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 Listening to the Voices of Ordinary People. 16 days of Violence Campaign.
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
25th November 2009.
This Union unreservedly aligns itself with the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Children Campaign that is due to be launched on November 25th until December 10th.
We do however recognise that there is a danger that such an initiative, coming round as it does on an annual basis could become institutionalised and lose its meaning if there appears to be no tangible benefits emerging from the campaign.
Sadly, the violence that is reported daily in the media, that scars the development of many of our children, that results in women being traumatised and hospitalised, that creates a climate of fear for many of our citizens means that we cannot allow this campaign to become simply a date in our calendars, to be observed like a faded anniversary.
In line with this campaign, we would like to give voice to just three ‘ordinary’ people who agreed to share their experiences and provide food for thought about the society we live in.
Ayanda* Aged 15 ‘When I was nine I watched my mother’s new partner beat her up. I was hiding under the bed with my baby half-sister. My mother and new step father had been celebrating a friend’s birthday party, and he accused her of paying too much attention to another man. This man was a very old friend of my mothers. I could hear my mother screaming that this man was like a brother to her, and that they had known each other all their lives. My step father stamped on her hands and face and said, ‘You will not humiliate me in this way again’. After a while he stormed out, and I helped my mother to clean up her face and hands. In the morning her face was swollen and bruised. Before I left for school she said to me “It was just a misunderstanding. I made a mistake. I should not have made your step father angry. Forget it” But I have never forgotten it.
Susan* Aged 24 ‘This was my first ‘proper’ job since leaving college. It was a one year contract, but everyone said it could be extended. I was so happy and proud. I hadn’t realised how unemployment had undermined my confidence. But then it started. First he started making comments like ‘Have you got a boyfriend?’ and things like, ‘I bet the boys are chasing you all over the place’ I didn’t like it, and I didn’t expect it from a man who was my father’s age, but he was my manager, and I tried to be polite. Then it got worse, and he started commenting on my clothes and then my body, and saying how he liked to stare at me when I was not looking. I tried to ignore him, and I even started wearing different clothes to work, but it made no difference. Then he started standing very close to me, and when we had to pass, he would press himself against me, and sometimes stroke me. It made me feel sick, but still I kept quiet. I needed this job. Finally, he came into the stock room and closed the door, and told me that he loved me, and wanted to have a relationship. I tried to get past him but he grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I screamed and ran outside. I was shaking when an older women worker came and sat next to me and said ‘Don’t be too upset, it happened to all of us. Just get used to it. He will soon tire of you when another young women comes to work here’ I looked at her and said ‘Is that what you tell your daughter?’ And she looked away from me. Then I asked myself, what will I tell my own daughter?’
Tebogo* Aged 50 ‘All my life I have been following the orders of men. My father, the priest, my head teacher, my husband, my father’s father, my boss, and now my union leader, and I am tired of it. I don’t want to follow orders anymore. I want to be consulted. I want to be asked what I think. I want to be treated like a human being, an equal human being. When I talk to young women workers, they say ‘Aren’t you afraid of challenging men?’ And I tell them, I was afraid almost all of my life, and where did it get me? And then they say ‘Where did you find the courage?’ And then I tell them about the time when I was riding in the taxi home from work when I was young, and at the police road block they made us get out to be searched, and a big policeman with a boozy breath started being aggressive, and actually slapped me across the back of the head. No one said anything until an old women spoke up. ‘What sort of man are you to hit a young woman? Who do you think you are? Does your mother know that you are hitting young defenceless women? You should be ashamed of yourself’. I thought she was probably mad. In those days you didn’t speak to the police like that. But then other passengers started talking too. The old man who had been sitting next to the old women said ‘If I was your father, I would be ashamed of you’ and others joined in. After a few minutes, he walked off, and shouted over his shoulder that we should leave immediately. When I thanked the old woman she said ‘You have to learn to stand up for yourself and for others. It’s the only way we will be able to change anything.’ I thought that was good advice.
The struggle against violence against women and children in our society cannot be taken out of the violent context we are in. President Zuma recently broke through a veil of silence and denial when he acknowledged openly that we do indeed live in a violent society. Acknowledging our challenges is a step in the right direction, but we have to go further. We have to empower women, and we all have to stand up, enlighten man and women and stop the abuse of power by men.
For SAMWU, this means that on the one hand we must accelerate and deepen our campaign for a more equal and caring society, in fact a socialist society. On the other hand, we must try and build it now by challenging gender stereotypes, and arguing for gender equality and an end to all discrimination.
The 16 Days Campaign provides an opportunity to find ways of stopping the destructive violence that takes place in our homes and communities, of ending sexual harassment, bullying and abuse at work and perhaps more importantly, of sending a very clear message to the powerless and to the powerful, that gender based violence and democracy do not mix!
We urge all those who want to transform our society to support the Campaign.
For comment contact the SAMWU International Officer Stephen Faulkner on 011-3310333 or 0828175455
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU.
National Media and Publicity officer.
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Office: 011-331 0333.
Cell: 0829403403.
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Worker's News April 2008 PART 1 (514)
