GOOD Speech By Patricia De Lille, GOOD Leader
9 August 2022
National Women’s Day is a day that is supposed to celebrate the women of South Africa. But, as we so often say, there is little to celebrate. In fact, we are sick and tired of talking about this, when so little really changes.
I think there is no need to read the horrific statistics around Gender-based violence and Femicide in South Africa – we all know that our women, children and many other vulnerable communities, including the LGBTIQ+ community, are bleeding and living in fear.
But today I would like to once again highlight that one in every five women in South Africa experiences some kind of abuse – and statistics show that more than 50% of these cases include close family members or friends.
That is why we have decided to focus this specific campaign on ‘breaking the silence’ in our communities.
Preparing this speech I realised that this speech won’t make a difference, just as the many other speeches that will be delivered across the country today, won’t make a difference.
This is because these speeches can’t stop gender based-violence: only YOU can, only WE can, if we “DON’T SHUT UP, BUT SPEAK UP”.
So today I want to call on you, that if you are victim of abuse, don’t shut up, speak up. There is help – Call 0800 150 150.
If you know someone who is being abused, don’t shut up, speak up. Call 0800 150 150.
If you know a family member who is abusive, don’t shut up, speak up.
Even if you see your friend’s mother or sister being abused, don’t shut up, speak up.
We can no longer keep quiet “to protect” the family name or because it is uncomfortable to speak out. Those who keep quiet will have the blood of victims on their hands if something happens.
So again, our message is clear and simple. “Don’t shut up, speak up. Call 0800 150 150.”
As women, we need to speak up and claim our rights, otherwise these rights are simply just writing on paper.
And if you stand up and speak up for yourself, you will not only empower yourself, but you can then start helping to empower those around you.
We believe that when you empower a girl, you empower a community. And that is why it’s important to also highlight, that you don’t need to be a woman to speak up, we need the men in our communities to join us.
Not just the male leaders who need to be at the forefront of this fight, but every single man and boy can play a role, you can make a difference by not shutting up!
I need to highlight that this means also speaking out when you hear abusive comments or disrespectful jokes, when you receive inappropriate pictures or when you find yourself part of cat-calling “among the boys” on the street.
We are part of a deeply patriarchal society and we need to change the culture, that can start by breaking the silence!
Of course, there is a whole range of issues that we need to address if we want to eradicate this violence, including the stronger enforcement of laws, increased investment and commitments towards dealing with problems such as DNA backlogs in court cases, the training of law enforcements officers, addressing inequalities and sexism in our communities as well as ensuring enough support and safe spaces for victims of abuse.
We are leaders that have been elected to lead and we must be the first ones to respond to those cries and give women a safe place to go where they can escape abuse and save their lives.
We must remember that many women are mothers and often they have to flee an abusive relationship with their children to ensure that they can protect their children from the abuser.
While there is still much more work to be done, we have had some successes. For instance, since I was appointed as Minister in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, we have released 12 properties (6 in Gauteng and 6 in the Western Cape) to be used as shelters for victims of GBV. The properties were handed over to the provincial departments of social development.
This work continues. We have identified a further 80 properties across South Africa of which the Department of Social Development has selected 47 for additional GBVF centers.
We have also installed more than 15 billboards in various provinces at police stations in areas with a high rate of GBVF crimes. Billboards have been installed in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KZN, the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga and the campaign continues to install anti GBVF billboards in all 9 provinces.
As GOOD, we plan to continue our campaign even after this women’s month – because we know that GBVF will not have been eradicated by the end of August.
This is not the time to wait and delay and carry on with the business as usual way of doing things.
Too many women have died, too many children have had their lives cut short through these heinous crimes.
The more we wait, the more we delay, the more women and children are exposed and possibly face the fate of being added as another name to that dreadful list.
We should know their names. We all felt the pain. We were all part of the uproar and condemnation so now today – we must show action.
The severity of this challenge will not discourage us, because our women and children are strong and resilient, and they deserve our unlimited commitment to ensuring that they feel safe.
I urge those who are suffering to walk away from abusive relationships, empower yourself, stop feeling ashamed or scared and go to a place where you can get help before it’s too late.
Women: please realise that pain is not normal, pain is not love.
Not feeling safe in your own space is not normal. Please, let us not shut up, but speak up!
Media Enquiries:
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za