‘We must learn from Saartjie Baartman’
LESSONS have not been learnt from the story of Saartjie Baartman which highlights the plight of women abuse, and history is repeating itself as the justice system continues failing our society.
Yesterday, several pickets took place in and around Cape Town calling for the provincial government to oversee the establishment of sexual offences courts or offices in various municipalities, and the implementation and immediate follow-up on cases that have been dragging on.
A group standing in front of the Legislature in Wale Street displayed placards saying, “Say no to women abuse” and “it’s been too long enough is enough”.
“We call this day our Saartjie Baartman day as we feel what happened to her is relevant to what women face today. Recent events call for us to break the silence in seeking to protect women in the province. It is not so much the events in most cases, it is how they are managed. Women are at the receiving end of abuse caused by societal challenges, badly managed economic, natural and sociopolitical disasters,” EFF provincial chairman Bernard Joseph, said.
Joseph said women and children had borne the brunt of the many challenges society continues to face.
“Our women continue to suffer, and as we celebrate them, we dare not sit on the pain and the fear that this section of society continues to endure. As the EFF, we call on this legislature to take the opportunity this year, to do more than pay lip-service to the suffering of women and their children. Government programmes must be designed in such a manner that strategies to protect the most vulnerable of society are built in across all portfolios.”
Premier, Helen Zille’s spokesperson, Michael Mpofu received the memorandum. South African writer, poet and storyteller Diana Ferrus said even if it’s not official, “we need to have a Saartjie Baartman day as it will also create a platform where people talk about issues such as human trafficking and see what can really be done to curb the crime.
“Something drastic really needs to be done. We are losing our women in harsh crimes every day.
“Our leaders are setting a bad example. How can a minister assault a woman? The abuse Saartjie endured is still being endured today,” she said.