National Assembly Cape Town: 6 September 2007  

Madame Speaker, 

For many years the rights of women, as well as women's issues, were not afforded the attention that they deserved. Women were treated like second class citizens who were regularly subjected to abuse, degradation and denied access to the opportunities that their male counterparts had. Government has however greatly increased efforts to remedy the situation and try to protect and advance the rights of women and children. These efforts have been largely successful but more needs to be done as many women and children, especially in rural areas, are still subjected to the injustices that we are working so hard to stamp out.  

In Msinga, in Northern KwaZulu Natal, a man was arrested recently for allegedly killing three of his children by butchering them with an axe. This gruesome slaughtering of innocents highlights the extreme nature of domestic violence that some women and children must still endure.  

The emancipation of many urban women and children is in stark contrast to their rural counterparts. We therefore urge government and the relevant authorities focus and develop specific programmes to advance the rights and opportunities of women and children in rural areas as well as attempt to change the mindsets of the many men who still treat women like possessions.

We must keep the spotlight focused on the plight of women all year round and not just on designated days.