Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sihle Zikalala has said that violence has begun to engulf the institution of traditional leaders after recent killings.
Speaking during the uThukela, uMzinyathi and Amajuba cluster meeting at the Richview Civic Centre in Newcastle on Wednesday, Zikalala said there was a need to end violence and murder of amakhosi and izinduna.
The purpose of the meeting was to also strengthen the oversight role of executive committees and refocus these committees’ executive roles and responsibilities which are enshrined in the various parts of the existing local government legislation.
Zikalala urged attendees to play their part in helping the province and country eliminate violence.
“It is a serious indictment and a blight on our hard-won freedom and democracy that no less than 70 people are murdered in our country every day. These figures are a terrible reminder of our recent past when political violence killed more than 20 000 in the late eighties and early nineties,” Zikalala said.
He said a number of KZN police stations feature in the top 30 police stations with high murder rates in South Africa. This violence has also sadly begun to engulf the institution of traditional leaders. The Zulu royal family, led by Isilo Misizulu kaZwelithini, has, in recent times, been losing a number of traditional leaders closely related to the Zulu monarchy.
“We once again appeal to the police to leave no stone unturned in bringing murderers to book. Equally, we make an impassioned appeal for our various tribal authorities to find amicable ways of resolving succession disputes, including making use of the courts. As Cogta, we remain committed to work with all our leaders to settle all remaining disputes,” Zikalala said.
“We urge our traditional leaders, mayors, and councillors to also help prevent impi yezigodi which often revisits our province during such times like the Christmas holidays.”
Zikalala said they should also help prevent violence directed at women and children, especially during this time when nearly everyone is in a relaxed mood.
“The scourge of GBV and Femicide is unacceptable and shameful for our country and province. The 16 Days of Activism campaign for no violence against women and children must be a daily campaign which we all own. As leaders in local government, we cannot fold our arms and say this is a matter that affects only law enforcement,” he said.
Zikalala said that many of the GBV crimes and abuse of children occur in our homes behind closed doors. They also happen in our dangerous streets or dilapidated buildings. When we fail to provide electricity or have toilets far from home, or women have to walk long distances to get water, wood, or education, we increase the risk of women and girls getting attacked and abused.
“We call on men, in particular, to play their role in inculcating new values and to fight patriarchy and sexism,” Zikalala said.
He added that local government must contribute to social cohesion and engendering positive social values. When local government mainstreams gender equality in its programmes and ensure that women are empowered economically, we all contribute to building the dream of Generation Equality, where women are accorded their rights, protected, and do not have to depend on abusive men.
Daily News