16 Days of Activism Partnership Build

Project Plan

16 Houses in 16 Days

Theme: “Don’t Look Away, Act Against Abuse”

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1.      Project Background

The Department of Human Settlements is coordinating a partnership Build jointly with provincial Department of Human Settlements in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Province as part of the 16 Days campaign.  This campaign is led by the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. The closing ceremony of the campaign is at Durban City Hall.

2.      International Human Rights Day – 10 December 2010

2.2.1        Handover of Houses – Beneficiary Profile

2.2.2    Shongweni – Magcaba family

The Deputy Minister for Human Settlements and Minister for Women, Children and People with Disability would hand-over the house to Mr. Khipelakhe and Mrs Bertina Magcaba as victims of gender based-violence.  The family suffered severe violence at the hands of perpetrators. Their daughter (13) years was severely raped in-front of the parents. Their older daughter (32) years 7 months pregnant was shot by the same perpetrators including her fiancé who was killed in the incident.  The Minister in the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has already visited the family.

Shongweni is a rural area with a population size of around 8000 people with other households comprising of more than tem members. The area does not have bulk infrastructure but in terms of water and sanitation there are standing water taps and vip toilets. In terms of land ownership, the land belongs to the Ingonyama Trust under Inkosi Shozi. The community does not have title deeds but the permission to occupy (PTO).

The area has three schools, two primary and one high school. Most of the youth have completed grade 12 but are unemployed.  In 2007 a Shongweni Dam Water and Sanitation Project was launched and it was agreed that 60% of people employed must be youth. The youths are trained on building the vip toilets and putting the water pipes. A stipend for them was also agreed upon. The area also have the tourist attraction called Shongweni Dam Resource Reserve where two learnership programmes were initiated and some of the community members are employed. In terms of crime, there are lots of cases reported on women and children abuse in the Kwandengezi police station. The area does not have a single clinic. They have to travel about 45 km to the nearest clinic. The mobile clinic only comes on Mondays.

2.2.3    St. Wendolines/Ireland

This is a female headed household, the mother was relying financially on her son who was killed in the Shongweni incident mentioned above.  The family will receive the house key at Shongweni since St Gwendolines is far from Shongweni. The mother has six siblings and stays in a two room rented house.

2.3     Formal Programme – 11:00am-13:00 pm

The formal programme of speeches will take place at Durban City Hall. Deputy Minister for Human Settlements will render a message of support as a partner in the campaign.

3           Hype Activity Week

3.1       Media Launch of the Build – 05 December 2010

The MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Ms. M Govender will launch the build through a media brief (i.e. Local Radio Station at 8pm) on the 5^th December 2010 to mark the international year of volunteers.

3.2       Principals Siyasebenza Political Day – 06 December 2010

The actual build launch starts on the 6^th December to commemorate the International Day of Volunteers which is on the 5^th December 2010. Political Principals are expected to attend the event and participate in the actual activity programme. (Construction: bricklaying, plastering, planting trees and food gardens).

3.3       Inter-denominational Day – 09 December 2010

Various leaders from the local church will participate in the build through actual construction and to pray for peace for the nation.  The volunteers will also participate in a knock and drop programme in St Gwendolines to invite community to the event and will also clean the sites.

Stakeholder Mobilisation

The table below highlights contributions received from various stakeholders including government departments: