Month: August 2023

Government is piloting a system in a number of provinces that will enable victims of domestic violence to apply for protection orders online.

“The violence perpetrated by men against women and girls is an assault on our common humanity. Women do not feel safe in their homes, on the street, in places of work and study and worship,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.

The President made these remarks during his keynote address at the commemoration of Women’s Day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

He told South Africans that government has responded to the call for tougher bail conditions for perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV).

“Effective from earlier this month, no police bail may be granted to persons charged with rape or if the victim was in a domestic relationship with the perpetrator. Such bail applications must be formally applied for in court. If the accused was in a domestic relationship with the alleged victim, the court has to issue a protection order against them before releasing them on bail.

“Also effective from earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest,” the President said.

In addition, as of earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest.

This year’s Women’s Month is being celebrated under the theme: ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment’. This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.

“Women do not feel safe in their homes, on the street, in places of work and study and worship. It was in response to this crisis that the first Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in 2018 made a firm commitment to undertake a comprehensive, effective and united response.

“Through an extensive consultative process, the National Strategic Plan to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was launched three years ago. Since then, it has made important progress,” the President said.

More than 12 000 police members have received training to respond effectively to gender-based violence and to focus on the needs of victims.

More than one million DNA collection kits have been delivered to police stations around the country since 2019 and there are now just over 1 000 victim friendly rooms at police stations countrywide.

“Over the last year, we opened three new Thuthuzela Care Centres for victims of gender-based violence, bringing the national total to 62. We are improving access to shelters and associated services for survivors of gender-based violence.

“In January last year, I signed into law three key pieces of legislation, namely the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act,” the President said.

He said these new laws provide greater protection to survivors of gender-based violence, to ensure that perpetrators are no longer able to evade prosecution, and to strengthen measures to prevent gender-based violence.

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said while South Africa has made strides to improve the lives of women since democracy a lot more still needs to be done.

“South Africa is not free…it will only be free when we are free as women. Let us take the District Development Model approach to address GBV. In every ward, every councillor must be at the forefront of the fight against GBV and the religious leader in that ward must also be at the forefront of fighting against GBV.

“Women must have access to justice. They are very serious problems with women accessing justice. The lgbtqia+ community must stop being killed and discriminated against,” the Minister said.

Women in sport

The President paid tribute to the women of the country who are excelling in sport.

“Banyana Banyana and the Protea Netball Team did our country proud recently. Banyana Banyana won the African Women’s Cup and reached the top 16 in the Women’s FIFA World Cup and our Netball Team played very well and are now ranked 6th in the world.

“As a country, we are very proud of our women as they fly South Africa’s flag high. We need to pay them well and their pay must be equal to that of men and even exceed what we pay men,” Ramaphosa said.

Dlamini Zuma echoed the President’s sentiments as she congratulated Banyana Banyana for making history under difficult conditions.

“There is no women soccer league in the country and they get paid less than their male counterparts. The wage gap in South Africa is still there. Our ancestors are happy because Banyana Banyana has made history,” the Minister said.

Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi said the 9th of August is an affirmation that women are special.

“The 9th of August is not a ritual. It is an affirmation that we will empower women, it is an affirmation that will empower and support women,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Henkel, global manufacturers of industrial and consumer goods, has empowered children and communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, with its “Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) initiative, ‘Project Waste-to-Wealth’.

The Managing Director of Henkel, Nigeria, Mr Rajat Kaput, on Wednesday in Lagos, said that the programme, meant to commemorate the MIT’s 25th anniversary, would drive sustainability.

He said that the MIT was launched in 1998 for employees and retirees of the company.

He said the programme had become a momentous occasion for the company to showcase a vital component of its Corporate Citizenship activities.

Kaput said the company firmly believes that investing in education and environmental stewardship at grassroots level would yield long-lasting results.

“As a socially-responsible corporate citizens, we recognise the significance of sustainable development and are committed to supporting initiatives that promote environmental consciousness.

“We would continue to strengthen community relationships with local stakeholders and demonstrate our dedication to creating a positive impact beyond our business operations.

