Newly elected Kwazulu-Natal Legislature Speaker NN Boyce hosted her first sectoral Youth Parliament in Sibongile Township in Endumeni. She welcomed the delegates, who are the parliamentarians of the Youth Sitting, made up of the youth formations of all the political parties represented in the House.

The Speaker encouraged the delegates to hold constructive and vibrant debates under the Theme: “25 Years of Democracy: A Celebration of Youth Activism”.

The Youth Parliament is held over two days, 14 and 15 June 2019. On the first day, the House received an update from MECs on the implementation of resolutions taken at the previous Youth Sittings.

Other topics covered on day one included:

° Centrality of youth in advancing the
agenda of a de-colonized and free
education system;
° Ocean economy: Is the youth
strategically positioned to seize
opportunities?
° Emulating the youth of 1976: Youth
championing the agenda to build a
crime free society and combating
social ills; and
° Expediting land expropriation process
and skilling the youth to ensure
productive use

The delegates thereafter broke into commissions on Social Transformation
(Health; Social Development; Arts and Culture); Social Transformation Cluster2
(Education, Human Settlements and Sports and Recreation) ; Economic Transformation Cluster (Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs; Transport; Public Works; Agriculture and Rural Development). ; Governance Cluster (Office of the Premier; Local Government and Traditional Affairs) and the Security Cluster (Community Safety and Liaison).
Commissions were held and the resolutions taken in Commissions are recorded, marking the end of day one.

The second day, 15 June 2019, saw delegates and community members being enlightened on Public Interaction and Petitions Awareness followed by an Address by the Premier, Sihle Zikalala.

The Premier highlighted the strides government has taken in uplifting and promoting youth. He also stated that the KZN Cabinet is in the process of rolling out a R50 Million fund for youth owned companies and that this amount has been increased by a further R20 Million.

The last item on the agenda for the second day is the Youth Parliamentarians Debate under the theme.

“25 Years of Democracy: A Celebration of Youth Activism”

Transport Portfolio Committee takes a closer look at the South Africa/Mozambique Border
Concerns have been raised by Umhlabuyalingana community about the cross-border vehicle theft that is rampant on the border between South Africa and Mozambique. This has prompted the Portfolio Committee on Transport to visit the planned project of the department which seeks to respond to this challenge.

“We are here to see how far and what plans have been established to respond to the cross-border crime as it remains our greatest concern as a Portfolio Committee”, said the chairperson of the Committee, Hon Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.

Briefing the Portfolio Committee, the Department of Transport Project Manager, Mr Ndumiso Ndlovu, assured the Committee that the planned project, namely, the Jersey Barrier, includes the construction of the 8km wall along the border line as an initial construction. Responding to questions from members of the Committee, he emphasised that the project will be labour intensive with about 100 jobs to be created for the local people. Various stakeholders have been taken on board, and these include the local Council, Inkosi, suppliers and other relevant government departments.

It was also comforting for members of the Committee to learn that the Defence Force is present to minimise these crimes. However, it came to light that the Defence Force has numerous challenges in curbing these crimes. These include suspected information leaks to criminals regarding the movement of the members of the defence, flocking of civilians between borders and social activities that take place right in the border between South African and Mozambican civilians, the changing of personnel as Defence rotates the deployed of personnel in that area, the limited numbers of members on the ground as only about 47 to man a distance of 20 km etc.

In view of these challenges, the Portfolio Committee resolved to hold further meetings soon to establish amongst others, where the funding for this massive project will come from as was reported. The meeting will further seek to establish whether the funding is sufficient, and to interrogate other decisions that were taken which by the department, according to the Committee leaves it with more questions to ask.

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.