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25 November 2004

Programme Director
Vhamusanda, Gole Vho Mphaphuli
Mahosi Ashu are fhano
Executive Mayor, Councillor Sam Moeti
Mayor of Thulamela, Khosi Vho Makumbane
Councillors present here today
Senior Government officials
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

We have converged here today because society has imposed on us, the responsibility to nurture South Africa into a prosperous, democratic, non-racial and most importantly, non-sexist society.

Ours is a blessed generation. A generation that got to survive the experience of a racially divided South Africa, and equally experiencing what it means to live in a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. A generation that was victim to Africa, a dark and hopeless continent, as much as it is a generation that is playing midwife to the renaissance of Africa. The challenge of our times therefore, is to share with our children and our grandchildren, both this experiences, to make them to appreciate the adaptations that had to be made in peoples lives as dictated to by the changing times.

We have converged here today to launch the programme for the 16 days of Activism on no violence against Women and children, a United Nations campaign, which takes place annually between 25 November and the 10th of December.

During the 16 days period and beyond we will be running a public education and awareness campaign that includes issues relating to violence against women and children focusing primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children.

For the past few months, this Province witnessed acts of violence directed at the most vulnerable in our society. The horrendous death of Sello Chokoe, the case of a mother who threw herself in the dam with her three children in Mopani, the killing of the three boys in this area, the killing of three kids in Kgapane, all this has put to test our proud assertion that we are the home of peace. The question that all of us needs to ask ourselves is why? Why would a mother or a father choose to end a young and promising life that society was looking at to uplift the lot for our people?

Programme director!

Society cannot absolve itself when some amongst us continue to engage in these acts of violence regardless of the circumstances that forces them to do so. We find it disturbing that some people and organisations in our communities would want to take advantage of these unfortunate incidences in our communities for cheap political point scoring. This government was re-elected into office on the basis of a people’s contract, between government and its people, for a better South Africa and a better world.

We, as responsible citizens need to say: “No more and never again” by committing ourselves to creating a world free of violence against women and children. History will judge us badly if we don’t stop this universal and barbaric crimes of all times.

Of importance to our communities today, in pursuit of deepening our forward march to a non-sexist South Africa is the need to enhance family values in our society. We should therefore revert back to the old adage that “every child is my child,” and that “it takes a village to raise a child.”

However, as we do so, we should eliminate elements of our upbringing, which entrenches gender inequality and thus creating a fertile ground for future perpetrators of violence against women and children.

A researcher into the roots of gender violence, Gail Iris Neke, wrote:

“As a boy, I was told: that when I grew up, I would be a hero…like in the comics and history books; and in war. As a boy, I was told: it’s okay to kill small things like birds; that’s what boys do; boys play with guns and pretend to kill each other; men often have to be aggressive…violent books and movies are what men like. As a boy, I was told: to join a gang, to prove myself through danger; to pretend to be tougher than other boys even if I’m unsure; I must fight if I’m insulted; others must be afraid of me, of my violence, so they don’t pick on me; real boys are tough. As a boy, I was told: if I am in trouble, I can’t talk to anyone; I must solve the problem myself; I must never be afraid or helpless; I must never cry or feel vulnerable or scared of failing; or show I am lonely or unhappy or rejected; men don’t talk about feelings, especially with other men, it’s soft to even think about them. As a boy, I was told: girls are weak and scared and mean. As a boy, I was told: a wife must move where her husband’s job takes him; she doesn’t have a career … just a hobby; a woman doesn’t support a man or earn more than him as if he can’t earn enough; a woman working is the reason children run wild. As a boy, I was told: fathers are always strong and controlled; men are decisive; they always know what to do; they never say if they are scared, if they are losing or failing; fathers are respected or feared; it’s okay to be angry … angry men are real men. As a boy I was told: man is still the hunter, she can’t be dominant, wild or promiscuous; women have power to twist you around their little fingers; it’s wrong for her to have a baby on her own; woman are selfish if they don’t want children; a woman must please a man, if she gets old, he can find a younger woman; men may be unfaithful but their wives never are; she belongs to him; all religions say man is in control over woman; he has a right to chastise her. As a boy, I was told: women don’t know the difference between joking and sexual abuse; a girl is responsible for not getting pregnant or raped or taken advantage of”. Society should therefore take into account the fact that the way our child are brought up, has a direct bearing on what they may become when they grow up.

As we launch this campaign, the Premier of Limpopo calls on all our people to join government in making this, our province a home of peace for its women and children like any other citizen of our beloved province. We call on our people to exploit the presence of ministers of religion, social workers, extended families and institutions of traditional leadership to assist them in dealing with the challenges facing them and their families. We make a call to the community not to sit back and watch, only to say latter that we saw it coming.

This year’s campaign will be marked by a series of discussion forums created in all our districts for women to speak to each other, a platform for them to share their experiences. We will also be celebrating the International AIDS Day in Tzaneen as part of this programme. National government, led by President Thabo Mbeki will also join the Province on the 03rd December at Peter Mokaba Stadium for the celebration of the International Day for people with Disability. The Provincial House of Traditional Leaders is also organising an event to be held at the Chuene Holiday resort to add a voice to the rest of us.

In conclusion we, South Africans are called upon to support the campaign by utilising the white ribbon symbol in innovative and inventive ways to reflect solidarity. By wearing this ribbon, you will provide an effective and striking visual tool through which to elicit campaign support.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Safety, Security & Liaison, Limpopo Provincial Government
25 November 2004