MINISTER PULE CALLS ON FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT IN BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES AND SAFER COMMUNITIES

By Lucky Thebe

• Women must take up leadership roles and participate fully in decision-making, as systemic barriers continue to hold back women and girls, said the Minister of Social Development, Ms Dina Pule.
• The Seventh-day Adventist Church was commended for its humanitarian work, with faith-based organisations described as strategic partners in tackling poverty, unemployment and inequality.
• Faith leaders and communities are urged to help prevent and report gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), support survivors, strengthen families, and fight HIV/AIDS stigma and substance abuse.

The Minister of Social Development, Ms Dina Pule, delivered the keynote address at the Seventh-day Adventist Church Women’s Congress in Pretoria, Gauteng. In her address, the Minister spoke on women’s empowerment, social cohesion, partnerships with faith-based organisations, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), family strengthening, HIV/AIDS stigma, substance abuse prevention and support for vulnerable groups.

Minister Pule described women as key agents of social and economic transformation and stressed the importance of their leadership, empowerment and participation in decision-making. While she acknowledged the progress made since the advent of democracy, she noted that systemic barriers and persistent gender inequality continued to hinder the advancement of women and girls.

The Minister highlighted the value of partnerships between Government and faith-based organisations in addressing poverty, unemployment, inequality and other social challenges. She commended the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its humanitarian initiatives, which include food support, school shoes, sanitary products and community relief programmes. She reiterated that faith-based organisations were strategic partners in advancing the goals of the National Development Plan and broader social development priorities.

Describing GBVF as one of South Africa’s most pressing social challenges, Minister Pule called on faith leaders and communities to actively prevent, identify and report abuse, and to support survivors. She said the Department of Social Development continued to implement interventions under the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, including strengthening community-based support systems and referral mechanisms.

The Minister emphasised the need to strengthen families as the foundation of resilient communities. She raised concerns about family breakdown, domestic violence, substance abuse, parenting challenges and inadequate community support structures, and encouraged religious institutions to work with Government to restore social values, strengthen family life and promote community wellbeing.

Minister Pule reaffirmed Government’s commitment to the constitutional values of equality, dignity and non-discrimination, and encouraged churches and communities to create inclusive environments and combat the stigma and discrimination faced by vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Expressing concern about the continued stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, the Minister urged faith communities to promote awareness, testing, treatment adherence and psychosocial support. She also highlighted the Department’s collaboration with non-profit organisations that provide food security, health services, protection and psychosocial support to orphaned and vulnerable children.

Finally, Minister Pule outlined Government’s efforts to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol and substance abuse. She stressed that effective prevention and intervention required coordinated action by government, schools, parents, communities, civil society organisations and faith-based institutions.