KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu has implored his councillors to lead the war against rape in the province.
|||Durban - KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu has implored councillors in municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal to lead the war against rape, saying the province has “unacceptably high” rape statistics.
Speaking at the South African Local Government (Salga) provincial members’ summit, Mchunu said fighting the scourge of rape could not be only the responsibility of the police.
“So far it is only the police who are active in the fight against rape.”
The public in this province also needed to send the message that rape was unacceptable and was rejected by all, he said.
Councillors would need to drive this move, Mchunu said.
“We need to say, ‘One rape, one action.’ I am not talking theory here, but action… Whether you appear on TV or the newspapers, it does not matter: let us act against rape.”
Councillors would also need to play an active role in fighting HIV, he said, an added that KZN was the province worst affected by HIV/Aids.
Of the 5 million South Africans infected with HIV/Aids, 3 million were to be found in KZN, he said.
“I want to plead with all honourable members to really allocate time in your schedule and lead the fight against HIV/Aids… We need to ensure that condoms are getting distributed; we need to preach to young people to change their behaviour and we need to ensure that those people on ARVs do take the medication.”
Mchunu also reminded councillors that they were at the forefront of service delivery, and should be visible and known in communities they were supposed to serve.
“It is embarrassing, even to the president, when he goes to some of these areas and he gets told that the people have never seen the councillor before.”
He said another challenge that still faced the province was the use of the bucket toilet system in some communities.
Calling the bucket system barbaric, Mchunu said the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department was conducting an investigation to establish exactly where these were being used, so there could be a targeted approach.
Also speaking at the summit, Human Settlements MEC Ravi Pillay echoed these sentiments, saying the councillors had to “be on the ball” and be able to communicate better with communities they served.
“Daily we are being challenged by an active citizenry. That does not always have comfortable consequences. Citizens interrogate what we say to them, they take issue with what we say and demand consultation, transparent accountability and delivery.”
According to Salga, a study had revealed that housing topped the lists of demands when it came to service delivery protests.
Salga chief executive officer Xolile George said the study found that some 28.9 percent of service delivery protests were triggered by dissatisfaction over housing.
Pillay said there was now a realisation that houses could not be provided for all, but from next year the provincial government would start providing serviced sites to those who could afford to build their own homes.
bheki.mbanjwa@inl.co.za
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