Speech By The Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Pinky Kekana (MP), at the Facebook NGO Day On Tuesday, 26 June 2018 At Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton
Ms Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Africa
Ms Ebele Okobi, Director of Public Policy, Africa
Ms Jena Wuu, Program Manager, Global Policy Programs
Ms Tetlanyo Lekalake, Regional Marketing Manager, AfricaDistinguished guests from our NGOs sector
Members of the Media
I am very honoured to be part of this day at Facebook.
Program Director, I must confess I am intrigued by the evolutionary journey which has engulfed Facebook since its formation.
Facebook has evolved from a simple social networking website to a fully blown social media website. It has moved from a simple dorm room project to a multi-billion dollar empire. It is the story of entrepreneurship, innovation and the future.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
According to a study by Hootsuite as of January 2018, internet penetration in South Africa was recorded at 54% (30.8 million South Africans), up 2% from 52% in January 2017. A total of 29.2 million of the population (51%) access the internet on their mobiles. To some extent this confirms we are winning the battle of ensuring that there is universal access to the internet.
Thirty-two percent of South Africans (18 million) are active social media users, up from 24% (13 million) in 2017. The study further found that 18 million South Africans have Facebook accounts.
This study reveals one thing, a social media site, like Facebook has become more than just a network site, it is a news site, a marketing site and even campaigning site. It has become a mirror of society and conveyor of all sorts of information.
Sites like Facebook, help us peep through the door knob, and expose what is otherwise hidden by closet racists, misogynists, criminals and even abusers. It has become a useful tool to shun and impugn people who refuse to live up to the values enshrined in our Constitution.
Unfortunately, those amongst us who are opportunistic use these sites to project images and conduct which our society collectively shuns. Chief amongst those are the disturbing images of Child Sexual Abuse Material. We would like to strengthen our relationship with Facebook to proactively prohibit such material. We owe this to our Children.
Social media as we know it today has become an extension of the fourth estate. As I had mentioned earlier, social media has the ability to carry news before it is picked up by the mainstream media. This phenomenon has a jolted the edifice of the media sector, it is a disruption indicative of the fourth industrial revolution.
This phenomenon, manifests not only because of the sheer scale of users on social media but also because of the influence social media sites like Facebook exhibit.
Just like the mainstream media, social media has the power to shape society, to this end it should help us reinforce universal values such gender equality not exacerbate them. It should help entrench dignity not diminish it. Social Media cannot be a bystander or enabler of content which derails social progress.
We have seen how Facebook has come to fore, during the terrorist attacks in Paris, Facebook mobilised billions of people across the globe to pray for Paris.
I believe Facebook can do the same in South Africa, on the 10th of July just 8 days before the centenary birth of our world renowned icons Nelson Mandela. I will be part of a March called 100 Men from Church Square to the Union Buildings.
As we a build up to the centenary celebration of Tata Madiba hence the 100 men march we call upon men from the various disciplines of the society to gather in 100 different groupings at church square. We call upon Men to come in their respective work discipline uniforms with messages against gender based violence from their respective professions. When no uniform is possible, a banner identifying the sector can be used.
Recent reports indicate that women and children in South African continue to bear the brunt of violence and abuse, mostly in the hand of the men in their lives. This is most severe amongst the widowed, those living together and divorced or separated – where respectively one in five, one in three and 40% suffer violence.
The recent brutal killings of Karabo Mokoena, Sheila Kopanye and 10-year-old Katlego Joja brought back into the media spotlight the issue of intimate femicide as well as violence against women and children.
As government we are calling upon Men to be partners instead of perpetrators. After this gathering today I hope that we can look at creating opportunities for dialogues amongst men to encourage healthy masculinity and confront patriarchal cultures that facilitate the abuse of women and children. Social media becomes a critical avenue for engaging and involving men in the societal effort to end the scourge of violence.
More men should rise up to tell other men that violence against women – whether physical or emotional – is unacceptable. They should become positive role-models and mentors in families and communities by showing children and young people that men can be caring, respectful and compassionate. Social media sites like Facebook can be that platform.
Social Media can help us embody the President’s CALL TO ACTION ,Thuma Mina. I wanna lend a hand! Send me to make South Africa a safe place women and children.
Program Director,
Let me conclude by paying special homage to the NGO’s who out of their own initiatives make the lives of South African’s infinitely better. The work you do in our communities makes you a powerful ally of our people. Your advocacy on issues sharpens our policies organisation and society as a whole.
I thank you.
