases of abuse of women and children that are being reported daily. But our government still insists on hosting marches.
A wise man once said that the height of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. These marches might serve to create awareness, but they do not address the root cause of such violence nor do they do anything to prevent further acts of violence against defenseless women and children. It is time that we must all agree that the time for complacency is long gone, has passed and belongs to another era. Now is the time for stronger action and creative ideas aimed at prevention.
As the IFP we call on all good men to be role models for their sons and other men and speak out when they witness domestic violence. Women and children cannot continue to live constantly under siege and exist in communities where they are not all enjoying the fruits of our constitutional democracy. We are calling upon our citizens to stand up and speak out against the violence within their communities. Men need to be at the forefront of campaigns within communities in order send the message that violence against women and children is unacceptable wherever they live.
Investigating domestic violence takes crime fighting resources away from crime prevention. It is time that the legislation around domestic violence and abuse of women and children is revisited in order for the criminal justice system to have the muscle to send a strong message to the perpetrators of such heinous crimes. While our justice system must be empowered to mete out harsh punishment, all social structures must be mobilised and provided with resources to work within communities and with families in order to prevent violence from occurring. There has to be the necessary political will to treat this scourge as a priority.
Instead of taking to the streets and shouting out meaningless slogans, government needs to strengthen our laws and end this cycle of violence through education.
Ngaphezu kwalokho ake iphinde ibhekisiswe indaba yamaphoyisa aphatha izibhamu ngoba asebaqedile abantu besifazane ebabulala ngenxa nje yokuba nesikhwele uma umuntu eke abona intombi yakhe ikhuluma noma ihamba nomunye umuntu wesilisa. Ayaphela Macingwane amadodakazi ethu eqedwa amaphoyisa ewadubula ngezibhamu. Amaphoyisa awafune usizo lokwelulekwa ngokomqondo ngoba iningi lawo uma ebhekene nezinkinga avele athathe isibhamu adubule izingane nonkosikazi. Awunqandwe lomkhuba owandisa isibalo sezintandane nabafelokazi.
As the IFP we are concerned about teenage pregnancy. Teen pregnancy in the country has reached a very alarming level. Comprehensive interventions are urgently needed to prevent a full-blown crisis. Lack of information and education about how they can prevent unplanned pregnancies is a very common concern among young girls, especially those who come from poor families. Parents, relatives, faith-based organisations, women`s clubs and other societal structures should also play a role in raising awareness and to provide support to the affected, young and old.
I thank you
