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TOP LEVEL: North West premier Thandi Modise and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe at the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children ceremony yesterday. PHOTO: BOITUMELO TSHEHLE

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DEPUTY President Kgalema Motlanthe says the high rate of violence in South Africa is a clear indication that more still needs to be done.

Motlanthe was speaking in Rustenburg yesterday at the closing ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children and the launch of the national council against gender-based violence.

He said while incidents of battery, domestic violence and child abuse often went undetected or under-reported, statistics over the years had shown that 90% of women had experienced emotional and physical abuse.

More than 71% of women had experienced sexual abuse and 58% experienced economic abuse. Of these cases, 60% were committed by partners, lovers or spouses.

Women, 63% of them, viewed emotional abuse as more prevalent and as the most serious.

Motlanthe said young women were more vulnerable to assault and sexual coercion by partners and others and that as many as five out of seven children were abused.

He also acknowledged the presence of the 19 bikers who had just completed an 8000km tour to nine Southern African countries to raise awareness about violence against women and children.

"Indeed you did not turn a blind eye, but took action to demonstrate solidarity, not only in our country but at a regional and global level.

"I hope men across all sectors of society, such as business, the faith-based community, traditional leaders, the entertainment sector, labour and other sectors, will take it upon themselves not to turn a blind eye, not to just talk against violence but to do something positive in their communities to contribute to the collective effort to build a society that protects and respects the rights of women and children."

Motlanthe also said the country was making progress in influencing men to stop treating women and children as objects of abuse and violence.

"Our experience and understanding of the importance of human rights should enable us to build a strong institutional and constitutional framework to protect such rights."

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Tue May 21 14:25:50 SAST 2013 ::

Dec 11, 2012

Ponko.Fontoyo

"Motlanthe also said the country was making progress in influencing men to stop treating women and children as objects of abuse and violence." What are about Women who abuse Men?
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Dec 11, 2012

Ponko.Fontoyo

"Motlanthe said young women were more vulnerable to assault and sexual coercion by partners and others and that as many as five out of seven children were abused." Reckless statement as a result you don't qualify to be a president.
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Dec 11, 2012

Mdala

"More than 71% of women had experienced sexual abuse and 58% experienced economic abuse. Of these cases, 60% were committed by partners, lovers or spouses."

"Women, 63% of them, viewed emotional abuse as more prevalent and as the most serious."

@Ponko

I partially agrre with you but you must also take note that there are more women than men in SA therefore it is expected that more women will be abused compared to men, please see stats above.
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Dec 11, 2012

Ponko.Fontoyo

Mdala
"More than 71% of women had experienced sexual abuse and 58% experienced economic abuse. Of these cases, 60% were committed by partners, lovers or spouses."

"Women, 63% of them, viewed emotional abuse as more prevalent and as the most serious."

@Ponko

I partially agrre with you but you must also take note that there are more women than men in SA therefore it is expected that more women will be abused compared to men, please see stats above.

Dear Mdala
My point was not based on stats but on the reality that "Men are abused by women",and it seems no one from the top management (Government) is able to speak out against women who abused men.
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Dec 11, 2012

oldlady12

Ponko.Fontoyo, please explain why you say his statement is reckless.
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Dec 11, 2012

Pointman

Nice words - where is the action. Why did he not explain why the government close down the special units dealing with crimes against children.
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Dec 11, 2012

MGEEZ

@Ponko.Fontoyo
"Motlanthe also said the country was making progress in influencing men to stop treating women and children as objects of abuse and violence." What are about Women who abuse Men?
==================================================================================
True that; every one seems to focus more on women abuse and not human rights. Consequently gross abuse and violation of men rights are never taken seriously. I am all for promoting women rights; but my view is simple and that is the one should not be done at the expense of the other.To make it worse they start abusing men from an early age by having programs like take a girl child to work instead of taking a child to work!!!
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Dec 11, 2012

Ponko.Fontoyo

oldlady12
Ponko.Fontoyo, please explain why you say his statement is reckless.

Dear Oldlady I withdraw my last words "Reckless statement.........." they should not have been there
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Dec 11, 2012

mashima?

Women became vulnerable because most of them are unskilled and unemployed, their nature of dependancy makes them to remain silence and perservee. So Mr Motlanthe what does your government do about this??????????
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Dec 11, 2012

Ponko.Fontoyo

MGEEZ
@Ponko.Fontoyo
"Motlanthe also said the country was making progress in influencing men to stop treating women and children as objects of abuse and violence." What are about Women who abuse Men?
==================================================================================
True that; every one seems to focus more on women abuse and not human rights. Consequently gross abuse and violation of men rights are never taken seriously. I am all for promoting women rights; but my view is simple and that is the one should not be done at the expense of the other.To make it worse they start abusing men from an early age by having programs like take a girl child to work instead of taking a child to work!!!

Spot on brother.
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