Annual Report 2015
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601955-2015 Annual Report 2015 Preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 As adopted on 8 May and amended on 11 October 1996 by the Constitutional Act 108 of 1996 One Law for One Nation Preamble We, the people of South Africa, Recognize the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to:- Annual Report 2015 Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights; Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law; Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations. May God protect our people. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso. God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa. Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika. Chairperson’s Message 2015 marked the 60th anniversary of Black Sash. The year- Street, Cape Town and Women’s Jail, Constitutional long birthday celebrations saw the publication of three Hill, Johannesburg were attended by Black Sash elders, books reflecting aspects of the Sash’s rich and textured current and past work-partners, beneficiaries, celebrities history, namely: Sheena Duncan by Annemarie Hendrikz; and dignitaries including Archbishop Emeritus Tutu and Standing on Street Corners: A history of the Natal Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille. Both of these events Midlands region of the Black Sash by Mary Kleinenberg included the launch of the book about Sheena Duncan. and Christopher Merrett; and The Black Sash: Women for Justice and Peace by Mary Ingouville Burton. All the books Our much appreciated partnership with Artscape saw were well received and continue to stimulate provocative the dual launches, in women’s month, of a photographic discussions. exhibition in August reflecting 60 years of work by Black Sash and Mary Burton’s book. The universe blessed us Our two birthday bashes held in May 2015 were well- in November 2016 with a free screening of the movie attended, celebratory occasions. The events held in Spin Suffragette, a thrilling drama that tracks the story of the Sibongile Mkhabela: Chairperson The Black Sash Trust Yasmin Jennnifer (Jenny) Hilary Thembi (Nyami) Mary Yasmin (Jessie) Sooka de Tolly Southall Mbhele Kleinenberg Turton Production Maria (Mary) Mary Jane Diana (Di) Margaret (Dolly) Woineschet Layout and Design: Redzone Burton Morifi Oliver Khumalo Bischoff Contents foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who poverty and inequality. The movement saw women students Chairperson’s Message 1 faced heightened levels of state brutality and were forced boldly taking the lead in a democratic dispensation, forging underground. The movie, attended by 100 partners and alliances across racial and class divides. The movement National Director’s Reflections 11 Friends of the Black Sash, came with free popcorn and coke, claimed a victory of a zero fee increase for 2016 and compliments of United International Pictures. continues to work towards achieving its ultimate aim of Chapter 1: 60th Birthday Celebrations 3 free quality education. While 2015 marked 20 years since Chapter 2: Hands Off Our Grants Campaign 7 Our birthday celebrations further saw the inauguration the Black Sash suspended its membership organisation of the Dullah Omar School with ACAOSA and Nadcao. to make way for a non-governmental organisation, the Chapter 3: Community-based Monitoring: Making all Voices Count 11 The school, that will be held annually, aims to provide a #FeesMustFall and many similar events reopened the debate on the Black Sash membership. We cannot put the sashes horizontal and vertical education space for women and Chapter 4: Education & Public Reach 15 youth in the community-based advice office sector and to away yet! stimulate activism. Chapter 5: Advocacy in Partnership 19 Our deep gratitude goes to board members, Ms Yasmin Sooka (resigned), Ms Mary Kleinenberg and Ms Nyami We also launched, together with EPRI and Action Aid, the Chapter 6: Audited Financial Statements 21 Mbele (retired) for their respective contributions, over annual Social Security Seminar to raise awareness and many years, to the Black Sash. We are pleased to announce promote discourse within civil society on the issue and Chapter 7: People of the Sash 23 the appointment of Ms Woineshet Bischoff, currently the to support advocacy efforts. Twenty years on, and sadly, Director of Child Welfare in Grahamstown, as Trustee. government is yet to deliver its social security plan. Acknowledgements 25 2015 is also the year when South Africa and the world Bongi Mkhabela witnessed the massive campaign supported by thousands of students and the public across South Africa for free quality Chairperson tertiary education. Quality education is key to reducing Black Sash Board of Trustees National Director’s Reflections The Black Sash Vision and Mission The Hands Off Our Grants (HOOG) campaign took a new stubborn challenges experienced by grant beneficiaries Our vision is making human rights real. turn when Black Sash joined the AllPay 2 matter successfully such as unauthorised, fraudulent and unlawful deductions; PROGRAMME ONE: PROGRAMME TWO: as a Friend of the Constitutional Court. SASSA was ordered migration from the SASSA bank account to new EasyPay Our mission is to work towards a South Africa in which: RIGHTS-BASED COMMUNITY INFORMATION, MONITORING to roll out the new tender process within specific timelines Everywhere bank account (also known as the green card) • Human rights are recognised in law and respected in practice; EDUCATION & GOAL 2: Community by October 2015. However, SASSA opted not to appoint a without recourse; and the training of SASSA staff and TRAINING organisations which • The government is accountable to all its people and attends to their GOAL 1: Members and have improved skills and new service provider. The agency informed the Court that it the public on Regulation 11 (alternative documentation) leaders of community effectiveness in monitoring will take over the national payment of social grants when to ensure better uptake. Access to Emergency Medical basic needs; organisations who are better the realisation of human informed about human rights, particularly social the Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract ends on 31 Services is an ongoing challenge for clinics and in local • Members of society (individuals and the private sector) also take rights, particularly social and economic rights, as well March 2016. The HOOG campaign held three silent mass government the lack of maintenance of the rental stock and economic rights, as well as democratic governance responsibility for reducing inequality and extreme poverty; as democratic governance & accountability, with protests on 15 and 16 October 2015 as unauthorised, remains an issue. • The Constitution is upheld by all; and & accountability, with an an emphasis on fraudulent and unlawful deductions continued. A first for emphasis on the experience the experience of of women & girls. women & girls. the Sash was the production of the documentary Grant The initiation of the Dullah Omar School for paralegals in • Social and economic justice is recognised as fundamentally important. Grabs which showed how systemic the problem of unlawful the community advice office sector and the Social Security Our belief is that, through individual and collective non-violent action, PROGRAMME THREE: ADVOCACY IN PARTNERSHIP deductions is across the country. This was broadcast Seminar to deepen civil society’s understanding in this area GOAL 3: Black Sash works in partnership and within networks that in March 2016 on the award winning investigative has considerably boosted our Rights Education and Training people have the power to change their own situation and impact on society are more able to conduct effective advocacy to realise human rights, particularly social and economic rights, as well as democratic programme, Special Assignment, on SABC 3. programme. The Black Sash staff worked with the Education as a whole. governance & accountability, with an emphasis on the Lynette Maart: and Training Unit to update the Paralegal manual, an experience of women & girls. National Director We have considerably improved the turnaround time of important resource for paralegals. Our aim is to enable all, with the emphasis on women and children, to: data analysis since our CMAP project. Users of the CBM • Recognise and exercise their human rights, particularly their social and programme can now access data not only via the tablets 2015 was the end of our three year funding cycle. Black Sash REFORM POLICIES STRENGTHEN CIVIL economic rights; and AND SYSTEMS SOCIETY but directly from the internet. The development of the trustees and staff ended a very productive year to reflect AIM 1: Political, social and AIM 2: Strengthened • Create a society that has effective laws and delivery systems, including website (cbm@code4sa), for example site and partner and refocus our mission, vision, strategies and aspects of