Mmakau residents urged to rise up and do it for themselves during Imbizo
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu on Saturday, 11 April, during an Imbizo at Mmakau Village in North West applauded the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates Court for sentencing to life a man who, over a couple of years was abusing his wife while he repeatedly raped his 12-year-old daughter who is now 16 and his 18-year-old step daughter who is now 21.
Shabangu accompanied by the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature Susan Dantjie, Acting Mayor of Madibeng Local Municipality Cllr Marcus Machete, Jacob Motsepe of the Bakgatla Ba Mmakau Traditional Authority, Inkosi V.T Dube of the National House of Traditional Leaders and senior government officials visited the home of the rape victims to assess how they are coping and if there is any further assistance the family still needs over and above the support they are receiving from government through Social Development.
“This man has destroyed the lives of these children. As government we have availed various services to the family including socio psychological support to help the girls and their mother overcome their ordeal. We appreciate the way community members have rallied behind the family,” stated Shabangu who urged community members to practice ubuntu towards one another and not look the other way when their neighbours are in need of help.
Before receiving feedback from the community Minister Shabangu explained that the Imbizo programme is another platform for strengthening interaction between government and the people and that it is only through a partnership with the community that service delivery in the area can be improved.
Community members took the opportunity to call on government to amongst others, increase policing in the area, install street lighting, curb illegal abortions, build more facilities for training young people and for recreational purposes so as to address issues of unemployment and substance abuse.
In response Minister Shabangu acknowledged concerns raised and outlined what government was doing to address those. She pointed out that there are a lot of things that the community can also do to improve their livelihood.
“Government can only do so much to create a conducive environment but it is communities who must come up with creative ways to tap into existing opportunities. Grant is a stop gap measure and not to be relied on forever. Our young people should become entrepreneurs and not wait for handouts.”
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