EFF statement on the adoption of notice without motion of statutory rape by National Assembly

3 September 2024

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) acknowledges and commends the National Assembly on the adoption of a critical notice without motion, introduced by EFF Member of Parliament, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, addressing the grave issue of statutory rape in South Africa.

The notice brings to the forefront the alarming crisis of statutory rape, highlighting the distressing reality where young girls are coerced into premature motherhood and adulthood. These victims, often unaware that they are being violated, are in urgent need of protection and justice.

It is particularly concerning that teachers and nurses, who are in direct contact with these young victims, fail to report these heinous crimes to law enforcement. This signifies a profound lapse in our social responsibility to protect our children.

Additionally, the notice rightly points out the ineffectiveness of the current oversight mechanisms by responsible authorities. It is imperative that these lapses are addressed promptly to prevent further violations and ensure justice for victims.

In a significant move towards holistic and effective intervention, the National Assembly has mandated the portfolio committees of Social Development, Education, Health, Justice, and Police to undertake comprehensive measures to address this issue.

The portfolio committees are tasked with developing a joint public participation programme to gather, review, and incorporate public submissions on statutory rape.

This collaborative approach ensures that the voices of the affected communities are heard and considered in policymaking.

The committees are also expected to review existing legislation and recommend necessary amendments. A critical area of focus is the enforcement of mandatory reporting of statutory rape by teachers and nurses, which is essential in bridging the gap in current protective measures.

However, the EFF is aware that Parliament has a dismal track record of not concluding or processing adopted motions in a timely manner. We have seen this before with the motion to amend the constitution for land expropriation, the closure of the Israeli embassy, and other critical issues. With the DA now pulling the ANC by the ears at Luthuli House, in Cabinet, and in Parliament, we fear that the Speaker will once again need instructions from the DA on how to proceed.

The EFF's proposal to the Speaker is that the committees are to present their findings and recommendations to the House by the 31st of March 2025. This timeline highlights the critical urgency and importance of the task at hand. We can only hope that it will be strictly adhered to, and that this issue does not become another forgotten matter left to gather dust on the shelves by the DA-ANC coalition.

Issued by Leigh-Ann Mathys, National Spokesperson, EFF, 3 September 2024