City of Joburg Speaker Da Gama calls for activism against abuse

25 November 2016

 

The Speaker of the City of Johannesburg Council, Cllr Vasco da Gama, on Thursday November 24 urged councillors to take part in the 16 Days of Activism against the Abuse of Women and Children campaign, which starts on Friday November 25 and runs until December 10.

 

Addressing the City’s monthly council meeting, Speaker Da Gama said more than 50 000 incidents of women and children abuse were reported throughout the country in 2015. He urged councillors to be proactive in their communities to prevent the scourge.

 

The 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children is an annual international campaign aimed at raising awareness of the scourge. It is held from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day) and includes World Aids Day on December 1.

 

This year’s theme is “Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa Forward.”

 

During his address in the council chamber, Cllr Da Gama also reminded full-time councillors that they were not allowed to undertake extra work for remuneration as doing so would be in contravention of council rules.

 

Cllr Da Gama also announced that Cllr Rina Motala, a former ANC proportional representative councillor, would replace Cllr Roslyn Greeff, who has resigned with immediate effect.