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25 November 2008

Programme Directors, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture and Tourism Ms Weziwe Thusi and Mr Linda Sibiya
Other MECs present
Member of the Provincial Legislature Ms Nonzwakazi Swaartbooi and other MPLs present
Mayors and Councillors present
Inkosi DS Cele and Amakhosi present
Representatives from the Progressive Women's Movement and other civil society organisations
Pastor Dube and religious leaders present
KZN Director-General Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa
Heads of Department
Other Government Officials
Members of the media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

We are assembled here today for the provincial official opening ceremony of South Africa's ninth Campaign on the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. This is one of the greatest achievements of the democratic government of South Africa.

The main objectives of this campaign are to:
* Create awareness about gender-based violence and child-directed abuse at grass roots level
* Bring the 16 Days Campaign closer to the people, so that every member of society in all communities is educated about the scourge of violence against women and children.
* Challenge the perpetrators of these crimes to change their behaviour and to educate men that they too are vulnerable to violence and abuse;
* Inform women, children and men of information and services available to them on gender-based violence
* Encourage society to speak out and not to remain silent about gender- based violence and
* Inform communities about alcohol and substance abuse and the impact gender-based violence has on the infection rate of HIV and AIDS.

The rights of women and children are fundamental human rights entrenched in, and protected by, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. These rights are thus inalienable from, integral to and indivisible from the human rights framework. Gender-based violence, in all its different guises, is incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated. Hence, the call to society is "Don't Look Away, Act against Abuse."

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign is an annual, United Nations endorsed, awareness raising campaign that begins on 25 November each year and ends on 10 December. The 16 Days Campaign is, but, one element of government's year long, integrated and cross sectoral drive to eliminate the abuse of women and children. The campaign hopes to contribute to governments, primary developmental, objective of restoring to individuals their human dignity, within the context of safer and more secure families and communities.

The key commemorative dates, during the campaign, serve as useful platforms for highlighting the plight of vulnerable groups (women, children, the aged and the disabled) who are victims of this scourge.

The key commemorative dates for the Campaign are:
* 25 November: International Day for No Violence against Women
* 1 December: International HIV and AIDS Day
* 3 December: International Day for People Living with Disabilities and
* 10 December: International Human Rights Day.

Internationally, the year 2008 marks the 18th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign. During 2004, it was announced that the campaign should be extended to 365 Days of Action against gender-based violence. As a result, the 16 Days Campaign has spread its activities over a period of 365 days, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gender Machinery

This event today forms part of the many initiatives of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gender Machinery, and aims to sensitise citizens of the province on this particular issue of violence against women and its eradication, so that women enjoy their full rights.

Umzinto Serial Killings

Yesterday (Monday, 24 November 2008 ), the case against a 36 year old man accused of murdering 11 KwaZulu-Natal women and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields, was postponed in the Ramsgate High Court. KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala postponed the case until July 25 next year for trial.

This would allow lawyers for Thozamile Taki and his accomplice Hlengiwe Nene to go through the more than 4 000 pages of court documents. Taki is accused of being the mastermind in the case. He allegedly lured the 11 women to the town of Umzinto, not very far from here, with the promise of employment and then murdered them. It is believed he also raped them.

During this year (2008), the Provincial Gender Machinery programme focused on raising awareness, especially in the community of Umzinto and surrounding areas, following the gruesome murders of these 11 women. These Sugar Cane murders have brought to the public's attention persistent male chauvinism, which is a factor in the continued high levels of gender based violence affecting South African society.

It has also highlighted the, often ignored, role of women accomplices in the abuse of women and children in our country. Therefore, today also provides us with an opportunity to reflect on this brutal incident, as well as other similar incidents, which undermines the plethora of gender sensitive legislation, policies and practices embedded in South Africa's Constitution.

Changing Mind-Sets

This event today also serves as a platform to condemn the sugar cane murders and other related incidents of violence against women, as it has become self evident that it is much easier to attend to legal frameworks than to change mindsets. As a part of the campaign, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Men's Forum will embark on a special gender based violence programme by, inter alia, visiting taverns so as to raise awareness of violence against women and children in the Umzinto and surrounding areas. The aim is to create an enabling environment, in the province, for women to lay claim to their rights without fear of family or community retribution.

Implementation and Co-ordination

In KwaZulu-Natal, the 16 Days Campaign for 2008 will be led by the Provincial Men's Forum. It is for this reason that the build up to today's event was led by the Provincial Men's Forum, and South African Police Services (SAPS) Men for Change, visiting taverns this past Saturday, 22 November 2008, in the area to engage men on Gender-Based Violence. The Provincial Gender Machinery and the Office on the Status of Women will also partner with different organisations during the 16 Days Campaign to support and strengthen the various initiatives in advancing the campaign.

Taking Government Services to the People
Today is also Service Delivery Day, where we are bringing government services to the people of this area. In this regard, the Department of Social Development is assisting with grants, the Department of Health has provided a mobile clinic and the Department of Justice is assisting with legal aid. This event today has also brought together social activists, religious leaders, media representatives and members of various government institutions.

KwaZulu-Natal gender based programmes

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has responded in an integrated, situation specific and holistic manner to address gender based violence in the province. Government understands that violence is a major obstacle to women fulfilling their potential in all aspects of South African social, economic and cultural life. Our goal is to substantially reduce, if not eliminate, the levels of victimisation so that women can play their rightful role in leading the growth and development of KwaZulu-Natal.

