Admin
03 Oct, 2018
Government still fails on SASSA system
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is stunned that many social grant beneficiaries still have difficulties in accessing their grants on time due to a number of cash points that have been closed since the Post Office took over from Cash Paymaster Services. This is totally unacceptable. UDEMWO has asked before whether the South African Social Service (Sassa) has the capability and capacity to deliver on its promise of smooth running and uninterrupted system. Beneficiaries, especially those in rural areas, continue to find it difficult to reach far pay points since the usual ones have been closed. The ATM system is not user-friendly or safe for the elderly. There must be another safer way that will work. What is happening at Sassa paints a clear picture of the incompetence of all those involved in the continuing debacle. Innocent people are suffering because the ruling party continues to elect selfish and self-serving individuals to positions of power. We call upon Social Development Minister Susan Shabangu to do the right thing and come forth and explain to the nation of her lasting plans to make sure that the problems that are clouding Sassa are solved. Issued by: Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
Admin
12 Jul, 2017
Attack on young Mthatha woman: UDEMWO commends swift arrest
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) commends the police officials on the swift arrest of suspects who allegedly raped and horrendously hacked a 19 year old woman in Xhwili village near Mthatha, Eastern Cape. This attack is another example of the escalation of gender based violence that we are witnessing in South Africa at the moment. These swift arrests are a good sign. We hope that the investigation will shed light and that those involved will soon be brought to book. The perpetrators must face the wrath of justice for their inhumane acts. UDEMWO reiterates its call to Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu whose silence is deafening. We want to see a functional department that make real changes in women’s lives. End
Admin
30 May, 2017
Safety of Women in South African society: Minister Shabangu is a hypocrit
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is shocked by the events surrounding the death of Eskom employee Thembisile Yende. She disappeared for almost two weeks and finding her body at her place of work is concerning in the extreme. The suspicious circumstance around her death is compounded by the fact that her car was apparently parked outside the offices, yet a police search did not reveal that she was, dead or alive, locked inside. It becomes quite worrying if women cannot even rely on the police to locate missing persons; in particular the more vulnerable women and girl-children. This is another example of how exposed the women has become in the South African society of today. We have a patriarchal, male dominated, culture in this Country where women are deemed second-class citizens. It does not help when the very minister, responsible for promoting our cause, makes hypocritical statements about a victim of violence being “internally weak”. Minister Shabangu is inefficient and is definitely not doing our cause any favours. President Zuma would have been well-advised to have removed her in his recent Cabinet reshuffle; we need a minister in this portfolio that is uncompromising in fighting for women’s rights. Minister Shabangu must be proactive in addressing the recent increase in gender-based violence. This phenomenon shows that she and her department are, or at least have been, complacent. She clearly has no concrete plan of action to address this issue and UDEMWO wants to see a bigger budget allocation to finding effective tools to address gender violence and changing societal perceptions, as well as male attitudes. UDEMWO calls on the South African Police Services to speedily get to the bottom of this case and find the perpetrator/s of this heinous crime. End
