2022 LGBTQIA+ SYMPOSIUM RESOLUTIONS

Noting:
That the KZN Legislature held its successful LGBTQIA+ symposium in 2021, which was the first of its kind.

That the Speaker of the KZN Legislature will go down into the history books as someone who did not only pay lip service to embracing the rights of all communities, as encapsulated in the Constitution

It is resolved:
That words of gratitude be expressed to the KZN Legislature Speaker for not betraying pillars of the Constitution.

Noting:
That two in three members of the LGBTQIA+ community are reported to be experiencing systemic and institutional discrimination.

That these experiences negatively affect the physical, psychological, and financial well-being of LGBTQIA+ community members, who then alter their lives in significant ways to avoid discrimination.

It is resolved:
That government includes lessons about LGBTQIA+ community concept in basic education curriculum.

Noting:
That LGBTQIA+ community still find it difficult to access employment and growth opportunities in workplaces due to discrimination.

It is resolved:
That government makes it a priority to promote the economic security and financial stability of LGBTQIA+ community by fostering inclusive labour practices and workplace policies.

Noting:
That LGBTQIA+ community members are often removed from the priority list of land and housing beneficiaries.

It is resolved:
That government ensures greater access to equally safe and stable housing for LGBTQIA+ community, as well as support services for those experiencing homelessness.

Noting:
That Social Compact is a political voluntary agreement between government and political communities.

That Department of Sport, Arts and Culture was mandated by the President to lead on this transversal mandate.

It is resolved:
That all sporting codes accommodate the LGBTQIA+ sector and where challenges the sector be consulted.

That advocacy programmes for gender dialogues be in place.

Noting:
That most schools do not have a school based social worker to assist with issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community members.

It is resolved:
That each school employs a school based social worker to assist with all learners social and psychological needs; especially those from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Noting:
The discrimination experienced by LGBTQIA+ community members at police stations when reporting or opening cases.

It is resolved:
That SAPS be capacitated to treat everyone equally, especially so that they will be receptive towards LGBTQIA+ community members.

Members of the Social Development Portfolio Committee visited the state of the art Wentworth Youth Development Centre and were impressed with the upkeep of the facilities and buildings.

The Centre offers skills development in catering, decor, electricity, fashion designing and sewing.

Members of the Committee were excited that the institution has a program in place to secure employment for those who qualify and provides entrepreneurship training for others to start their own businesses. #kznmpls

KZN LEGISLATURE’S MULTI-PARTY DELEGATION VISITS HARRY GWALA – 23 to 23 June 2022

Members of the KZN Legislature are deployed throughout the Harry Gwala district on 22 & 23 June 2022 to hold meetings with communities and listen to their service delivery challenges.

MPLs will also visit development projects that are funded by the provincial government and the district and local municipalities to monitor their effectiveness in communities where these projects are located.

These visits are in preparation of the Taking Legislature to the People which is set to sit in the Harry Gwala district within the next few months.

The Multi-Party visits focus on tracking progress made in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) in the district such as the province’s contribution through its Provincial Growth Development Plan and Mid-term Strategic Framework (MTSF).

Members will also engage communities on the challenges they are facing as far development is concerned and what has been the response of the provincial government departments and local municipalities.

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22 June 2022
Media Advisory

KZN LEGISLATURE’S MULTI-PARTY DELEGATION VISITS HARRY GWALA

Members of the KZN Legislature will be deployed throughout the Harry Gwala district from tomorrow (23/06/2022) to hold various meetings with communities and listen to their service delivery challenges. They will also visit development projects that are funded by the provincial government and the district and local municipalities to monitor their effectiveness in communities where these projects are located.
These visits are in preparation of the Taking Legislature to the People which is set to sit in the Harry Gwala district in the next few months.
The Multi-Party visits will focus on tracking progress made in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) in the district such as the province’s contribution through its Provincial Growth Development Plan and Mid-term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
Members will also engage communities on the challenges they are facing as far development is concerned and what has been the response of the provincial government departments and local municipalities.
Deployment of the Multiparty delegation in all four municipalities of the district is attached.
Members of the media are invited to attend and report on these accordingly.
Please see the attached deployment list.

