Rape – A trivial commodity

Our dignity – a consolation prize given by a patriarchal government.

By Aidan Kelsey Dette

As Women’s Day approaches (09 August 2018) we face a day of mourning on August, 01.

August is celebrated as the month in which we empower and acknowledge the progress & achievements that we, as women of South Africa, have made since our Queens overpowered the Union Building in the Iconic Press Pass protest march, 09 August 1950.

SAQWS wants to look back, in mourning, for the women we have lost over the past year due to gender-based.

It’s been just over 6 decades since women off all races & cultures united and marched, with a memorandum of demands, specifically protesting against the appalling laws that segregated people of race under the Apartheid Regime.

With the introduction of liberal policies, which were meant to secure equality and dignity between all South African women, within our constitution in 1994; it is disheartening to see, yet another Women’s March that, once again, must fight for the preservation of women’s rights and dignity on 01 August 2018.

SAQWS will take the stage with our fellow women in order to change this. If one woman falls, all women fall.

The 01 August will be a day of mourning for all the warriors we have lost in this silent, but deadly battle against gender inequality.

But why should we mourn when we have come so far in terms of recognition and inclusion within institutions and politics?

Well, for one thing, patriarchal male dominance continues, particularly rape culture within South Africa. There are a few important questions that must be raised in order to clarify exactly what we are fighting for.

What rights are aesthetic & what rights are practiced within the country? Do we only celebrate & honor those rights that perpetuate political and economic agendas, while ignoring those that challenge hegemonic masculinities? Where are the women in our national agenda?

And if the focus is not on women empowerment… then who do we need to wrestle with, to get us back on the map?

Earlier this month, a BBC documentary about the Diepsloot rapist went viral. The video depicts David, a self-proclaimed serial rapist, who claims to have raped and murdered over two dozen women in an attempt to spread HIV. In the interview David admits to spreading HIV purposefully, because he does not want to die alone.

The video can be found at: https://youtu.be/rpjNz8VrXFk

Later, upon being interviewed by Drum magazine, David denied claims that he was a rapist, arguing that he was coerced by the BBC journalist into making such claims because; RAPE IS MORE PROFITABLE THAN MURDER.

Upon being interviewed by Drum, Ndivhuwo Ramaphalala (a key witness within the documentary whom claimed that she was David’s ex-girlfriend and that he had given her AIDS) admitted to reporters that she was bribed to collaborate the story, but that she had never met David prior to the documentary.

There are some shocking issues that have arisen from the debate around this story, particularly the nonchalant nature with which we capitalize on Rape Culture and the inefficiency of the justice system to protect our dignity and uphold the constitution which grants all citizens the right to safety, security and justice.

Whether the documentary is real or not, Gauteng Police have yet to take action against David, despite his admission of guilt on camera.

Furthermore, the creation of a falsified rape documentary is a rights violation within itself.

If the documentary is falsified, then it violates the rights of the murdered women, whom have yet to get justice against their perpetrators as we capitalize on a tragedy that undermines the horrific experiences of those women and the pain felt by their families.

Ironically, the government has promised to focus on policies that curb violence against women and perpetuates the empowerment of women.

Bathabile Dlamini (The Minister of Women) promised to focus on areas of business, religious organization and civil society to commemorate this women’s month.

Despite the government’s fruitless promises, the reality of violence and silencing that is perpetrated against women cannot be solved by a few promises that have yet to change the systematic patriarchal violence that women experience daily.

It is because of this harsh reality that we march tomorrow, 1 August, as we mourn the loss of the hope of equality and challenge policy makers to turn the liberal policies within our constitution into a reality.

Tomorrow we wear red (to symbolize our anger) & black (to mourn the liberty we have loss, the sisters we have loss, the dignity that we have loss and the progress we have loss).

The queens will take your streets from you, South African womxn all over the country will come out to unite and once again, fight for the rights that of our sisters, our mothers, our daughters and every woman who has ever felt alone.

SAQWS will be taking a STAND.

Will you?