WAR-ROOMS FUNCTIONALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE 28-29 August 2018

KZN LEGISLATURE MONITORS THE NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS THROUGH INTENSIVE OVERSIGHT VISITS TO WAR ROOMS IN MUNICIPALITIES THIS WEEK (NDP & PGDP)

Over the next two days, 28 and 29 August 2018, the Legislature embarks on an intensive oversight programme to assess the impact of War Rooms in relation to service delivery in the entire KZN province. This move is in line with the constitutional obligation of the legislature as set out in Section 114 (2) of the Constitution which stipulates that, ‘provincial legislatures must provide for mechanisms to ensure that all provincial executive organs of state in the province are accountable to it.

In this regard, the Legislature oversees parts of the NDP and PGDP through the War-Rooms Programme, which remains a vehicle to facilitate quick response to service delivery needs, by profiling households in a ward and the level of service delivery per household. It seeks to achieve Goal Three: Human and Community Development of the PGDP, with specific reference to the eradication of poverty and the improvement of social welfare.

The Legislature considers War Rooms a multi-purpose, multi-sectoral and the involvement of various government departments at different layers makes this kind of oversight critical in the exercise of the legislature’s oversight role.

This oversight programme seeks to assess whether or not the War Rooms in the province are on track, and to assess whether what was set out in the design of the project is being accomplished within the time-frames required.  The Oversight Programme will assess the following:

Composition of the War-Rooms; Frequency of meetings and participation by stakeholders; Cases dealt with and turnaround period; Data Management; Follow-up on issues; Processing of reports; Feedback to communities; and Overall percentage of functional OSS War-Rooms interventions on the spot.

War-Rooms, are a part of a broader programme, Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS). OSS is integrating all departments to focus on solving community problems from the grassroots level. The Programme aims at promoting human values, fighting crime, diseases and social ills, to ensure moral regeneration. As part of this programme, all government departments work together, visiting the poorest, most deprived households in the province to bring health, welfare and other services to them. OSS encompasses the “One Home One Garden Programme” and ensures that families are assisted to register for birth certificates and identity documents. It promotes education, skills development and youth development and emphasizes the delivery of service and infrastructure development.

All media representatives are invited to attend this programme.

Attached is the deployment of the Members of the Provincial Legislature across KZN.

For more information contact:

Wesley Canham

Senior Practitioner: Media liaison and PR

KZN Legislature

Cell 0833 767299

canhamw@kznleg.gov.za

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KZN Women United in Moving South Africa Forward

KZN Women United in Moving South Africa Forward

During the two-day Women’s Parliament held on 7 and 8 August at Vulindlela Stadium in the upper Edendale in Umsunduzi Municipality to commemorate the women’s month, women from all political parties represented in the KZN Legislature were unanimous in the fight against gender-based violence and all forms of women and child abuse.

The Women’s Parliament is an annual programme of the KZN Legislature to celebrate the women’s month and to commemorate the Women’s March of 1956 in which women demonstrated their solidarity across racial lines in a bid to end oppressive laws, in particular, the carrying of discriminatory passes which were forced upon them by the apartheid regime.

The commemoration was combined with the celebration of the centenary of the two struggle icons, Mama Albertina Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, who turn 100 years this year.

Delegates went into commissions to discuss and explore various topics which focused on issues affecting women in a society in which they bear the brunt of all forms of abuse and economic exclusion. Commissions which met on the first day until very late, made several recommendations which were tabled at the plenary the following day and later adopted as resolutions of the Women’s Parliament.

In a period where abuse of women is rife, this year’s Women’s Parliament focused on a range of issues affecting ordinary women. Amongst other issues that were up for discussion included the following:
• Eradicating the scourge of gender-based violence.
• The efficacy of current policies and interventions to combat femicide and abuse in general.
• Focus on child marriages and assessment of South Africa’s international obligations, national laws and cultural practices to protect young girls and deliberated on the effects these marriages have on human rights of young girls.
• Patriarchy within the South African Police Service – fact or fiction? This question was discussed against the background of challenges faced by women when reporting cases of rape or other forms of physical abuse at police stations throughout South Africa.

Women resolved that their economic exclusion in various spheres of society remains a challenge to economic emancipation of women, and they have called upon the government to accelerate Radical Socio-Economic Transformation (RSET).

A discussion which they hoped would contribute to the current question of land redistribution took place in which women called for greater access to, and control over economic resources, including land.

The resolutions adopted by the Women’s Parliament will be forwarded to the provincial government for consideration which may ultimately lead to new legislation passed by the Legislature.