Ends
Issued by the KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Mr Sina Nxumalo at 082906 0449

MEDIA RELEASE

25 MAY 2022

TO: ALL MEDIA
SUBJECT:  KZN LEGISLATURE TO HOLD THE 2022 WORKERS’ PARLIAMENT

From the 27 to 28 May 2022, the Legislature will hold its annual Workers’ Parliament in King Cetshwayo District, eSikhaleni township at kwaHlanganani Hall from 10am on both days. The three Federations, COSATU, FEDUSA and NACTU will participate in the Workers’ Parliament where they will engage government on various issues affecting the working class.

Some of these engagements include strategies to launch CCMA cases for non-unionized workers, fast tracking of the Pension Fund amendments to allow workers access to their pension funds, skilling of the workers for the 4th Industrial Revolution, update on Temporary Employer/ Employee Relief Scheme, National Labour Migration Policy and the Inspection of Programmes of the of the Department of Employment and Labour.

The 2022 Workers’ Parliament is held under the theme, “Uniting Workers to Defend Collective Bargaining and Jobs Whilst Advancing Improved Labour Laws”. Through this theme workers will be focusing on improving working conditions in all sectors of employment and defending what workers view as a threat to collective bargaining.

Media is invited to attend and cover the event.

End

For more information, contact:
Wesley Canham
0833767299
Media Liaison and PR

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: REPORTERS, NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
DATE: 25 MAY 2022

KZN LEGISLATURE COMMEMORATES AFRICA DAY – 25 MAY 2022

Today, the 25th May 2022, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature commemorates Africa Day which marks the birth of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was founded on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to free the continent from the bondage of colonialism and to forge the unity and solidarity amongst African states. The OAU is a predecessor of the now African Union (AU).

As part of commemorating this important day, the KZN Legislature will be holding the inaugural Africa Day Webinar to be addressed by a panel of eminent speakers and presenters under the theme ‘’Strengthening resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development”

Among the speakers billed to address the webinar is Nomfanelo Kota, a former spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and spokesperson for the ANC Caucus in the National Assembly. Other participants in the webinar include African nationals who live in South Africa and Members of the Legislature.

The webinar will start at 16h00 to 18h00. It will be streamed on the following platforms.

Twitter: @KZNlegislature
Facebook: KznLegislature
YouTube: Kzn.legislature
MS Teams (link to be shared on request)

Ends

Issued by

Communications Unit: KZN Legislature
For more information:
Sina Nxumalo: Cell: 0829060449
Wonder Hlongwa: Cell: 082 908 3532
Nomusa Phungula: Cell: 072 294 7237

To all media

20 April 2022

KZN Education Portfolio Committee mourns the passing on of learners

The Education Portfolio Committee expresses its sincere condolences to the families of learners who have passed on due to the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal Natal. “We were witnesses to severe destruction of school infrastructure and with that came the shock of learning that we have lost a number of learners across the province.” Hon Sifiso Sonjica the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee speaking on behalf of the Committee continues; “we send our deepest condolences to all affected families and learners, and share the pain these families are feeling.  The committee acknowledges the work that has been done by government and the department so far, we call on the department to continue to do all it can to assist affected schools and learners with physiological help amongst other things. It is in times like these that we expect maximum benefit from various existing private and public sector partnerships as we seek to rebuild our schools, and so we call on all good corporate citizens to lend a hand as we face such difficult times”.

Amongst the many learners the province has lost are; Sibongukuhle Ncanana in King Cetshwayo, and Azokuhle Zama Grade 4 and Grade 6 respectively both from Overport Primary School in Durban “We are very saddened by losing such young lives”. The committee will be visiting some of the affected schools and families following the legislature program where MPLs will visit affected communities in various district today and tomorrow, 22 April.

                                                                          End

For more information, contact:

Wesley Canham                                

0833767299                                                   

Media Liaison and PR

20 April 2022

Media Statement

KZN MPLs COMMIT TO OVERSEE DISASTER FUNDS’ SPENDING

Members of the Provincial Legislature will be deployed to the five districts that were affected by the recent floods which wreaked havoc in the province leading to the declaration of the State of National Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

Honourable Speaker Nontembeko Boyce said Members will be deployed to these districts to conduct oversight to ensure that what was being reported to the legislature was indeed happening in the ground.

The legislature is mandated by the Constitution to make laws, encourage public participation and exercise oversight over the provincial government departments and its entities.

