WHEN THE SUN RISES WE WORK HARD TO DELIVER Mpumalanga Provincial Governemt MpumalangaGov Mpumalanga Premier launches 67 Emergency medical vehicles The Premier of Mpumalanga, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane launched 67 new ambulances. The Premier was accompanied by Mpumalanga health MEC Sasekani Manzini, Ehlanzeni District Municipality Executive Mayor and the City of Mbombela Acting Mayor Councilor Majaheni Nyalunga. According to Premier Mtsweni-Tsipane, the new ambulances would be disperse to all districts in the Province. This, according to the Premier, would improve the response time to all call outs and emergencies to save lives as outs and emergencies to save lives as the festive season is approaching Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane added that the “new fleet will undoubtedly add to our patient transport efficiently, safely, reliability and further extend our ability to provide efficient emergency health care across the length and breadth of our province. The excited emergency practitioners warmly welcomed the fleet and committed to take care of the vehicles and patients. 2 INHLABAMKHOSI Issue 2 Vol 2020/21 Manzini encourages everyone to take charge and be responsible for their own health On the 13th November 2020, the MEC to health services and raise awareness and manage minor ailments. You should for Health, Ms Sasekani Manzini visited about the importance of practicing Healthy take charge and be responsible for your own Mbombela taxi rank to bring primary lifestyle culture. The programme was health”. health care services to tax drivers, owners, welcomed by MMC Shongwe from Ehlanzeni In the fight against Covid-19, Manzini commuters and hawkers to increase access district municipality and Mr MJ Mavundla further emphasize the importance to health care service as people with limited from Mbombela Taxi Association. This wearing mask and adhering to all Covid-19 access because they are always at the taxi programme is also available at Nkangala ang preventative measures and reminded ranks on a continual basis providing their Gert Sibande districts. drivers not allow any person without a services. MEC Manzini said “government brought mask to enter their taxis. MEC Manzini This programme was launched by MEC comprehensive health screening services branded several Taxis with stickers with Manzini in December 2018 and it has in the Mobile Clinic and the erected stalls messages warning commuters about the continue to reap successful health outcomes specifically for you. Our health workers are importance wearing masks and other health with the objective of lengthening access here to diagnosed, treat, prevent, educate awareness messages. www.mpumalanga.gov.za Issue 2 Vol 2020/21 INHLABAMKHOSI 3 Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane launches the 16 Days of Activism against GBVF Campaign The Mpumalanga Province joined the rest of their physical and psychological integrity,” attending to you,” she said. the world on the 25th of November 2020 as Premier Mtshweni said. However, with the introduction of the police it launched the 16 Days of Activism against Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane said that one of victim friendly units in the SAPS, Premier Gender- Based Violence and Femicide the striking truths about the nature of the Mtshweni-Tsipane said that she expects (GBVF) at the Kaboweni Community Hall. violence experienced by women and children all the police officers to be more friendly Officially opening the campaign, Premier is that the majority of cases, is perpetrated towards the victims of gender based violence Mtshweni-Tsipane said that the campaign is by male partners with whom they have an Premier Mtshweni -Tsipane said that a call to action to end the destructive impact intimate or an interdependent relationship Gender Based Violence and Femicide has of gender-based violence (GBVF) in the with, as well as their closest family members, acute physical, psychological and social communities and should continue for 365 relatives or custodians of children. consequennces. days of the year. “This means that, contrary to the “Survivors often experience psychological The campaigns runs form the 25th of conventional wisdom that the family or trauma which ranges from depression, November to the 10th of December under extended family is a safe haven of love and terror, guilt, shame to loss of self esteem. the theme: support, girls and women are at greatest risk They may be rejected by spouses and During the launch, Premier Mtshweni- of violence from the very members of their families, ostrasicised , subjected to further Tsipane stated that GBVF is a pervasive households who are socially responsible for exploitation or to punishment,” Mtshweni- threat that survives through harmful their protection and welfare,” she said. Tsipane said. gender norms and silence, and has been Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane said that GBVF Premier Mtshweni called upon communities, exacerbated by the government lockdown has long acute physical, psychological and traditional leaders, councillors, churches, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 social consequennces. NGO’s and all relevant stakeholders and pandemic. According to Premier Mtshweni- “Survivors often experience psychological players to make efforts to increase solidarity Tsipane, 763 cases of GBVF have been trauma, which ranges from depression, between men and women and work more reported in Mpumalanga during this terror, guilt, shame and loss of self-esteem. closely together to address GBVF, so that the lockdown. They may be rejected by spouses and plight of the victimised would be eased. She said that women and girls remain families, ostrasicised and subjected to She said that the Mpumalanga Provincial disproportionately impacted by GBVF at a further exploitation or to punishment. Government has already build stronger disturbing rate. This even goes to an extent of causing support networks for GBVF victims. “As government, we vow to continue raising communities to suffer trauma from all the “There are life-saving services or one stop awareness about Gender-Based Violence atrocities committed by the perpetrators. centres for survivors of gender based and Femicide. Women and children are We should stand together and say enough is violence such as GRID. This provides not experiencing GBVF which has adversely enough” she commented. only shelter for survivors but also help affected their well-being as well as their She also outlined that part of challenges is improving the reporting of cases and dignity and productivity in their homes, how the police force respond to cases of trauma councelling . The Justice and communities and places of work,” she said. domestic violence. Constitutional Department will soon be “This problem also occurs mainly due to “Women have reported in the past, when opening all the sexual offences courts where existing negative social norms within our they sought assistance from the police, they victims will be treated with dignity and also society and detestable cultural beleifs which were told to go back home and handle the be free to express themselves freely with suppresses them and leaves them to suffer domestic dispute within their families. Do the assistance of the Social Workers. We in silence. These inhumane acts have not agree to that. It is your fundamental commit ourselves that we will employ more continued to prevent women from achieving right to ensure that you open a case and get social workers that are well trained to deal their maximum potential and compromise assistance from the relevant police officer with these issues,” she said. www.mpumalanga.gov.za 4 INHLABAMKHOSI Issue 2 Vol 2020/21 Marking international Day of Persons with Disabilities The Mpumalanga Province joined the rest of In the Mpumalanga Province, Mr Du Toit Women and girls with disabilities continue the world in marking the International Day of Nkambule, Manager: Office on the Status to suffer Gender Based Violence and Persons with Disabilities. Organised within of Disabled Persons, Department of Femicide(GBV&F), stigma and discrimination the 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Social Development said that government and the impact of Covid-19. Violence, and Feminism Campaign, the month coordinated a programme of action for the Women and children with disabilities also long campaign carried weekly sub-themes disability month 2020. He said that the continue to suffer more human rights which are reflected in the Mid-Term Strategic activities came from various government violations as they have other vulnerabilities. Framework (2019-2024) of government. departments, municipalities, chapter 9 They suffer double discrimination, firstly Disability is the consequence of an impairment institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations as women, and secondly as persons with that may be physical, cognitive, mental, and the business sector. disabilities. sensory, emotional, developmental, or some “The province embarked on various campaigns Cultural beliefs and practices also weigh too combination of these. A disability may be to raise awareness on disability issues using heavily against the realisation of the rights present from birth, or occur during a person’s different media platforms. People were of women with disabilities. Poverty, misery, lifetime. educated about the rights of people with illiteracy, joblessness and social exclusion are Over one billion people, or approximately 15 disabilities. During the events and dialogues, some of the common plights that women per cent of the world’s population, live with persons with disabilities were