EFF STATEMENT ON 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM FOR NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

25 November 2015

The Economic Freedom Fighters remains the only political party that severely and genuinely condemns all forms of violence against women and children.

This has been demonstrated by the activities and policies of the party in its day to day interactions with its mass based constituency and being at the forefront of protecting the rights and interests and women and children.

This validates that the EFF is committed to ensuring the protecting of rights of women and children not only during the constrained 16 days as per government of the ruling party but every day for 365 days of the year.

Women and Children remain the backbone of our society and the struggle and the commitment of the EFF in ensuring the protection of their rights is entrenched in the central strategic objective of the organisation’s fight for Economic Freedom. As the most resolute and unswerving political formation in the country, we acknowledge the continued abuse of the rights of women and children in South Africa by the ruling party and government.

We know that South Africans will never forget the brutal physical abuse of Commissar Reneilwe Mashabela in the National Assembly, a mother and wife, who was mercilessly and brutally beaten by security personal in full view of the public under the watch of Baleka Mbete who watched as male security beat women and insisted on security continuing.

The EFF will not sit quietly and wait for history to absolve us from the wretched curse of male and female oppressors in the ruling party but will ensure that there is no room available in society for any perpetrator of violence against women and children.

The EFF has identified patriarchy as an enemy in society that must be defeated in order for women and children to live freely, without fear and marginalisation.

The Fight for Economic Freedom is central in realising the true and full empowerment of women as enablers of a better life for their children. Women in abusive and destructive relationships will be able to support themselves and their children and exit relationships that are toxic.

The EFF acknowledges that women and children are the seeds in our economy that need to be nurtured in order to realise uncompromising Economic Freedom in our Lifetime.

The EFF has never paid lip service to the issues of women and children, we have remained on the ground and in touch with their issues and sought solutions in remedying their dire situations.

Unlike the pioneers of violence in the ANC, the EFF will continue to conscientise its people, condemn all forms of violence against women and children, take to task perpetrators of violence against women and children as it fulfils its revolutionary mandate.

Issued by Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi, EFF National Spokesperson, 25 November