Tomorrow, immediately after the Provincial Prayer Day, Members of the Provincial Legislature will visit various wards in Ethekwini Metro to assess the damage and engage all stakeholders. On Friday Members will visit the districts of Ilembe, Ugu, Uthukela, King Cetshwayo and Umgungungndlovu.

“The devastation in Ethekwini could have been so well reported because it is a Metro and has access to members of the media but we do not have the full picture of what exactly happened to the other districts,” she said.

She was speaking in a special sitting called for the Honourable Members to debate the Executive statement delivered by Premier Sihle Zikalala on Wednesday where Members from all political parties expressed shock at the level of destruction caused by last week’s rains.

Members also welcomed the declaration of the State of National Disaster saying they will ensure that the funds which will be released to fix infrastructure and respond to human sufferings caused by the rains will be properly spent.

Minority Front’s Thakur Rajbansi and Economic Freedom Fighters’ Vusi Khoza called for the establishment of a multi-party committee to oversee the expenditure of the funds which will be earmarked for the disaster.

Other political parties such as Democratic Alliance condemned the conduct of the ruling party saying its’ activities were un co-ordinated and compromised by factionalism that has engulfed the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal.

Democratic Alliance leader Francois Rodgers said the recently elected ANC faction in Ethekwini has taken over the co-ordination of the activities relating to the disaster in the metro effectively side-lining the mayor and the metro.

Rodgers also took a swipe at Zikalala for allegedly having a water tank delivering water to his private residence in La Mercy. But Zikalala hit back saying he had been approached by the community and he called a meeting with representatives of the provincial government and Ethekwini Metro.

“The community approached me to assist and they did that because the Democratic Alliance councillor in that ward who is supposed to be helping them is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he is staying in some leafy suburbs with all amenities,” said Zikalala.

Leader of the Official Opposition Velenkosini Hlabisa warned against corruption and theft of resources earmarked for the desperate communities.

He said there is so much “trust deficit” that the billions of rands deployed as relief measures will not be received with gratitude but will be received with cynicism because the public think that those in power, together with their friends, will steal the money.

“Trust deficit on government is a measure challenge that we face as a country,” said Hlabisa.

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

Contact Nomusa Phungula at 0718510085, Sina Nxumalo at 0829060449, Wonder Hlongwa 0829083532 or Wesley Canham at 0833767299

There has been a growing number of Senior Citizens killings in Mkhanyakude on allegations of witchcraft. This has triggered a swift intervention of government to conduct awareness campaigns in this district in order to teach people about dementia and its associated symptoms. This disease is common to elderly people. In most cases it is associated with sleepwalking, state of automatism and forgetfulness.

There has been reported cases of possible dementia especially in Jozini and Ubombo where Senior citizens have been killed for alleged witchcraft.

A house was attacked and burnt after the grandmother was suspected of witchcraft. The grandmother and her granddaughter were killed and burnt inside the house.

In November 2021 at Ekulingweni area, the grandfather and the grandmother were both shot at after they were suspected of witchcraft. The grandfather died on the scene and the grandmother died in hospital after having informed the police about the identities of the perpetrators.

On the 16 March 2022, the Standing Committee on Quality of Life in the KZN Legislature, under the leadership of Hon. Phumzile Mbatha-Cele, held a public meeting in Khonya Hall at Jozini to discuss the issue of the killings of the senior citizens for alledged witchcraft. Accompanied by Social Development, SAPS and Department of Health the committee engaged the community about dementia and its symptoms in order to ascertain the level of understanding amongst the people of this area, where there is a high concentration of such senseless killings. Committee held that young are amongst those who needs thorough education on dementia. A big chunk of this killings is caused particularly by lack of understanding of how vulnerable our elders are to this kind of disease and its related symptoms. Young people are regarded as active participants of crimes directed to old people possibly suffering from dementia.

After thorough deliberations from all stakeholders including the community, the committee resolved that:

• SAPS must establish a unit that will focus on handling all cases involving older persons.
• Government must abolish the means test so that Senior Citizens be treated equally.
• The Department of Social Development in partnership with other stakeholders must initiate a process of building at least one old age home per District. Alternatively build service centres that can assist in implementing active aging programmes for older persons.
• The Department of Justice must speed up the processes of cases involving older persons (as most elders tend to forget the sequence of event quickly which might be necessary for court proceedings)