The Inkatha Freedom Party Women’s Brigade calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure that the newly appointed Minister of Women and Children, Bathabile Dlamini attends an Attitude and Mindset Training Course in order for her to have a clear understanding about women and children abuse.
“It is imperative that she attends such a training because she has proven that she does not care about women abuse. She defended former Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana during his assault incident.
We were shocked when she stated she doesn’t believe that action should be taken against Mduduzi Manana because there are many more government leaders and officials guilty of more serious crimes than him. This is indicative that she needs urgent assistance so that she can fully understand that there is something called women abuse,” said IFP Women’s Brigade National Chairperson, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa.
“We further urge President Ramaphosa to closely monitor Minister Bathabile Dlamini’s spending pattern of taxpayer’s money. One will recall that when she was the Minister of Social Development she came under fire after her department spent R121.5 million on travel and subsistence expenses.
Again, her department paid R5 million to the SABC for media exposure. It is imperative that rules are set to limit her spending pattern because she might be tempted to do the same as former Minister of Women and Children, Lulu Xingwana who splurged R2.1m of taxpayers’ money decorating her department, allegedly using half the money for furniture for her own office,” continued Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.
“As the IFPWB we challenge Minister Bathabile Dlamini to come up with a strategy to eradicate the scourge of women and children abuse since marches, meaningless slogans and fancy banners have proven to be futile in stopping this scourge that is tearing our communities apart.
A wise man once said that the height of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. These marches might serve to create awareness, but they do not address the root cause of such violence nor do they do anything to prevent further acts of violence against defenceless women and children.
It is time that we must all agree that the time for complacency is long gone, has passed and belongs to another era. Now is the time for stronger action and creative ideas aimed at prevention,” concluded Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.
Issued by:
Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa
IFPWB National Chairperson
079 114 3015