Black Friday, February 15, 2013 – finally South Africans unite in their disgust and horror after the recent brutal rape and murder of 17 year old Anene Booysen. Rallies, forums, Face Book messages, all to stand up against rape.
But how is it possible that we stand together, only now. In a country where according to statistics a woman is raped every 4 minutes, where 85% of girls under 18 are victims of some of other sexual offence, where someone is murdered every 25 minutes . We live in an ever increasing violent society – the recent events concerning Oscar Pistorius being a very good example. Some blame it on bad policeing, others feel the legal system cares more about the perpetrator’s human rights than that of the victim. Poverty, unemployment and drugs are all reasons being given, but what kind of human (very difficult to call it that) rapes a girl, breaks most bones in her body, cuts her open and leave her intestines alongside her body. Does this being deserve human rights?
I am fed up! I have had it up till here. For the last couple of years I have used my art to tell the international audience how we feel in South Africa www.gradyzart.co.za - all my exhibitions I have made a point in taking the paintings that show the raw emotions of a nation torn apart. I have started a group on Face Book – Stop Violence against women and children ,http://www.facebook.com/groups/126240970875660/, my daughter made a video of my art for YouTube, expressing how we feel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNEoqwumj2U.
I wear black today, I will continue to paint and advocate, and do whatever I can to make the world aware of what is going on in this country. I will not stop, it is my destiny.
