December 12, 2005
By Buhle Makabane
THE 16 Days of Activism campaign against woman and child violence ended on Saturday, 10 December, and 16 Soweto families received early Christmas gifts when they became home owners for the first time in their lives.
As their names were called, title deeds confirming that they were the land and property owners, were handed to the families - and they began to shed tears, although this time they were tears of joy.
The beneficiaries clutched their title deeds and their new keys tightly to their chests as a DJ played Brenda Fassie's song, Mamgobhozi.
One of the beneficiaries shouted, "They have built houses for us, stand up and dance." And everyone stood up and danced.
These households are headed by 16 women who have lived in the shadow of abuse - they all have tasted some form of abuse.
Construction coincided with the campaign, running from 25 November to 10 December. Gauteng MEC for Housing Nomvula Mokonyane took part, pitching in to mix sand and lay bricks.
Someone shouted, 'They have built houses for us, stand up and dance' and everyone stood up and danced
Using local builders, the houses were built by the provincial department of housing under the People's Housing Process.
Handing over the keys and title deeds on Saturday, Mokonyane said, "This is an ongoing effort by the department to restore dignity and pride to the abused victims through homeownership.
"We have made 16 women proud owners of their new and lovely homes and they will now enjoy the festive season in comfort, like most people who have roofs over their heads."
Inspectors from the City of Johannesburg monitored every stage of the construction to ensure compliance.
"We worked closely with the provincial government and I am very happy because the government is fulfilling people's promises," said City of Johannesburg's housing portfolio committee member Councillor Strike Ralegoma.
MEC for housing Nomvula Mokonyane with the mayoral committee member for housing Strike Ralegoma and ward councillor Kenny Dlamini
The government had also shown that it was against child and woman abuse, he said, challenging men to stop abusing women and children.
Among those who had played a major role in the build was Ward 50 Councillor Kenny Dlamini, dubbed "our hero" by the beneficiaries. When he stepped on to the stage shouts of "Viva Kenny" reverberated through the tent.
Dlamini was pleased people were getting houses. He thanked all the sponsors that supported the initiative, adding that it showed the government cared for its people.
Strict criteria were used to select the 16 beneficiaries; they had to be survivors of domestic violence, single parents with dependents, have had no proper house, and older than 45.
Hundreds of people attended the event.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is organised by the Department of Correctional Services and aims to highlight issues of gender-based violence. It has been run for the past 10 years.
In 1981 the day that marks the start of the campaign, 25 November, was declared International Day of No Violence Against Women at the first Feminist Encuentro for Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bogotá, Columbia.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
