of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign
29 November 2006
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has called on traditional leaders to
play an even greater part in preventing violence against women and children,
especially during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and
Children campaign, which was launched on 25 November and will end on 10
December 2006.
The Deputy President was meeting with the National House of Traditional
Leaders at the Union Buildings in the City of Tshwane today.
Among other things, the Deputy President briefed the traditional leaders on
the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA).
The Deputy President cautioned that South Africa as a whole could not
succeed if a segment of the population remained oppressed through violence and
abuse.
The importance of family life was also emphasised in the discussions with
the traditional leaders. Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka urged the leaders to help in the
promotion of family values.
"We meet today during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women
and Children. You have a crucial role to play in this area. We need you more
than we sometimes realise. The role of traditional leaders is critical in areas
and campaigns such HIV and AIDS and the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM).
These battles are all linked with the ability to improve how our society works
and values its people and values its women and children," said the Deputy
President.
"I wish today to make a special appeal to you and to ask you to be a partner
in the fight against violence directed at women and children, let us engage
with families and communities. Let us go back to our villages and deal with the
breakdown of values," she said.
The Deputy President told the traditional leaders that through their
membership and participation in the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)
and MRM, she was formally asking them to work with her to develop a
comprehensive strategy to deal with both issues of combating the perpetuation
of violence against women and children and as well as dealing with combating
the spread of HIV and AIDS.
"I, together with all of government, want to improve and strengthen our
co-operation with our traditional leaders. There are at least 14 government
departments that have interest in the traditional leadership and traditional
matters," said Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Government is serious about ensuring that traditional leadership issues are
central to its work, hence it is looking very closely at the issues of a
strategic nature that have been raised by the National House of Traditional
Leaders, on how to develop a government-wide support to the institution of
traditional leadership.
Continuing with the address the Deputy President highlighted some economic
opportunities related to the institution of traditional leadership.
"We expect you to encourage the development of traditional dances
(indlamu/umxhenso and others) to let others experience for the first time what
is true African culture. This will contribute to the development of small and
medium enterprises in rural communities," said the Deputy President.
"You need to develop and encourage your people who run their bread and
breakfast facilities to concentrate on exhibiting our own African cuisine and
foodstuffs. Tourists must not leave our country without experiencing our
traditional foodstuffs like umnqgusho, mopani worms, mogodu, jeqe, and many
cuisines that South Africa is famous for," she concluded.
Enquiries: Thabang Chiloane
Cell: 082 888 8783
Issued by: The Presidency
29 November 2006
