Day: September 17, 2023

South African children have reiterated a call for the review of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF).

The call was made during consultations with children on Pillar 7 of the NSP on GBVF, held simultaneously in Limpopo, the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.

The Department of Social Development has been on the road consulting children on the NSP-GBVF – the country’s blueprint document to combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

This follows a call by children during the Presidential GBVF Summit held last year, that the document should have Pillar 7, which will specifically look at violence against children.

During the summit, the children expressed their dissatisfaction about adults speaking on their behalf.

The NSP-GBVF currently has six pillars namely:

• Accountability, coordination and leadership;

• Prevention and Rebuilding;

• Justice, Safety and Protection;

• Response, Care Support and healing;

• Economic Power; and

• Research and Information.

During consultations, the children noted that the document is not child friendly, and does not include children and men.

The children believe that the “gender” in gender-based violence indirectly means women, and not children and boys.

They challenged the drafters to look into the document and count how many times children are mentioned.

“Maybe instead of a pillar, there should be a strategic document on how to deal with violence against children, seeing that adults have already drafted their own,” 17-year-old Rebecca Smith said.

The children also raised concern on the document being written only in English, noting that they do not think that their communities even know what “gender-based violence” is.

“The seventh pillar must all be about us – the children,” said Mondli Mncandi.

Patience Sibande (17) said she had to continue consulting her dictionary because of the difficulty in terminology and language used.

“We don’t understand it, and it excludes us as children from the rural areas,” she said.

The children also pointed out that while the drafters of the document may think that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA) community is mentioned, the document glosses over their issues and it does not understand [what] children who are of a different sexuality go through.

“The document is sound but lacks inclusivity in the sense that it only mentions the LGBTQIA community towards the end, the document should include them throughout,” said 16-year-old Northern Cape Child Ambassador Shareez James.

The department started the consultations last week with the children from Gauteng and the Western Cape.

“The consultative sessions seek to ensure that children have an opportunity to express their views on the NSP-GBVF and how their issues can find expression in the document. The Children’s Act encourages the right for children to participate in all matters affecting them,” the department said.

The consultations will continue in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga on 23 September 2023.

Upon the conclusion of the consultations, the inputs from children will be submitted to the national steering committee responsible for the NSP-GBVF so that a decision can be made on whether to include Pillar 7, as asked by the children.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has encouraged interfaith communities to collaborate with government to tackle societal challenges.

Mashatile made the call during a fundraising gala dinner for the 100th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa, Alexandra Parish, held at the Marlboro Community Hall.

“Now, more than ever, we must join forces to counter what has grown to threaten our communities. Among the many challenges confronting our communities, we must address access to quality education, poverty, unemployment, drug and substance abuse, child abuse, crime, corruption, lack of housing, teenage pregnancy, and [the] high HIV infection among young people,” Mashatile said.

In his address on Saturday, Mashatile said the church plays a crucial role in fighting social ills, irrespective of the denomination or community it serves.

As a well-established moral and social leader, the church has effectively addressed social problems through outreach, education, and advocacy.

The Deputy President expressed satisfaction with the church’s endorsement of governmental function in addressing societal challenges, mostly centred on addressing fundamental necessities, advancing equality and fairness, and fostering a sense of community and social responsibility.

He noted that, social cohesiveness is widely recognised as a fundamental element of every given society, necessitating the active participation of all individuals in the collective endeavour to foster a harmonious social fabric.

He emphasised the importance for the interfaith community to continue collaborative efforts to foster inclusivity among all people. This is irrespective of racial, religious, or cultural backgrounds.

“As a church, we must ask whether we have attempted to fulfil our community responsibilities or joined the masses who care about themselves. Resolving these challenges necessitates a collaborative endeavour involving not just governmental entities but also the active participation of all segments of society, including interfaith communities.

“Interfaith initiatives, which include community service, serve as a vehicle for social change [and] these initiatives can specifically address issues like poverty and inequality. In its capacity as a moral and social leader, we strongly encourage the church to collaborate with us to tackle these societal difficulties as well as others effectively.”

He called on the church to foster a sense of belonging.

“Moreover, from feeding the homeless to educating underprivileged children, the church must continue to show a deep commitment to serving society. These acts of kindness and generosity benefit the recipients and inspire others to do the same, thus creating a culture of giving and kindness.”

The Deputy President expressed his appreciation to those who attended the event in support of the refurbishment of Dr Knack Primary School.

The refurbishment of the educational institution will positively impact academic advancement and the overall welfare of pupils, while also serving to attract and retain highly qualified personnel and educators.

He also commended the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in partnership with the Jewish Women’s Organisation, for running a soup kitchen, which provides much-needed food to the Alexandra community, and for their after-school programme, which assists students with their homework.

He further urged everyone to emulate the Lutheran Church’s example and assist in combating poverty in their communities by sharing what they have with those less fortunate.

“As a government, we recognise and appreciate the work done by churches and religious institutions in promoting social cohesion and supporting our communities. Your contribution to building strong communities and bringing people together is invaluable,” the Deputy President said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, stated on Saturday that the current waste management situation in Namibia is unsatisfactory, as many villages, towns, and municipalities lack proper landfills and instead resort to using dumpsites for waste disposal.

‘It is estimated that every year we dispose of more than two million tons of waste on the planet,’ he said.

In a statement issued to Nampa by the ministry, Shifeta, during the commemoration of World Clean-up Day, emphasised that poor waste management, which ranges from non-existent collection systems to ineffective disposal methods, contributes to air, water and soil pollution.

‘We are aware of efforts by some local authorities trying to find different ways to dispose of residential and domestic waste. However, this remains a significant challenge. There is room for improvement in all three municipalities, particularly in waste collection from informal areas,’ Shifeta noted.

Furthermore, the minister challenged the nation to explore innovative approaches to generate additional revenue, which would enable the country to enhance its waste management system, ultimately positioning Namibia as a leading African country in waste management.

‘Waste management is a global issue that concerns everyone, and it is essential to acknowledge the contribution of private contractors who provide waste containers and collect recyclables and waste materials,’ Shifeta added.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency