Hlengiwe Mkhize

"We are angered by the arrogance of perpetrators who decide to destroy the lives of women within the month when we make a clarion call to gender equality and women’s rights as human rights"

"We condemn in the strongest terms, any form of gender based violence against women, children and members of the LGBTQI community. And I would like to invite this August House to be united in fighting the scourge of GBV & Femicide in condemning this atrocity. We don’t have a luxury of divisive or party politics, it cannot be business as usual, and we have to stand together. We cannot perspective on our power and authority as leaders of society"

"Our vision is to realize the South Africa we want, a country where all people, particularly women, children, and gender non-conforming persons are and feel safe, enjoy healthy lives, relationships and social connections, have access to humanizing quality services, and are fully able to realize and exercise their right to autonomy, and bodily integrity, and equality"

"As we gather here, we are presented with an opportunity to engage and challenge the patriarchal standards that continue to cripple our society. Each and everyone of us will be asked “What did you do”?"

"Going forward in future there should be clear focal points not only in big cities but also in townships and rural communities, led by tribal authorities. In the spirit of the 6th administration, we have to work in an integrated and coordinated manner across all departments"

"We need to look at the schedule of crimes that cannot get bail conditions, this must be done in consultation with colleagues from the Justice cluster. The sentencing should be revisited. We have to revise the turnaround time of these case, from the investigation to prosecution of perpetrators, because cases delayed lead to justice denied"

"Gender mainstreaming and budgeting are significant areas of focus for strategic engagements, effective monitoring and evaluation. Effective gender mainstreaming requires adequate financial and human resources to bare the envisioned results"

"Ms Mkhize's life was devoted to the service of the people of South Africa, and she did so with excellence, unwavering commitment and selflessness. A lifelong advocate for social justice and equality, she was instrumental in South Africa's political transition, notably through her roles as Commissioner for the Truth and the Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Chairperson of the Reparations and Rehabilitation Committee and board member of the South African Prisoner's Organisation for Human Rights"

"Our liberation and peaceful political transition was not a stroke of luck but a product of great political and intellectual minds of the midwives of our democracy like Ms Mkhize. These are fearless and courageous activists who were prepared to lose their lives for the liberation of the oppressed and the marginalised, for a free, equal, prosperous, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. Ms Mkhize stood for truth and throughout her life, she was steadfast in her commitment to the vision of a truly free democratic South Africa, free from all social ills and injustices"

"Her passing robs the country of a devoted public representative, a champion for social justice and equality as well as a longstanding campaigner for women's rights. We mourn with the country and celebrate this extraordinary and remarkable woman who devoted her life to the freedom of many"