Date: 28/11/2002
Source: Ministry of Education
Title: Mangena: 16 Days of Activism: Imbizo for traditional & religious leaders


OPENING AND WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF EDUCATION, MR MOSIBUDI MANGENA, TO THE IMBIZO FOR TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, Burgers Park Hotel, Tshwane, 28 November 2002

Programme Director,
Honourable Magoshi,
Religious leaders, Parents,
Non-governmental Organisations,
Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all in this "Imbizo". The Department values your partnership with us in combating sex and gender based violence in both the Learning Sites and the community at large.

We have invited you to this "Imbizo" which coincides with the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence against Women and Children to join hands with us in creating a culture that says "No to Violence against Women and Children".

In our society there are many perpetrators who hide behind tradition and religion to justify their abuse of and violence against women and children. There is no religion or tradition that encourages social practices that justify men's tendencies to abuse women and children. Because of their desire to maintain existing power relations, men were able to promote interpretations of religion and culture that perpetuated social practices that relegated women to subservient roles. Consequently, rituals, traditions and norms that denigrated the position of women in society were developed and entrenched over the millennia.

Sections of our society have come to accept domestic violence as a normal way of conducting family relationships. That is why there are still some people that believe that a man who does not beat his wife is not man enough. This is largely a reflection of the degree to which some of our people, irrespective of colour or social standing, still lack the understanding of the essence of what constitutes proper family relations.

However, the most tragic manifestation of such behaviour is the growing tendency of raping children, some of them as young as two months old, by men who are old enough to be fathers and grandfathers of these babies. No culture or doctrine of religion supports such inhuman acts. In effect, in many African cultures that I know of such men were put to death because they projected models of behaviour that were considered undesirable to be passed down to posterity.

We hope that our deliberations at this Imbizo will assist in putting such issues into proper perspective. We really appreciate the presence of the influential delegation of traditional, religious and community leaders present this morning. We must spread the good message that will come out of this Imbizo to all our communities, and be prepared to challenge those who still think that they have the power to turn homes and schools into places of horror for our women and children. All men have a vested interest in ensuring that our country does not develop the image of a paradise for rapists and women bashers.

The Department's main task is to deliver a holistic curriculum that will ensure that learners develop a full capacity to become responsible citizens. Together we can instil values and morals that promote human rights and ensure the inculcation of correct behavioural practices at all levels of society.

We hope that out of this "Imbizo" will come a clear plan of action to help us to create and maintain a culture that says "No to Violence against Women and Children" and makes our communities a safe place for us all. We invite all of you to join government in its campaign to reject violence against women and children.

Let us pledge to expose, oppose and combat all violence directed at women and children in whatever form, wherever we encounter it, be it at home, the workplace, the school or in the community.

With these few words, I declare this "Imbizo" officially open and wish you fruitful deliberations over the next two and a half days.

Ke a leboga.

Issued by Ministry of Education
28 November 2002