Latest news with #ZweliMkhize
Zawya
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Committee Commends Cultural, Religious and Linguistics (CRL) Rights Commission for Efforts to Safeguard Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on Friday reaffirmed its support for the Cultural, Religious and Linguistics (CRL) Rights Commission's efforts to safeguard these rights. The committee received briefings from the CRL Rights Commission and the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) on their strategic and annual performance plans. The MDB's mandate includes, among other things, the delimitation of municipal wards after consulting the Independent Electoral Commission. Committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize acknowledged the commission's role in addressing harmful practices performed under the guise of religion. He also encouraged the commission in its ongoing efforts to confront psychological, physical and sexual abuse linked to such cases. 'While we respect religious freedom in South Africa, these rights must be exercised in line with constitutional protections and human dignity,' he said. The commission's briefing follows the recent Eastern Cape High Court judgement, which cleared Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso of all charges, including sexual assault and human trafficking. Welcoming the commission's presentation, the Chairperson reaffirmed the importance of the commission's work in protecting the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities and the crucial role this plays in nation-building and social cohesion. The committee noted the challenges impacting the commission's work, particularly budget constraints. It was encouraged by ongoing efforts to recognise and develop historically marginalised languages, such as SePulana (a language spoken by the Mapulana people in Limpopo and Mpumalanga) and isiMpondo (spoken by the AmaMphondo people in the Eastern Cape). The committee also welcomed the continued focus on customary initiation practices and ensuring they conform to constitutional principles. The Chairperson stressed that there should be zero tolerance for illegal schools, mutilation, or loss of life in exercising this traditional custom. 'There can be no acceptable number when it comes to mutilations or fatalities. Our goal must be zero in all respects. There is no acceptable threshold for such harms,' he said, stressing the need for stronger oversight, awareness and community education. The committee also welcomed the shift in focus of the commission's referral and oversight systems that now ensure matters brought before it are addressed, even when other departments are involved. Previously, the commission would refer matters to relevant departments. Meanwhile, while welcoming the MDB's presentation, the committee expressed concerns about the practicalities and impact municipal boundary determinations may have on communities. Highlighting that communities are often built on relationships and shared access to services, the Chairperson cautioned the Board against only relying on legal frameworks when making boundary determinations that may split communities and social networks. 'The MDB must be sensitive to avoid dividing a settled cohesive community into different wards, municipalities, districts, and sometimes provinces as this practice may disrupt social stability and access to social amenities and centres for service delivery.' Moreover, the committee sought concrete evidence of public consultation during demarcation. Members also called on the MDB to be more responsive to dissatisfaction in affected communities and asked for evidence that public education initiatives helped build public trust in the demarcation process. Noting the budget constraints, the committee urged the MDB to build its institutional capacity and not solely rely on municipalities to do its work at the local level. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Cogta Committee challenges initiation death targets, insists on zero casualties
Parliament's Cogta Committee has criticised the Department of Traditional Affairs for proposing reduced, not eliminated, initiation deaths. The committee has called for revised targets that reflect a zero-death and zero-injury policy. However, the committee's urgent demand for immediate revisions underscores a growing frustration over perceived complacency in tackling the issue at hand. The department had laid out a plan to drop initiation deaths from a troubling 63 to just 13 by 2029, accompanied by a proposal to reduce the number of illegal initiation schools from 429 to 229. These initiatives were to be augmented through enhanced oversight, community education, and regulatory reforms focused on this sensitive cultural practice. During a recent briefing regarding the department's annual performance plan for 2025/26 and its strategic direction through 2025 to 2030, committee members spotlighted their dissatisfaction with the lack of urgency in reducing initiation-related harm, making it clear that their expectations are centered around a singular, unwavering goal: zero deaths and injuries. The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has taken a firm stance against the Department of Traditional Affairs, outright rejecting their proposed targets aimed at addressing harmful practices linked to illegal initiation schools. ''This enables committees to scrutinise departmental performance and spending and hold them accountable to the public. Members learnt that the department's strategic plan will centre around four outcomes, including ensuring that institutions of Traditional and Khoi-San leadership are functional, legitimate, and governed in compliance with applicable laws. ''Other outcomes focus on transformation, ensuring that traditional leadership structures are inclusive, rights-based, and aligned with constitutional values. It was; however, the targets set for promoting safer initiation practices by reducing illegal initiation schools and related injuries and casualties that particularly concerned members.'' Committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize criticised these targets, highlighting a significant discrepancy with the government's zero-tolerance stance on initiation casualties. "All targets should be not, you will be accused of running this programme in a way that allows certain deaths and amputations," Mkhize said. He further pointed out that setting any target other than zero would send the wrong message to the public, suggesting that such a target would "risk legitimising the very harm we are meant to eradicate." Mkhize described the targets as 'indefensible,' adding that the department's approach risked normalising preventable harm under the guise of bureaucratic compliance. He stressed that 'the only acceptable target for loss of life or amputation is zero,' underlining the need for more stringent measures to address these issues. The committee also discussed the need for amendments to the Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders Act, which was found unconstitutional, and emphasised the importance of a collaborative approach to the recognition of Khoi-San traditional leaders. Mkhize suggested a more inclusive process and recommended that the department share relevant information and establish mechanisms to facilitate interaction with the body responsible for traditional leadership matters. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
