Lamola calls on men to ‘remove their knees’ from women
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says South African women cannot breathe due to men “kneeling on their necks”.
Lamola joined Professor Olive Shisana - adviser to the President - in delivering the 5th Annual Tsietsi Mashinini Memorial Lecture on Thursday.
The topic of year’s lecture was gender-based violence and its various manifestations.
Lamola said his department is in the process of redefine the justice system and making it more victim-centred.
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"The first wave of these reforms have begun through our sexual offences prosecution which limits secondary victimisation.
"This along with strengthening the domestic violence act, recalibrating the sexual offence's list and addressing the bail provision for sexual offences will begin to help many in our society," Lamola said.
Lamola says the partnership between prosecution and police will be strengthened.
"Of immediate and particular significance is the increased co-operation between the South African Police Service and the Department of Justice.
"South African women cannot breath because of our knees as men. Be it the knee of their brothers, fathers, uncles, intimate partners.
"As we fondly remember Madhini we need to transform our minds. We must become sick and tired od struggles beseeching our communities.
"None but ourselves can be our liberators.”