“Through ‘Project Waste to Wealth’, we hope to inspire these young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits and foster a sustainable future,” Kaput said.

Mrs Chidera Akwuba, Transformation Manager, Henkel Nigeria, said the company, through events like MIT day, strives to create a positive impact, promote sustainability, and empower the younger generation with the necessary skills to build a better future.

Akwuba said the primary objective was to educate underprivileged children in public primary schools about the importance of sustainability and empower them to become catalysts for positive change.

She said to successfully deliver the initiative, Henkel Nigeria partnered with GWETO, an NGO, and the Waste Museum, to impact the lives of 100 primary school children in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Akwuba said that the children were taught to create art and crafts using recyclable items, fostering creativity while instilling a sense of environmental consciousness.

“Through Project ‘Waste to Wealth’, we aim to inspire and empower the next generation to adopt sustainable practices and take steps towards a greener future,” she said.

The Assistant Head Teacher, IMG Basic Special School Ibadan, Mrs Ganiyat Alabi, commended the company for its consistency in training the children over the years.

She said that this was not the first time Henkel Nigeria was doing an educational training, describing the initiative as very great for the development of children.

“We are very grateful to Henkel for these commitments because these pupils are special children, and they are always eager to practice what they learnt,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Henkel’s employee’s dedication has resulted in it donating money running into millions of Naira, facilitating more than 17,000 volunteer programmes and engaging approximately 10,000 volunteers globally.

The company, with its brands, innovations and technologies, holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Governor of the Oshikoto Region, Penda Ya Ndakolo has requested the youth to show up in big numbers for the commemoration of Heroes’ Day.

Ya Ndakolo in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday here, said the youth must come and meet the president and his delegation on 26 August 2023, at Omuthiya in Oshikoto.

“The public should assist each other with transport, even though there will be public transport,” said Ya Ndakolo, noting that this is the second time the town is hosting the event as it hosted it the first time in 2012, with very low youth attendance.

“The day 26 August occupies a special place in our hearts and the history of our nation as we remember and pay tribute to our dear heroes and heroines who paid their supreme sacrifice for the liberation of our motherland, so we want at least a good number for this event,” he said.

Preparations for the event are well underway, he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Dundee Precious Metals on Monday handed over 41 mattresses to the Katima Mulilo Urban Constituency, to be distributed to schools.

The mattresses which are valued at N.dollars 50 000 were procured after the constituency sought assistance early this year from the mining company.

Dundee Community Development Coordinator Christalin Mushongo at the handover said her company strives to live its core value of developing communities, even going beyond their region of operation in Oshikoto, and despite challenges they will assist wherever possible.

Katima Urban Constituency Councillor Kennedy Simasiku said receiving the donation was a relief considering the winter conditions the learners are facing. The 41 mattresses are divided among Caprivi Senior Secondary School and Kizito College which fall under Katima Urban.

Simasiku added that as a stakeholder in education, he and his office could not sit and solely rely on the government to provide essential services, but complement it with the little they can.

Caprivi Senior Secondary School hostel superintendent, Vincent Sinyepe said he was filled with joy over the kind gesture by both Dundee and the constituency. The hostel superintendent acknowledged that the school has been buying small, thin mattresses which are of low quality just to accommodate every learner in the hostel.

Sinyepe said to encourage the learners to do better in their education, the mattresses will be given first to the best performing learners in the hostel.

Meanwhile, Sinyepe also registered his concern with the local business community, which he said has not been responding positively to the needs of the children.

“The learners are yours, ours, and you need to come on board whenever assistance is sought as part of your corporate social responsibility,” he pointed out.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in the Omusati Region for allegedly stabbing to death a 19-year-old man with a kitchen knife on Tuesday.

Namibian Police Force Omusati crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho on Wednesday said the incident occurred around 19h30 at Onangolo (Onawa) village in the Anamulenge Constituency.

Simaho said the two were playing at the time of the fatal stabbing.

“It is alleged that an argument arose between the two while they were playing and the younger boy stabbed the older one with a kitchen knife,” he said.

The 19-year-old, who was identified as Thomas Johannes, died upon arrival at the Outapi hospital.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency