Statement on the murder of Duduzile Zozo by Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Leader of Agang SA

"The family of Duduzile Zozo are in our thoughts and prayers at this time, as we join in mourning the senseless loss of yet another young woman. May Duduzile's soul rest in peace.

"This is another sad example of the sexual violence and hate crimes that South African women are subjected to every day.

"We must not rest until the protections of our Constitution are made real. Every South African has the right to a life based on human dignity, equality and freedom, free from the threat of violence born of hate.

"Human dignity speaks to respect for people because they are people, they are human, we are all created in the image of the Creator. Whatever our diversity, whether some of us are poor and regardless our sexual orientation, we are all entitled to respect.

"Equality is what the struggle for freedom was about. We wanted to live in a country where people are treated equally regardless of who they are. Equality has to be at the heart of every policy. Discrimination is not allowed except as means to redress wrongs of the past. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or belief is unacceptable.

"We fought in this country for the right to freedom of expression, including the expression of sexuality, freedom of association and freedom from abuse in any form or shape.

"Ultimately, we are a country that is supposed to be known for humaneness, Ubuntu, which says that ‘I am who I am because of who we all are'. How can I then take a part of me and mutilate or abuse it?

"Agang SA commits itself to ensuring that the chapter 9 institutions meant to promote these values, and protect citizens from violations of their rights are strengthened to do their work properly including the Gender Commission and the Human Rights Commission.

"We at Agang SA commit ourselves to working with civil society bodies striving to uphold these values and promote the rights of citizens who are at risk of being violated by those seeking to assert a way of life that is alien to the precepts of our Constitution."

Statement issued by Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Leader of Agang SA, July 8 2013

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