Annual General Conference 2001

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24th ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE IFP WOMEN’S BRIGADE ON THE THEME OF WOMEN: THE POWERHOUSE OF UBUNTU, INTEGRITY AND DEVELOPMENT

ULUNDI, OCTOBER 14, 2001

RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION 1

Conference acknowledges that HIV/AIDS is running rampant in our societies and that prevention campaigns have had little impact in combating the increase in infection.

Women are the most vulnerable to the threat of HIV/AIDS, both anatomically and socially and women also play a crucial role in the instilling of family, cultural and moral values in the formative years of the young and in community life.

We therefore resolve:

  1. that women must become directly involved and start up HIV/AIDS prevention and education programmes within their communities;
  2. that women of the IFP will also embark on aggressive prevention campaigns to ensure that the message and the serious nature and effects of this dreadful disease is taken seriously and to heart by all, especially those identified to be most at risk, the youth;
  3. that women of the IFP should play a major role in initiating CBOs and NGOs in communities where they do not exist to provide caring facilities for HIV orphans (eg. SOS village system) and people living with HIV/AIDS and also to institute home based care;
  4. that women will encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to live healthy life-styles by having balanced nutrition enabling them to boost their immune systems; and
  5. that women will campaign for a return to morality, abstinence before marriage and faithfulness within marriage between partners.

RESOLUTION 2

Women have through the decades been regarded as the cornerstone of community work and as community developers, as well as the producers of food and clothing for the daily livelihoods of their families and communities. Women have the power to transform, empower and unite their communities.

RESOLUTION 3

The formative years of children, from birth to age six, are crucial in the development of social and mental capabilities in adulthood. Children are the future of families, communities and the country, and to ensure a healthy future for all, it is essential that the needs of children in their formative years are catered for.

Children in their formative years who are deprived of basic nutrition are not able to later develop to their full mental capacity due to brain malnutrition. Children in their formative years who are also deprived of social skills are not able to be constructive members of society in later life.

We therefore resolve:

  1. that women must ensure that families and communities are educated on an individual and community basis so as to provide good nutrition in their formative years;
  2. that early education programmes focusing on English, Maths, computer training and other later life functional programmes should be introduced and vigorously supported;
  3. that women as basic care-givers should inculcate the principle of ubuntu in young children to ensure that they become responsible and productive adults;
  4. that women must ensure that all children in their formative years are successfully immunised; and
  5. that IFP women must ensure that they give their children tactile stimulation, e.g. hug their children frequently and bath their own children, to ensure bonding.

RESOLUTION 4

The women of the IFP have the experience, strength and integrity to spearhead the spread of the revolution of goodwill throughout South Africa.

Crime, and especially crimes against women and children are on the increase and general moral decay has set in amongst families and communities.

We therefore resolve:

  1. that women of the IFP will educate and set examples for others in instilling proper family values and adhering to the principle of ubuntu;
  2. that women must be projected as reliable and trustworthy in their communities and immediate family to give those affected the confidence to turn to someone they trust for help and support; and
  3. that the IFP Women’s Brigade must set clear objectives to spread the message of the revolution of goodwill which can be measured and evaluated before the next Annual General Conference of the Women’s Brigade.

RESOLUTION 5

We realise that there is a general decline in the world economy and that a recession is looming and also that the number of formal employment opportunities are declining. This means that there will be devastating consequences for the poorest societies such as our own.

It is a reality in the new democratic dispensation in South Africa that women still face gender discrimination in the work-place and at points of service delivery.

The IFP has always propagated that the path to economic liberation also lies within communities by way of self-help and self-reliance programmes through the advancement of life skills.

We therefore resolve:

  1. that programmes should be implemented to enhance women’s knowledge of basic business and economic skills;
  2. that an active network must be established in the IFP to give women the opportunity to exchange information and knowledge regarding economic development and marketing; and
  3. that a data base of service providers be created at the Development Desk to enable women entrepreneurs to tap into the various business and sponsoring opportunities available.

RESOLUTION 6

The IFP Women’s Brigade believes in transparent leadership and governance with integrity and so vigorously rooting out all corruption within its own ranks as well as within the administration under its control.

Those in a position of power as representatives of the people should at all times adhere to strict rules of integrity, be realistic in their promises and be approachable.

We therefore resolve

  1. that IFP women in leadership should sign a binding pledge of integrity and loyalty towards their constituents and the Party;
  2. that IFP women in leadership will at all times adhere to a strict code of conduct in line with the IFP code of conduct;
  3. that IFP women commit themselves to support each other in positions of authority; and
  4. that IFP women commit themselves to advise communities to take responsibility for their children and advise them to abstain from drugs and further report abuse to the police.

RESOLUTION 7

The IFP Women’s Brigade acknowledges that there has been a constant decline in the provision of basic health-care and treatment in public health-care centres. This can be attributed to various factors such as the poor conditions of service for health workers and apparent mismanagement.

We therefore resolve:

  1. that the IFP Women’s Brigade supports a programme of decentralisation of basic medical care and health projects with the provision that these centres will be adequately staffed, equipped and funded;
  2. that the IFP Women’s Brigade must encourage the introduction of co-ordinated emergency service centres; and
  3. that the IFP Women’s Brigade must initiate training programmes on basic health-care, such as the prevention of cholera and other infectious diseases and a general knowledge of first aid.

RESOLUTION 8

The IFP Women’s Brigade acknowledges the rapid change of the world around us and that we must keep abreast of times, focusing on medical and technological advances. The mind is the greatest tool of empowerment we have and it must be empowered with the capacity to think beyond that which we now know.

We therefore resolve:

  1. that the IFP Women’s Brigade must source NGOs and government for sponsored computer literacy programmes to advance our women and provide them with the most powerful communication tools;
  2. that we will on all levels empower our women to make our families, communities and country prosper on the pillar of the revolution of goodwill; and
  3. that we will build our families on a firm foundation of love, respect, trustworthiness and unconditional support.

RESOLUTION 9

In further recognition of his leadership role both nationally and internationally we wish to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, on receiving earlier this year, the Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award from the American Conservative Union.

The IFP Women’s Brigade also congratulates His Excellency the President of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, on receiving the King Shaka Gold Medal, from His Majesty, King Zwelithini Goodwill ka Bhekuzulu.

Further, the IFP Women’s Brigade applauds and congratulates His Excellency, the President, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, for his consistent and unwavering principle-centred leadership which has ensured that the Women’s Brigade grows from strength to strength in the face of trials and tribulations. The Women’s Brigade values, cherishes and holds in high esteem this personal sacrifice and selfless giving of His Excellency, the President, as it has benefited the Party and all the people of goodwill in the whole South Africa.

The IFP Women’s Brigade resolves to stand behind His Excellency’s consistent leadership and wishes to request His Excellency to continue to guide, counsel and lead the mothers and daughters of the IFP.