Department of Justice not doing enough to combat Hate Crimes

The following comments were delivered by DA Parliamentary Leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, in Thokoza today. She was joined by DA Shadow Minister of Health, Patricia Kopane MP, DA Shadow Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Helen Lamoela MP, and DA Women’s Network Chairperson, Denise Robinson MP. The delegation embarked on a commemorative walk of remembrance to pay respects to the family of Duduzile Zozo, who was murdered in what is believed to be a Hate Crime.

I have come to Thokoza today to show my solidarity with the family, loved ones and friends of Duduzile Zozo. Most importantly, I want to listen today to your concerns and reflections.

Duduzile died in circumstances of unimaginable horror. We understand that she was raped and murdered in a hate crime because she was a lesbian.

On behalf of my party, the Democratic Alliance, I offer Duduzile’s mother, Thuziwe, and Father, Mqondo, and loved ones our deepest condolences and prayers.

Today we bow our heads, and stand shoulder to shoulder with this community. Your sorrow is our sorrow, and your pain is our pain. These criminals may have extinguished a precious life, but they have not dimmed the light of Duduzile’s spirit.

It is hard for us all to understand how people can commit such despicable acts. The reality is that our society is badly broken. Every person has a right to love whoever they want to love regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

It is clear that we need to intensify the safety of South Africa's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community - and the protection of their constitutional right to dignity and equality.

As a young woman and leader in public life, I am not prepared to stand by while innocent girls and women face such brutality.

The government is still not doing enough to end violence against women and children.

South Africa has the world’s highest rate of rape, and the most violent. One in three South African women may be raped in their lifetimes. The rape of one woman or child is an attack on us all.

In a society in which women are overwhelmingly the victims of rape, our leaders should be addressing how to free girls and women from systemic male abuse and dominance.

We must ask some tough questions.

Although established over six months ago, the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence based within the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has done very little to undertake its mandate, despite a R20 million budget.

And the "Corrective Rape" Task Team, established by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster to conduct an audit of legislation pertaining to hate crimes in South Africa, has been mostly silent since its creation in 2011.

The DA will submit parliamentary questions to the Department of Justice to query the progress of this task team.

And we will request that the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence be summoned to Parliament to brief us on the progress made on its plans and programmes to curb violence against women and children in South Africa.

It is estimated that as many as 10 lesbian women are raped or gang-raped every week in South African and that victims of ‘corrective’ rape are less likely to report their victimisation to the police due to some of the stigmas still surrounding homosexuality.

There is an urgent need for educational programmes and awareness campaigns to address the attitudes and prejudices which give rise to these crimes.

There is also a need to provide on-going support to individuals and communities affected by them.

It is clear from the events which we are mourning today that not enough has been done to stop crimes of hate and sexual violence. In this regard, I will arrange discussions with the relevant rights groups to discuss how Parliament can use its power as the legislative authority to support the fight against sexual violence and hate crimes.

But above all today, we understand that a mother has lost her daughter – and there is no greater pain than that. We cannot bring Duduzile back, but we will not let her death be in vain.

For our part, we will do everything in our powers to ensure that the evil of rape is stamped out in South Africa.