WOMEN UNITE FOR PEACE AND AN END TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN KWAZULU-NATAL

By Nonhlakanipho Masola

• Minister Dina Pule urged communities to back prayer with action, rejecting intimidation and intolerance ahead of elections.
• DSD reaffirmed its role in supporting families, children and communities affected by violence through psychosocial and social services.
• Women leaders, government and civil society committed to a Women’s Peace Declaration and a Peace Pledge for violence-free elections.

Minister of Social Development, Ms Dina Pule, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, joined women leaders, political formations, faith-based organisations and civil society at the KwaZulu-Natal Election Peace Prayer 2026. The gathering was hosted by the Sakhisizwe Women’s Organisation at Durban City Hall on 25 October 2026.

Held under the theme “Enough of the Bloodshed. Let Peace Prevail in KwaZulu-Natal”, the gathering promoted peace and unity, and highlighted the devastating impact of political violence on women, children, families and communities.

Minister Pule emphasised that prayer must be matched by meaningful action to build peaceful homes, communities and political organisations.
“We must reject hatred, intimidation, political intolerance and every form of violence. We must learn to disagree without becoming enemies, and to compete for leadership without threatening one another’s lives,” she said.

She stressed that every citizen must be free to vote, campaign, organise and express political views safely, adding that political leaders carry a particular responsibility to model tolerance.

“Violence does not end when an incident is over. Its consequences remain in grieving households, traumatised children, vulnerable families and communities struggling to rebuild trust,” she said.
As the department responsible for Pillar Four of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), which focuses on response, care, support and healing, DSD provides psychosocial support, strengthens families, and protects children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The Minister encouraged community members, particularly women, to refer those in need to the Department’s social workers and support services.

She also called for joint efforts to tackle poverty, inequality, substance abuse and gender-based violence, with special attention to children who lose parents or caregivers. She cautioned against spreading rumours and unverified images and voice notes on social media, urging the public to “verify information before sharing it” and to calm tensions rather than inflame them.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi, urged women to report corruption, intimidation and crime without fear, and encouraged those facing threats to seek help through witness protection mechanisms. She also pointed to oversight bodies such as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for reporting police misconduct.

“Political decisions should not cause a person to be killed,” she said.
Speaker Didiza called on women to unite, support one another and strengthen their representation in Parliament.
“Women must stand together, stop fighting one another and unite to show their commitment to building our country,” she said.

The gathering is set to culminate in a Women’s Peace Declaration and the signing of a Peace Pledge by political leaders, reaffirming their commitment to peaceful elections.

Through partnerships and collective action, the Department of Social Development continues to encourage communities to reject violence and build safer communities where everyone’s rights, safety and dignity are respected.