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KZN Legislature holds Women’s Parliament to commemorate Women’s Month

On 7 and 8 August 2018, at Vulindlela Stadium in the upper Edendale under Umsunduzi Municipality, women from all political parties represented in the KZN Legislature will converge for their annual women’s parliament. KZN Women, will again this year, commemorate the Women’s March of 1956 in which women demonstrated their solidarity across racial lines in a bid to end the carrying of permits which they were forced by the apartheid regime.

The commemoration will be combined with the celebration of the centenary of Mama Albertina Sisulu and Nelson Mandela. There are a number of activities planned to mark the centenary of the two struggle icons.

In a period where abuse of women is rife, this year’s parliament will amongst other issues discuss and resolve on 1. eradicating the scourge of gender-based violence, 2. reflect on the efficacy of current policies and interventions to combat femicide and abuse in general, 3. focus on the child marriages and assess South Africa’s international obligations, national laws and cultural practices to protect young girls and deliberate on the effects these marriages have on human rights of young girls. 4. Patriarchy within the South African Police Service – fact or fiction? This is the question they hope to unpack against the background of challenges faced by women when reporting cases of rape or other forms of physical abuse at police stations throughout South Africa.

The Women have also resolved that their economic exclusion in various spheres of society remains a challenge to economic emancipation of women, and they have resolved to include discussion on Radical Socio-Economic Transformation (RSET), a discussion which they hope will explore ideas for women to expand access to, and control over economic resources, including land.

The Women’s Parliament remains one of many Legislature’s strategies to broaden public participation of the women’s sectors in order to achieve the legislature’s constitutional mandate, namely, involving various sectors of society in the legislative processes. Women will also use this opportunity to engage the executive arm of government, and articulate issues that concern them as women in society. These issues are forwarded to government in the form of resolutions which may ultimately lead to new legislation passed by the Legislature.

Media representatives are invited to this event.

For more information contact:

W Canham

Snr Practitioner: Media Liaison & Public Relations

KZN Legislature

Tel.    033-3557 559

Cell.   0833767299

Email: Canhamw@kznleg.gov.za

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Emotional scenes play out at the Pietermaritzburg #TotalShutDown march

Thousands of women have marched on the streets of the KwaZulu-Natal Capital City, Pietermaritzburg to hand over a memorandum demanding an end to gender based violence. This was the beginning of a month-long activities to fight against gender based violence during the women’s month.

They’re demanding government to establish a comprehensive process to address and reduce women abuse in the country. Some women taking part in Wednesday’s march have recalled their harrowing stories. A woman says she’s attended the march to stand in solidarity with all women, especially victims of gender-based violence.

#OurBodyIsNotYourCrimeScene

#kznlegislature #insession #TotalShutDown #OurBodyIsNotYourCrimeScene

“I’m here today to support women, myself and all victims of sexual assaults by men, they are killing us, it’s too much now.” said UKZN SCR Deputy President, she also shared a horrifying story of the female UKZN student that was raped by a male classmate. The marchers said government needs to take more drastic steps to stop the scourge in the country. “We are here because we are seeing the rate of femicide and gender-based violence keeps on increasing. And all we ever get is ‘we condemn’ and ‘enough is enough”.

Women from all walks of life have taken part in Wednesday’s march, many wearing black and red – saying they want to send a strong message that “no means no”. Gender activists and groups around the world have pledged their support for Wednesday’s #TotalShutDown marches against women abuse.

The march brought the City of Pietermaritzburg to a standstill on Wednesday‚ as hundreds of women gathered to raise their voices against the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa.

Among those leading the march was Hon Khoza,,chairperson of Premier and Royal Household Portfolio Committee and the Women’s Caucus, together with other MPLs from different political parties that are represented in the KZN Legislature. Among those in the forefront of the march was Bridget Dlamini a retired Legislature employee and champion of gender issues who is known for fighting against all forms of issues affecting women, children and people with disabilities.
Women marched to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in song‚ some holding hands as others hoisted placards above their head, chanting songs and painful slogans like ‘my body is not your crime scene’ – ‘I refuse to die with my hands up and my legs open’

One of the marshals, Hon. Khoza‚ said she hoped the government would institute a specialized court that will deal exclusively with issues of gender-based violence.

The memorandum of demands was read and handed over to Hon. Meshack Radebe, Deputy Speaker of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, who also made an undertaking to look into all grievances , demands and proposals of the memorandum and committed government to not only listen but take concomitant action that will end this malpractice in our society. “I appeal again to all victims of gender-based violence to come up and not to be shy for fear of victimization and stigmatization and to speak out so that all the perpetrators will be brought into book”.

He also requested the marchers to observe a moment of silent to honour the passing of Mr Brian Thusi, the husband of Hon. Weziwe Thusi the MEC for Social Development, who passed on after a short illness.

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