House Chairperson,
On Monday, police reported a grim discovery, yet another body of a murdered woman in Ekurhuleni. That brought the number of female victims recently found in that area to 11.
And yesterday, I got a call from my brother in Rustenburg, who said on Saturday, they found a 17-year-old girl naked and killed. She had been stabbed to death. Unfortunately, that incident was not reported. In spite of that, I wish on behalf of the African Christian Democratic Party to convey our sincere condolences to the grieving families that have lost either a daughter, sister, wife, or a mother.
Government has a constitutional obligation to ensure that all South Africans live in safety and security in their country. It is always painful to hear a woman say, “I am scared, I am afraid, I’m living in fear.” This should not be the case.
Nobody was born to live in fear. A recent study revealed that between 2020 and 2021, three women were killed every single day by an intimate partner in South Africa. These tragedies reflect a society that has forgotten the Biblical values of respect and consideration for others.
But it is not only women who suffer. Since January 2026, at least 196 people have been gunned down in mass shootings across our nation. Something more drastic and decisive must be done.
The ACDP calls on this House to amend our Constitution with the view of reintroducing capital punishment. The scourge of gender-based violence, femicide, rape, and mass shootings will never be brought to an end until rapists and murderers are given the most severe punishment that will stop repeat offenders in their tracks. Contrary to most global studies, a 2016 study in Japan claimed that one execution for murder deters two homicides.
Beyond deterrence, taxpayers should not be burdened with the cost of housing vicious murderers in prison. Of course, we recognise that police resources and capacity are inadequate. That’s why it is urgent that the police resources be increased.
Yet, the ACDP believes that the deeper root lies in an anger issue. Violent pornography, for example, is strongly linked to diminished respect for women. Reports show how such material normalises aggression, undermines consent, and correlates with higher rates of intimate partner sexual violence. The ease of access to violent pornographic content is alarming, and we believe government must act decisively to curb it.
I thank you.
