Before we move to the following question, I am informed by the Chief Whip that I should recognise our elderly people who are sitting in the gallery who have been invited to visit Parliament today. They are from Mitchells Plain, KwaLanga, New Crossroads and Gugulethu, omama bethu nobaba bethu abaphezulu kugalari. [... our mothers and fathers who are seated in the gallery.] [Applause.]
Discussions regarding the role of traditional leaders in combating abuse of women and children
20. Mr V V Z Windvol (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
Whether, during the meetings of the Presidency with traditional leaders and visits to several kraals in the country as part of the broader public outreach programme to engender better relationships between the government and traditional authorities, the role of traditional leaders in combating abuse against women and children was discussed; if so, (a) what was the outcome of the discussion and (b) what other areas were envisaged as a crucial role for traditional leaders? CO2885E
Chairperson, I also greet ...
... Oomama abahleli phaya phezulu, abavela eGugulethu, kwaLanga naseMitchells Plain, njalo njalo. [... the people in the gallery who live in Gugulethu, Langa, Mitchells Plain, etc.]
The public outreach programme is a partnership between traditional leaders, represented by the National House of Traditional Leaders, and the Presidency. The programme seeks to engage government in reaching out to rural and traditional communities, while at the same time strengthening relations between traditional leaders and government.
Already, we have visited the houses of traditional leaders at Qaukeni, in the Eastern Cape, and others in Venda and Qwaqwa. All these visits are aimed at promoting the Moral Regeneration Movement and positive values; the use of African languages; the fight against HIV and Aids; youth development; service delivery; and improving relations between traditional leaders and government.
The issue of combating abuse against women and children was very central to the visit to Qwaqwa. There is a need for the traditional leaders to become centrally involved in promoting the combating of all forms of violence and abuse. This was more so in the case of this visit because it happened on the eve of the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children for 2007, on Sunday, 25 November in the Free State.
We hope that the traditional leaders in that province will assist us to mobilise for the march of a million men and boys. The visits to and the work that we are doing with the National House of Traditional Leaders have led to the establishment of a committee on gender and on youth living with disabilities. The committee has already participated in the planning and, definitely, in the execution of the 16-days campaign.
The committee is also expected to draw up a plan that will include, amongst other things, year-long activities aimed at combating violence against women and children.
As indicated, further work will focus on the use of indigenous languages. However, I must also underline that with any activity that we undertake in the rural areas, it is important that traditional leaders are also involved.
We are developing programmes in partnership with the relevant institutions, also on moral upliftment, in our communities. This requires traditional leaders to play a leading role.
There are initiatives to improve relations between traditional leaders and municipalities, and in this case Salga, the SA Local Government Association, has provided leadership. There is a signed memorandum of understanding with Salga, which will be translated into programmes.
We also want to pay attention to better implementation of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, which is an Act that governs our relations and work with traditional leaders.
Ngiyabonga Sihlalo. Phini likaMongameli, ngiyathokoza uma ngizwa ubeka udaba lwamakhosi. Ngiyaxinaxineka lapha ngoba angikuzwanga ukhuluma ngeKwaZulu-Natali. Empeleni angazi ukuthi nithintana kanjani nezigodlo ngoba udaba olubucayi ukuya esigodlweni. Uma ngihlangana namakhosi angapha ngakithi kwelikabhanana, athi awazi ukuthi izinhlelo zikahulumeni ziqhutshwa nhloboni ngoba ezwa ngosibhincamakhasana nje ukuthi uhulumeni wenza lokhu nalokhu, ngakho kubalulekile ukuthi kube khona ukuxhumana okuhle bamakhosi. Yingakho ngifuna ukuzwa ukuthi ngabe nibathinta kanjani laphaya esigodlweni noma yibo osibhincamakhasana labo asebetshela amakhosi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani. Wena wakomkhulu.
USIHLALO WOMKHANDLU KAZWELONKE WEZIFUNDAZWE: Cha, asingayoni lento, baba uMzizi. Ngicabanga ukuthi iPhini likaMongameli belisahambele abambalwa. Akakafinyeleli kuwona onke. Ngethemba ukuthi usazoya kuwo. Ubenza nje isibonelo ngalawo asewabonile. Nokho-ke angingamphenduleli. Ngethemba kunjalo, Phini likaMongameli.
IPHINI LIKAMONGAMELI: Yebo, kunjalo, Sihlalo, ngisendleni. Umthwalo usobhokweni. Ngisazoya ekhaya.
Imfushane nje kakhulu impendulo kababa u Mokoena ukuthi leli qembu elizosebenza akhuluma ngalo elibhekene nokusebenzisana kwezinyunyana ngezindaba ezithinta abantu abasebenza emapulazini, akulona ikomiti lika Mongameli. Nokho-ke sake saba nengxoxo ehlanganisa umnyango nezinyunyana ngezindaba zabasebenzi abasebenza emapulazini. Umsebenzi uqhutshwa umnyango futhi bayahlangana. Ngingabacela nje bakuthumelele umbiko wokuthi lo msebenzi uqhubeka kanjani. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mr M A MZIZI: Thank you, Chairperson. Deputy President, I am very happy to hear you touch on the traditional leaders. I am confused because I did not hear you talk about KwaZulu-Natal. In fact, I am not sure how you keep contact with the palaces because it is a very delicate matter. When I talk with traditional leaders in my area, they say that they do not know how government's programme works because they hear through the grapevine that government does this and that. It is therefore important that there is proper communication with traditional leaders. That is why I want to find out how you contact the people in the palaces, or do they still hear through the grapevine what is going on?
No, let us not spoil this, hon Mzizi. I think that the Deputy President has visited quite a few traditional leaders so far. She has not reached all of them yet. She was just making an example with those she has already seen, but let me not speak on her behalf. I believe it is like that, Deputy President.
Yes, of course. Chairperson, I am on my way. I am still going home.
The answer is very short for hon Mokoena. This committee that he is talking about, which facilitates talks between unions and farmworkers, does not belong to the President. However, we had discussions with the department and the unions with regard to farmworkers. The department is going ahead with work and they meet from time to time. I would like to ask them to furnish you with a report which details the progress of this work. Thank you.]