Question NW3716 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Reply:

Recognising the complex depth of Gender Based Violence Femicide (GBVF) that is multi layered the Department is engaged in programmes among other in line with the NSP pillars. Pillar 3- Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion, Pillar 4 – Response, Care, Support and Healing and Pillar 5 Economic Prevention and in line with the NSP.

1. Supporting a pilot project in Mhlabuyalingana to end GBVF using Amasiko and Sport as a vehicle to end GBV in a sustainable manner using an impactful and sustainable process of the Community Capacity Enhancement process (CCEP). Sporting tournaments will be rolled out in the various Izigodi including the support of the soccer legends. Training of trainers for the representatives of the 10 Izigodi (1. Hangaza, 2. Mntanenkosi, 3. Manzibomvu, 4. Esiphahleni 5. Olakeni 6. Qongwana, 7. Othungwini, 8. Empini 9. Ezinqeni, 10. Mabibi) to be Change Agents and Anti GBVF Ambassadors during the sport tournaments will be done. The Izigodi will be supported with Sporting Kits that will be printed with key messages on GBVF and during the sporting practices and tournaments, there will be programmes and key messaging on ending GBVF. The cultural programmes of Azibuye Emasisweni as a foundation to end GBVF and supporting the Isibaya and Izwi LaMadoda through an interactive positive messaging with Artists, Actors and Musicians will be supported. The intervention seeks the impact sustainable approach of bottom up and not top down as these programmes are community initiated and not imposed. The plan is to replicate and roll out to other provinces incrementally.

2. My department supports the Nqoba iGender-Based Violence and Femicide (GGBVF) Trauma and Social Cohesion: Localising the NSP. The programme is on harnessing the collective action of public officers, traditional leaders, activists, practitioners, and other community structures to address GBV. The Nqoba project is not a direct intervention project but an enabler for those already doing work on the ground by facilitation Social Cohesion through supporting the establishment/enhancement of local collective structure with focus at Municipal level. NQOBA focus is on the four Hotspots (Inanda, Mankweng, Lusikisiki and Thohoyandou). It will collaborate with the Department’s GOLEKANE GBVF Awareness Campaign, a mentorship programme that will include career guidance, a wellness intervention, arts and sports, and cultural education and will mentor Teen Boys across the nine Provinces. It will also collaborate with the Departments SILAPHA Wellness Programme which was initiated in 2022 to support Artists and Athletes with critical access to wellbeing support.

It is a comprehensive programme run by Workforce Healthcare for those in the creative and sporting fields, providing Counselling services, support around mental wellbeing, substance abuse, preventable illness, financial and legal advice, GBV and discrimination etc.

3. My department is also rolling out the Orange campaign on Uniting to End GBVF. This is an international campaign that calls all to unite to end GBVF against women and girls. The Department plans to extensively roll out the campaign by Vigorously marketing key messages using Artist, Creatives and Sport sector to influence the narrative in the visual, print and broadcast space through the use of Sport, Film and Theatre as well as Music Song and Dance including Fashion, Culture and Heritage to promote key messaging on Active Citizenry to Unite to end GBVF and create a proud and caring society.