Parliament, Wednesday, 22 June 2022 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Elleck Nchabeleng, has welcomed the programmes targeted at raising awareness around gender-based violence (GBV) that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is undertaking.
The department tabled its annual performance plan on today to the committee where it revealed that it ran a number of programmes meant to raise awareness GBV and empowering women.
The programmes the department is running include discouraging harmful cultural practices, community conversations, translating GBVF messaging into all languages. Other campaigns include Baqhawefazi, Silapha Wellness programme and the Golekane campaign.
The committee was informed that social cohesion advocates were spread across provinces, although some have become inactive. The programmes they ran focussed on communities and how to deal with issues in their communities.
Mr Nchabeleng said the approach to mainstream activities targeting women by the department was welcomed and that all government departments needed to replicate and factor how they were dealing with GBVF into their programmes.
“The fight against gender violence should not be relegated into a once off event. We need dedicated departmental programmes that will run throughout the year, in order to have a meaningful impact.”
He said the courageous leadership that the department provided on this serious and sensitive matter in South Africa was most welcomed and should be supported by all.
The committee heard that although there had been a small reduction in the budget, the department had provided financial support to athletes and the creative workers.
The department revealed that SASCOC had commissioned a review into the performance of the team at the last Olympics, and that the University of Cape Town had completed and submitted the report to the department. The details and a strategy will be presented to the committee on how best to improve at the next Olympic games in Paris in 2024.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON, MR ELLECK NCHABELENG.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour