12 September 2007
At is weekly Cabinet Meeting held in Pietermaritzburg today, 12 September
2007, the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet announced that it is to run a Public Education
Campaign on the Children's Act 2005 in the province in order to ensure that
children and their rights are not abused to serve individual interests.
This follows statements made through speeches and song at the Reed Dance
Ceremony held at Nongoma, in northern KwaZulu-Natal where the provincial
government came under attack as a result of the Act. Cabinet received a report
on the ceremony and also an update on some of the stipulations in the
Children's Act, particularly on the issue of virginity testing.
"In as much as we respect, I think we need to be respected," KwaZulu-Natal
Premier Sibusiso Ndebele said at the Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet was informed that although the Children's Act prohibited virginity
testing of children under the age of 16, it allowed the practice for those over
the age of 16. The Act also prohibited the marking of children who had
undergone virginity testing as this violated their right to privacy. Cabinet
was also informed that the Act also prohibited circumcision of children under
the age of 16, unless it was for religious or medical reasons or with the
consent of the child.
The Act protected the rights of children as stipulated in the Bill of Rights
and no individual would be allowed to break the law, Cabinet said. A public
campaign would, however, soon be undertaken by the provincial government to
educate the public on these rights as enshrined in the Children's Act of
2005.
Cabinet also received a report on the erosion and damage to the province's
coastline. The report painted a serious picture on the damage done to the
province's coast by recent weather phenomena and warned of worse consequences
if remedial measures were not taken immediately. These included adequate
environmental care, effective early-warning systems and proper shoreline
management planning. Cabinet would discuss the matter further at its Indaba
next week.
Cabinet was also briefed on preparations for the upcoming Presidential
Imbizo in October.
A sod-turning ceremony will also be conducted on the construction site of
the Dube Trade Port on 14 September 2007, Cabinet was informed.
Cabinet also received a report on the preliminary draw provisional plan for
the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Federation International Football Association (Fifa)
officials are expected in Durban on 22 November 2007.
Enquiries:
Cecil Mandla Msomi
Cell: 082 317 3727
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
12 September 2007
Source: SAPA
