Provincial Gender Machinery
22 August 2007
In the wake of the recent incident, a march is planned for 24 August 2007 in
Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal to sound a combined condemnation of gender-based
violence.
Being part of the Provincial Gender Machinery(PGM), the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
Office of the Premier, the Commission on Gender Equality(CGE), eThekwini
Municipality Gender Office and eThekwini Municipality Safer Cities project,
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Community Safety and Liaison strongly condemn the
attack of Ms Zandile Mpanza in Umlazi, for "contravening a local ban" on women
wearing trousers in the area.
The march will start at 09h00 from Umlazi Magistrate Court and will proceed
to King Zwelithini Stadium. It will bring together men and women from
faith-based and community organisations, constitutional institutions,
government and civil society, to establish firmly the message that the Province
promotes, respects and protects the rights of women, and will not tolerate the
abuse of women.
The Provincial gender machinery is jointly taking action to both provide
support to Ms Mpanza during the forthcoming legal case against her attackers,
as well as address underlying attitudes and behaviours relating to the abuse of
women's rights. These institutions will be undertaking a range of gender
awareness campaigns, workshops and action across the Province, to engage
communities on this issue.
We view the violent attack against Ms Mpanza as a clear violation of the
rights to human dignity and equality enshrined in our Constitution. Women's
human rights are upheld by our Constitution, which must be respected in all
parts of our country, and by all those who live here. We cannot have islands in
South Africa where our Constitution is not upheld, or where any particular
group of people can impose their own laws and take action in direct
contravention of our Constitution.
We call on political and community leaders to engage with their followers
and
reinforce this message, and indicate clearly that the abuse of women's rights
will not be tolerated. We encourage members of the public to affirm and assert
their rights when these have been violated, and take action to bring about
change in attitudes and behaviour.
For enquiries on the forthcoming march, please contact the following:
Samke Khumalo
Ethekwini Municipality Gender Office
Tel: 031 311 6169
Khaledi Mbongwe
KZN Department of Community Safety and Liaison
Tel: 033 341 9308
Queeneth Mkabela
Office of the Premier
Tel: 033 341 3547
Mfanozelwe Shozi
Commission on Gender Equality (KZN Office)
031 305 2105
For media enquiries:
Yvonne Mogadime
CGE Communications
Tel: 011 403 7182
Fax: 011 403 7188
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Partners in the Provincial Government
Machinery
22 August 2007
Source: Commission for Gender Equality (http://www.cge.org.za/)
