Kiviet blames broken families for abuse

Bhisho legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet yesterday said broken family structures were the root cause of women and children abuse in the society.

Kiviet was addressing Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian (CWP) guests in Matatiele yesterday. The CWP has mandated all its branches to convene workshops and dialogues to deliberate on issues affecting women, more particularly those in rural areas.

She said the struggle against gender-based violence dated back to the early 1900s when the likes of Charlotte Maxeke led the Bantu Women’s League, which was part of the South African Native National Congress.

A writer and a gender activist, Maxeke led a delegation to the then South African prime minister, Louis Botha in 1918 to discuss issues
affecting women.

“As we meet today, we are still trying to find solutions to issues related to gender inequality which have been known for decades if not centuries, and we have got to confront them with the necessary vigour,” said Kiviet.

Present at the event was National Assembly deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli, Masimanyane’s Lesley Ann Foster, sports MEC Bulelwa Tunyiswa, Matatiele council speaker Nomasomi Mshuqwana and Kiviet’s deputy Mlibo Qoboshiyane.

CWP is a branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Each year, the CPA holds conferences to discuss developmental issues, out of which resolutions are taken for further processing and implementation as member states of Commonwealth countries.

The Eastern Cape subnational branch of the CWP organised the two-day dialogue. Kiviet said today’s youth were facing different challenges, such as alcohol and drug abuse, and abuse from those who are expected to protect them.

“Underlying these challenges are broken families as a result of gender-based violence and inequality between men and women,” she said.

“We must come out with clear plans on how to deal decisively with gender inequality.”

The event ends today.