Denise Robinson advocates justice
For Denise Robinson, the Shadow Minister for Women in the Presidency, and DA Women's Network Leader, the concepts of equality and fairness have always been close to the heart.
POLOKWANE – Growing up in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, she spent most of her time in Cala in the old Transkei and on trading stations in the Macubeni areas.
She knew early on that she had an interest in politics, often listening to the radio about the happenings of parliament.
At the same time, she also picked up on the inequalities around her with her Xhosa-speaking playmates not attending the same school as she did.
She increasingly became aware of discrimination and inequality.
“I asked my mother why my friends were not attending the same school, and was told that the law prescribed separate schools for different races,” she recollects.
“I decided early on that one day I would go to parliament to change laws I felt were unfair.”
Robinson matriculated from Queenstown Girls High School which she describes as an “excellent academic school with great traditions, drama, music and sport”.
“There was an ethos of reaching out to others, and becoming a responsible citizen.”
She went on to study teaching at Rhodes University, majoring in English and history.
“I soon became aware of Helen Suzman and the role she played in exposing the lies and hypocrisy of the National Party, and of the cruelty suffered by people who were being denied opportunities.”
The forced removals of people from their traditional homes angered and upset her, she says.
Robinson says her interest in politics was further sparked when Jannie Steytler (UP MP), Suzman and others broke away from the United Party and expressed more liberal views.
As an adult, Robinson served as a volunteer during the elections and, when her children left the nest, knew her time to get actively involved had finally arrived.
In 1998 she became the first DP councillor in the Tygerberg Municipality, which was a predominantly National Party area.
She became a DA councillor in 2001 and was elected into parliament in 2004 and has been there ever since.
Robinson first served in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as a member of the finance committee, and in 2009 in the National Assembly as the Shadow Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
Since 2011 she has taken up the role as Shadow Minister for Women in the Presidency and as Leader of the DA Women’s Network.
Being a parliamentarian is a privilege and an honour, she says.
“To help bring about change and improve others’ quality of life is surely an honour.”
It does irk her somewhat, that parliamentary discussions are ever so often disrupted these days, “it is no longer a place where members respect one another or their voters”.
Compensating for the injustices of the past clearly motivates her in doing work in her constituency, and she says that promoting the interests of democracy, the role of law and an independent judiciary is as important to her as gender equality.
“I believe in the role of women in society.”
The best advice she’s received she got from Suzman, “See for yourself, investigate and question. Don’t simply accept what you are told”.
Robinson encourages the youth to study hard, read widely and expand their education with topics on the law, sociology, political science and history,
“This is so that we can learn from the mistakes of the past and do not repeat them.
“Also, be concerned about the welfare of your fellow citizens and be true to the Constitution and the values of truth and justice”.
