Theme: Challenges faced by parents and grandparents regarding Social Media
The South African government has ensured that they mitigate the technology divide in our most disadvantaged communities this has had both positive outcomes and challenges. The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women Ms Susan Shabangu, will on the 21st April 2017 address the challenges faced by parents and grandparents regarding children and social media.
The objective of the Imbizo week is to give impetus to the #365 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children while ensuring sustainability of the campaign through the work with partners like Sonke Gender Justice to bring on board the involvement of men as they contribute to the sexualization of girls through the blesser or mavuso by older men having sex with girls as young as 14 years old. This will also contribute to raising awareness on the new HIV infection amongst girls and young women between the ages of 14-24 years.
The Imbizo will be held in Soshanguve, KT Motubatse Hall where there are high levels of violations of girls. The imbizo will target between 600- 800 people.
The Imbizo will be partnering with Film and Publication Board (FPB). The institution has done a research on digital streams of media distribution and consumption through social media that have gained popularity in South Africa. Internet access is itself a driver of popularising these trends which is now accessible through mobile devices including smart phones.
According to data from Statssa, the City of Tshwane showed that more than 51% of the population has access to the internet, with the majority being the youth. In other research conducted by the FPB in four provinces, findings showed that the availability of Smartphone's amongst learners is 90%. This means the youth and children are the biggest consumers of the internet through smart phones. So vigilance is critical by parents, teachers and guardians and are encouraged to monitor Internet usage by youth in their care.
FPB Research Manager, Mr Oupa Makhalemele says, "Data usage has increased tremendously in the City of Tshwane with the Free Wi-Fi roll out in the township areas. Out of the townships with free Wi-Fi usage, Soshanguve leads with the introduction of Soshanguve homemade porn-video sites and Soshanguve Local Swingers for lesbian porn-sites.
Parents are encouraged to protect children in their care, portrayal of children in pornographic images is illegal according to SA law. He further emphasized that the spread the pornography material on whatsup amongst teenagers is growing fast, with Hammanskraal as being popular for blesser/Mavuso problem.
The President of South Africa, President Zuma also made an impromptu visit on 28 February 2017 to Block L in Soshanguve ‚ an area he mentioned in the State of the Nation address as requiring special attention due to crime which is making life unbearable for residents‚ including students at Tshwane University of Technology.
It is with the above mentioned research and report that Minister Shabangu saw it fit to call an imbizo to be able tackle the issue of prepubescent sex, sexuality and child pornography and assists parents, guardians and grandparents who have to deal with this challenge and scourge that is growing fast amongst 14year olds and above. Minister Shabangu will co-host the event with Minister of Communication Ms Ayanda Dlodlo.
Date: 21 April 2017
Venue: KT Motubatse, Soshanguve, Tshwane
Time: 9h00
Target: between 600- 800 people
For more information contact:
Nomvula Khalo
Cell: 076 480 3342
E-mail: nomvula.khalo@women.gov.za
