Violence Against Women
Source:allAfrica
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, has asked learners and teachers at Glendale Secondary School to be counted in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children.
"Be an ambassador for peace, love, change and fight violence against women and children. Be an ambassador against substance abuse," Minister Shabangu challenged the learners.
Minister Shabangu visited Glendale Secondary School in Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape, on Wednesday, ahead of the State of the Nation Address.
#365Days of Activism
The visit was part of the #365Days of Activism drive and #CountMeIn, which aims to mobilise members of society and organisations across all sectors in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children.
The Department of Women partnered with Crime Line to activate the #365Days of Activism, which was announced on 11 December 2014, a day after the end of 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Glendale was one of the first schools in Mitchells Plain visited by the late former President Nelson Mandela, upon his release from prison.
Government has also visited the school on four previous occasions, including for the Stop Rape campaign, led by President Jacob Zuma.
Addressing learners and teachers in the morning, Minister Shabangu emphasised that institutions of learning, especially schools are an important component in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children.
"Our schools have become a battle ground for the soul of our children and we need to reclaim those spaces so that they continue to be centres of learning they were meant to be.
"Our constitution under the Bill of Rights reinforces the culture of Ubuntu and respect for fellow human beings and we need to inculcate this within our schools and ensure that values such as respect, honesty and hard work are entrenched in our schools," she said.
As young people, Minister Shabangu said they were the future leaders and this means being positive role models to one another, standing up for what is right and not pressurising each other to do wrong things.
Minister visits Masiphumelele Township
Later in the day, the Minister visited Masiphumelele Township in Fish Hoek, where various projects that are linked to the Minister's visit were set up by the Department of Correctional Services, using offender labour and various other departments.
The projects include establishing playing grounds, community vegetable garden, maintenance of infrastructure (plumbing, electrical and carpentry), refurbishment of school furniture, cleaning of school premises and the setting up of a cricket training area at the school.
Minister Shabangu also handed over 10 wheel chairs to community members. She also used the opportunity to urge community members to be vocal on service delivery issues and to work hand in hand with government.