EFF STATEMENT ON THE NORMALISED PATRIARCHAL WAR AGAINST WOMEN

18 May 2017

South African society must confront the harsh reality that in it, there is a normalised patriarchal war against women rooted in a hatred of women. The recent reports in media about the violence, brutal murder, rape and gang rape of women are not explosive or exceptional. They speak to the everyday experiences of women in our country, both in the hands of strangers and loved ones.

A society where a pregnant woman gets gang raped by 11 men around the Nelson Mandela bridge is one where violence and hatred against women has become the norm. Only in a society where rape and violence against women does not get punished do such barbaric acts become normalised.

It is in particular the complicity of the police and men in general that has normalised the violence women face. Political, cultural, and religious institutions must declare a halt in society and defend women from this patriarchal normalised war. If indeed, there are still fathers, brothers and sons with consciences in society, then they must stand up to confront and face this scourge head on.

In the same streets, bridges, and taxi ranks where women are being violated, dehumanized and humiliated by rapists; let good men come out and confront the violence head on.

We call on a National Day of Action against patriarchal violence and rape in our country. We call on political parties and civil society to unite and declare mass demonstrations to demand a society free of patriarchal violence. If we can mobilise society to vote in elections, or for the removal of sitting government officials like mayors and the president, or for service delivery, or for better wages; surely it must be easy to do so in protection of women.

The EFF will consult all political parties and civil society organisations in the already existing forums to come up with a date for demonstrations. 

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, 18 May 2017