Mafikeng: In celebration of Women's Month, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development held exhibition on 19 August 2009, targeting social grants beneficiaries at Ratshidi Community Hall.
Social grants beneficiaries were educated about domestic violence, maintenance, administration of deceased estates; guardian fund and family advocate functions.
"North West province is predominately a rural province; the majority of people are unemployed and most rely heavily on social grants and maintenance payouts particularly in the rural areas.
"As the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development it is our constitutional mandate to make Justice accessible to the people, particularly the most indigent communities based in the rural areas and to educate them about their rights and services available. We felt that we should celebrate this month targeting these women as part of informing public about services available in the department.
"We have noticed that despite department massive campaigns on services available there are still those women in rural areas who are still starving, children go to school hungry because they don't know how to claim Guardian Fund, hence we decided to have this type of interaction with this grants beneficiaries to continue enlightening them about basket of services available in the department" explains Regional Head Mr Tsietsi Malema.
"I applaud the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for enlightening us about services available, I am now in a position to open maintenance case against father of my child" said community member from Montshioa Stad Phemelo Sedupelele.
"Domestic violence is prevalent in some of the areas in the province. I personally urge our people to report such cases. The department is still faced with those women who withdraw domestic violence cases saying the perpetrator is a breadwinner. The Domestic Violence Act provides for interim monetary relief to address this problem" concluded Ms Raesibe Tladi Director Legal Services.
Media enquiries can be directed to:
Mr Isaac Mokaila
Tel: 018 397 7079
Mr Tsietsi Malema
Tel: 018 389 8302
E-mail: tmalema@justice.gov.za
Issued by: North West Provincial Government, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
20 August 2009
