As we continue celebrating Women’s Month, the City of Johannesburg pledges to advance the interests of women, both young and old, who continue to face daily challenges with the hope that tomorrow will be better than today.
Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, together with his administration are committed to supporting and promoting inclusive development that gives meaningful redress, and hope to all.
This is in recognition of the fact that previous administrations failed to ensure the integrated participation of all city departments in addressing the plight of women within the boundaries of the City of Johannesburg.
Though a Gender, Youth and Disability (GEYODI) oversight committee was established in the previous term, presumably to enforce accountability on the city’s performance around gender, youth and persons with disabilities, the requisite steps were not taken to ensure that city departments integrate these functions into their business plans, and that their performance in this regard is monitored.
This led to the continued marginalization of these vulnerable population groups.
Since taking office twelve months ago, this administration has set in motion the policy review process, which will hold city departments accountable for their role in improving the lived experiences of our residents, particularly ensuring that the plight of women and other vulnerable groups is improved. This process will be completed by the end of February, 2018.
The Department of Social Development in the City of Johannesburg has taken the strategic and practical lead in the review of current policies, and will continue to ensure that its policies are implemented fully, so as to drive sustainable economic benefits for all.
Woman Empowerment Programmes offered by the department are:
- Women Empowerment Sites: The vehicle through which programs are conducted is the Regional Women Empowerment sites. There is a site in every Region, accessible to women in the Regions.
- Young Women’s Programme: Young women have also been identified as a vulnerable group. Therefore, this initiative includes development programmes that will support young women holistically. The vision through the process is also to identify women mentors that can mentor young women throughout the programme.
- Men as supporters for non-violence against women and children: One of the programmes in the Women Empowerment Policy is also to include men as supporters of non-violence and abuse and recruit men as Male Ambassadors who will assist in communities and to be role models for young boys. The decision was that men’s forums will be established in all the Regions in order for these male ambassadors to be empowered to work in the different wards and to assist men to work through their issues as well.
- 365 Days programme for non-violence against women and children: The implementation of seven Regional support programmes supporting women and children against abuse and violence is informed by the 365 Days Safety Plan which is integrated in the City‘s Women Development Strategy.
The Department of Social Development will, additionally, continue to celebrate the diverse beauty, strength and endurance of our women through the following programmes in various regions throughout the month of August.
Below are some of the programmes we’ll be running throughout our regions this Women’s Month:
| Name of Program | Date | Time | Region | Venue |
| Women in Sport and Self Defence | 12 August 2017 | 10:00-15:00 | F | Selby Village, Usher and Tramp Street |
| South Africa Is Still Safe For Women to Live in it | 16 August 2017 | 10:00-15:00 | G | Orange Farm Skills Centre |
| Women’s Month Event
|
16 August 2016 | 09:00-14:30 | C | Roodepoort City Hall |
| WDS: “Today’s Young African Women”
|
17 August 2017 | 09:00- 14:30 | D | Pimville Community Centre |
| Education On The Legal Framework That Protect Women’s Rights
|
17 August 2017
|
09:00-15:00 | E
|
Altrek sports
|
| Women’s Month Event
|
24 August 2017 | 10:00-15:00 |
A |
Ivory Park resource centre |
| We care for our girls
|
24 August 2017 | 09:30-13:00 | F | NG Kerk, Corner King & Gultimore Streets, Malvern |
| Education On The Legal Framework That Protect The Women’s Rights
|
26 August 2017 | 09:00-15:00 | E | Masakane clinic |