Thaba Nchu Royal Women Imbizo to address Gender Based Violence
by HRH Stella Sigcau
11 April 2022
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is increasing at an alarming rate which poses a serious concern. In an effort to address this pandemic the South African Royal Princesses Network (SARPN) will host a national royal women imbizo that will address GBV in Thaba Nchu, Free State on 30 April 2022.
Expected to attend are various stakeholders including the Queens and Princesses from various parts of South Africa, Houses of Traditional Leadership, representatives of Government including local, provincial and national; business, NGOs, youth and communities. This forms part of the SARPN initiatives that seek to address GBV.
A meeting between Kuhluka Movement, SARPN and Traditional Leaders will precede the Imbizo in Thaba Nchu. The aim of the meeting is to establish and identify areas of cooperation on GBV awareness and joint efforts and programs to contribute in the fight against GBV in the rural areas as well as empowerment of women and youth. This is a follow up on the MoU Kuhluka Movement signed with the SARPN on 6 February 2022 cooperating on the GBV Advocacy and Awareness.
As part of implementing this MoU, last month Kuhluka Movement led by Ms Josina Machel held meetings in the Eastern Cape with traditional leaders. Representing the SARPN in the meetings was Princess Stella Sigcau II. She met with Nkosi Jongilanga Sigcau who is the Chairperson of the Alfred Nzo Local House of Traditional Leaders and the Senior Traditional Leader of Lwandlolubomvu Traditional Council and headmen of Lwandlolubomvu. This was followed by a meeting with the Mayor of Winnie Madikizela Mandela Her Worship Daniswa Mafumbatha and a meeting with Nkosi Hlamandana of Esikelelweni Traditional Council, Council and community at the Esikelelweni Traditional Hall. In attendance at the Esikelelweni meeting were representatives from the local municipality. Previously the meetings were held with Thembu Traditional leadership including King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, the late Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima and Nkosi Dudumayo. In these meetings SARPN was represented by Princesses Zanele Dalindyebo and Lukho Mathanzima.
What was evident in these meetings was a concern on the alarming rate GBV was escalating in the rural areas including disappearances of young girls presumably to trafficking, substance abuse including drugs, rape including of young girls and elderly women who live alone to mention a few.
One of the resolutions from the Esikelelweni and Lwandlolubomvu meetings was a need for a road show to create awareness and educate on GBV that will include various stakeholders notably the SAPS, Departments of social development and justice, traditional leaders, representatives of municipalities, NGO and Associations including Kuhluka Movement and the South African Royal Princesses Network and other relevant stakeholders.
Issues of empowerment of women, challenges of socio economic conditions, role of education and skills development, post trauma cancelling, victim support system as well as preventative measures were discussed in these meetings as well as justice or lack thereof for those who were affected.
The imbizo in Thaba Nchu will also address these with the hope of coming up with actionable resolutions to fight GBV which encompasses joint efforts of various stakeholders.