South Africa has excellent legislation aimed at protecting the rights of women, but the government has failed to implement much of it, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.
Speaking during a special debate in the National Council of Provinces to mark national Women’s Day on August 9, DA MP Denise Robinson said good laws are not enough.
”We need better implementation and law enforcement to ensure true freedom. We are certainly celebrating 10 years of democracy, but we cannot celebrate freedom from fear and crime and oppression.”
Daily news headlines tell a chilling story, she said.
”We are bombarded with tragic stories of murder, rape and abuse of women and children.”
According to a recent study ”every six hours a woman is killed by her intimate partner”.
The same researchers also found courts are losing the battle against rape.
”This is the yardstick against which we must measure the government of the day; this is where we can see what still needs to be done to achieve freedom from oppression.”
Robinson cited the Family Violence Act as an example of a good piece of legislation, but one that cannot be implemented properly because of enormous backlogs at the courts, the result of staffing problems.
”Family violence courts should be established. More female magistrates and prosecutors — who have a greater understanding of the emotional and physical pain suffered in such circumstances — should be appointed.
”Family divorce courts were set up about four years ago to relieve the pressure on the other courts, but the problem is there is only one magistrate to officiate; it takes up to six months before one can get a date for a hearing.
”Family law centres could advise on maintenance and custody matters, also [the] winding up of estates. While we have an excellent Constitution, many people are ignorant of the law and their rights, and they are often subject to financial, physical and emotional intimidation.
Robinson said the role of social workers should be given far more prominence in South Africa.
”The poor salary scales and vast caseloads lead to demotivation and do not encourage people to enter the profession. Yet their interventions could assist in stemming the tide of violence, helping to uplift and counsel victims and perpetrators.”
Serious consideration needs to be given to how state funds are spent and whether the needs of ordinary citizens are being met.
”Funding also affects the number of DNA tests that are done, essential to establishing the guilt of rapists and getting convictions.
”There needs to be a commitment to eradicating this scourge from society. The police need special training and also a willingness to take the reports seriously and to act on them promptly and efficiently.”
Robinson said women and children in South Africa are bearing ”the brunt of this disregard for their safety and security”.
”Many excellent laws have been passed — but in many respects, government has failed to implement laws to improve the life of the ordinary woman,” she said. — Sapa