KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance Belinda Scott encourages her employees and Umgungundlovu Communities to be part of the solution: 16 Days of Activism for no Violence against Women and Children
Charity begins at home. In commemoration of the 16 days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Belinda Scott, kicked off the campaign by addressing staff in her department on the importance of taking part in stopping violence against women and children.
Speaking under the national theme: Count me in, together moving a non-violent South Africa forward, MEC Scott did not mince her words.
“I have an open door policy which allows everyone to approach me anytime, with that said I encourage my staff to take advantage of that policy and report to me if they have experienced any form of abuse in any form. I also hope that Senior Managers will adopt this policy and be approachable,” said Scott.
After this address, Scott who is also a Political Champion of uMgungundlovu District visited families and victims of this scourge in Edendale areas in partnership with the district Mayor, Yusuf Bhamjee, and mayors of other local municipalities. They then met communities at Edendale Ecumenical Lay Centre where communities they engaged with them on pertinent issues around women and children abuse.
These commemorations are aimed at uniting the community members with their leaders under the umbrella of Operation Sukuma Sakhe in a drive to increase awareness of the negative impact of violence and abuse on women and children.
“Let us be counted today and say enough is enough. We must protect our women, children and vulnerable people. We must report any form of abuse to the police. The building of quality life lies, in part, in eliminating all these social ills. Together, we must fight them,” she said.
In these events, MEC Scott shared a few stories of women who have been victims of abuse in the uMgungundlovu District. This was to alert the audience that everyone needs to stand up against abuse and report any incident to the police.
Gender-based violence has become an intractable social problem in South Africa and particularly, in KwaZulu-Natal. The recent police statistics indicates that uMgungundlovu District is the second highest district with the total number of reported sexual crimes in KZN after eThekwini.
Scott emphasised that the government will not tolerate any form of abuse whether in the departments or the communities. She stated that no-one would be allowed to infringe the rights of others because the government has gone to great lengths to make sure those policies that entrench rights for women, children, people with disabilities and vulnerable people are implemented.
Afterwards MEC and mayors joined men at Brumville, in Mooi River, in a peaceful Walk Against Gender-Based Violence and Substance Abuse in a bid to sensitise residents in the area of the effects of abuse against women and children.
All South Africans are encouraged to be part of the different celebrations around the country under the theme - ‘Count me in, together moving a non-violent South Africa forward’.
