STATEMENT BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR PATRICIA DE LILLE
We must act each day to protect the rights and dignity of women
Each year as we commemorate Women’s Month, the focus is placed on the problems and challenges
women still face.
The levels of women and child abuse are far too high in a country where thousands of women fought
alongside men and made their voices heard in the fight for human rights, equality and dignity and
respect for all.
It is clear that there is no respect and love for some of our women and children and we need to
impose stronger sentences for perpetrators who abuse and kill women and children so we can see an
end to this devastating epidemic.
We need to go back to the values of where it takes a community to help raise our children and take
care of one another.
Communities need to help those women and children in abusive relationships and break the silence
and report abuse when you know it is happening.
Many women are scared, they are trapped and we need to take action on their behalf before it’s too
late.
Too many people are afraid of the stigma it will bring to their families if they report a family member.
By speaking out and reporting cases of abuse, you can save a woman or a child’s life.
The time has come for us to not only use this time to complain about the challenges women face.
Our progressive Constitution and the legislative framework is in place.
But this is not enough, women need to claim those rights themselves.
Instead of complaining, we need to highlight the action being taken by many organisations and
individual women who do not accept being victims of circumstance.
The more than 20 000 women who, on 9 August 1956, made history by marching to the Union
Buildings to petition against the divisive pass laws made a decision to act.
They made a decision not to be victims of circumstance and not conform in silence to a repressive
regime.
Far too many women choose to suffer in silence.
They have become used to hurt and disrespect.
They have become too used to carrying burdens and pain.
Women need to stop accepting pain as normal.
They need to stop being tolerant to what hurts and act to claim their rights.
My call is for all women to refuse to be victims.
The bad things that happen to women, it is because they allow to it to happen to them.
Many women have broken out of abusive and hurtful circumstances and it is time for all women to use
their rights and rise above challenges.
Be the hero, be the rock in your families, and do all you can to empower yourself, and to protect
yourself and your children.
End
Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication, Branding and Marketing Department, City of Cape
Town
Media enquiries: Zara Nicholson, Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor – Patricia de Lille, City of
Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 4998 or Cell: 079 416 5996, E-mail: zara.nicholson@capetown.gov.za
2015/08/08