The following programmes are being implemented by various government departments, to fight the scourge of gender based violence in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Department of Social Development

The Department of Social Development is rolling out the victim empowerment programme to support victims of all forms of crime and violence. This programme focuses on the prevention of gender based violence, women's empowerment and development as well as the prevention of trafficking in human bodies.

It also focuses on services to victims of domestic violence, establishment of victim support services jointly with other departments, home help services and management and establishment of shelters for abused women. The Department is currently funding 14 shelters for abused women Pietermaritzburg (four), Durban (six), Midlands (three) and one in Ulundi.

Department of Community Safety and Liaison

The Department of Community Safety and Liaison established a Victim Empowerment Directorate in November 2005. Amongst the activities that this Directorate has undertaken, is the development of gender based violence awareness campaigns including radio drama, DVDs and information brochures such as the A to Z card on domestic violence. The campaign assists victims to understand the issue of domestic violence and what to do when one is a victim or witness of domestic and gender based violence. The A to Z card is available in both isiZulu and English.

Furthermore, a Provincial Crime Prevention Forum was established in 2007, and includes all relevant stakeholders as well as communities, to enhance government's fight against this scourge. As a result, the Department of Community Safety and Liaison launched the Volunteer Social Crime Prevention Project early this year.

Further, initiatives undertaken by the South African Police Service to combat domestic violence and rape include:
* A partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Sexual and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit, to develop proactive interventions to address issues which will circumvent the occurrence of cases being rejected through the judicial system, due to procedural errors on the part of the SAPS. The Social Crime Prevention Unit of the SAPS is currently instrumental within the Provincial Project Oversight Committee (POC), towards addressing all matters regarding sexual offences.

* A draft framework for the implementation of the Provincial Anti-Rape Strategy has been finalised.

* Substantial resources have been allocated towards increasing the capacity of police officers, in respect of domestic violence, at all police stations in the province. The provincial government has, further, been able to offer co-ordination, facilitation and technical support in respect of 104 projects aimed at addressing crimes against women, involving 122 stakeholders, thereby reaching 76 500 people. A Provincial Project Tracking System (PTS) has been introduced for this purpose.

* The SAPS is also part of the Service Charter for Victims of Crime in the province.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has established Crisis Centres for Rape Victims, as rape is one of the trauma cases that hospitals have to deal with. Through collaboration between the Department of Health and the South African Police Service, this concept of Crisis Centres was developed. Crisis Centres are now in place in all districts in the province and have proven to be extremely beneficial to victims of trauma and rape cases.

Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism

As part of the moral regeneration and social cohesion programme, the Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism has implemented the Amagosa Ezintombi programme, to ensure that women understand their responsibility in contributing towards the building of the social fabric of society. The annual reed dance ceremony also serves as a vehicle to draw awareness to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Department of Education

Giving children a voice, and a chance, to participate in decisions that will affect them at home, at school and the community at large contributes to building tremendous self esteem and courage through empowerment. Children are, therefore, more likely to stand up for themselves and take action against negative influences in their lives.

The Girl's in Education Movement (GEM) is an initiative by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the National Department of Education to establish clubs in schools, to create a platform where learners can share and discuss social challenges at school and also to provide support for each other as part of peer education.

Approximately 2 500 clubs exist with the best functioning clubs in Zululand and the Coastal Cluster, where UNICEF has run a pilot project. The clubs are not the exclusive domain of girls but include boys as strategic partners in gender transformation.

The Technogirls project supports and guides girls in making informed career and life choices, with an emphasis on professions in the maths, science and technology fields. School girls, aged between 15 and 18, are drawn from previously disadvantaged communities with participants from rural areas being given priority.

In June 2008, in partnership with the Departments of Trade and Industry and Economic Development, a GEM Technogirls Entrepreneurship camp was held in Port Shepstone, where 120 girls were again exposed to previously male dominated fields. The ten teams had to present business plans and display samples of their products.

The Girl Child

An African proverb says, To educate a boy is to educate an individual, but to educate a girl is to educate a whole nation. With education, a woman has a greater voice in her family and community and is more likely to participate in political, social and economic decision making. When women and girls are educated, they are also more aware of how to stay healthy and protect themselves from diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Education opens up choices for girls, including making education a priority before marriage.

Institutionalisation of the Provincial Men's Forum

The role of men in fighting gender based violence cannot be over emphasised. The Provincial Men's Forum (PMF) of KwaZulu-Natal was launched on 9 November 2007. The Office on the Status of Women, within the Office of the Premier, facilitated the establishment of the Provincial Men's Forum (PMF), which comprises focal persons dealing with men's issues from a variety of organisations including government departments, the Portfolio Committee on the Quality of Life and the Status of Women, Children, Youth and People with Disabilities, Commission on Gender Equality, Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Rights, SAPS Women's Network, SAPS Men for Change, Religious and Linguistic communities, Taxi Associations, Faith-Based Organisations and Community-Based Organisations. The Men's Forum operates within the Provincial Gender Machinery.

In conclusion, let me make take this opportunity to state that it is important for this campaign to reach every household, every workplace, school and church so that our people can build a culture, within themselves, which will prioritise the upholding of the dignity of all women and children in the province.

This campaign does not only belong to government. Yes, government should play a role in promoting awareness. However, it is the obligation of all citizens to uphold the spirit of the campaign. No violence against women and children is everybody's responsibility.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
25 November 2008