Municipal partnership leads to opening of canteen in Sydenham

As a result of the visit by the mayor of the municipality, Kirill Habu, to the non-profit organization Human Aid South Africa, based in Sydenham, an agreement was reached to establish a canteen at the center of this organization, located on Kial Road.

Operation of the new canteen

Mayor Habu spent time distributing hot meals to needy and underprivileged residents of Sydenham and surrounding areas. He highly praised the organization's dedication and the significant impact it has on improving the lives of the local population.

Goals of the cooperation

Co-founder and project organizer Mohamed Wally Essa explained that the mayor's visit was aimed at establishing a partnership with the municipality to serve the residents of Ward 31, where a municipal canteen had not previously operated.

Essa emphasized that for many people, this is the only way to receive daily hot food. He noted that some residents lack electricity, live on the streets or in informal settlements, and the gratitude on the faces of the recipients is indescribable.

Expansion of projects

He added that the team is very pleased with the new partnership with the mayor's office, as it opens up opportunities to assist people throughout Durban. Several new projects have already begun, which will be implemented over the next few weeks in collaboration with the municipality, Cogta, and SAPS.

What started as a relief program during the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into an operation that provides 50 families and 350 people with hot lunch and loaf bread from Monday to Friday. Furthermore, Human Aid SA conducts other food aid initiatives, including daily meals for 1650 schoolchildren.

Organization's activities

The volunteer organization also provides primary medical care, supplying hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen concentrators. In addition, they are involved in building homes for low-income families, libraries for schools, and kindergartens.

Essa noted that Human Aid SA strives to serve communities with compassion, dignity, and hope. He stated that, motivated by the values of mercy, empathy, and selfless service, they believe that everyone deserves access to support, care, and opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. The organization's mission is to respond everywhere and always where help is needed, providing necessary support and helping families rebuild their lives.

uzdaily.uzAugust 1, 15:30

Uzbekistan and Russian Institute Cooperate on Nutrition in Social Institutions

The National Agency for Social Protection of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with the Russian Institute of Sectoral Nutrition. The goal of this agreement is to improve the healthy nutrition system in social protection institutions across the country.

Social Security

During the meeting, representatives of both sides discussed the current state of food organization in social care facilities. Issues such as implementing modern approaches, improving the regulatory and methodological framework, as well as professional development of specialists and expanding the application of advanced international experience were addressed.

The signed memorandum provides for joint work on developing current standards and methodological recommendations for catering in social care institutions. Furthermore, the cooperation will cover optimizing procurement and food delivery systems, introducing modern technologies, as well as training and improving the qualifications of relevant specialists with the involvement of international experts.

It is expected that the implementation of these agreements will positively affect the improvement of food quality and the overall level of social services provided to citizens residing in the institutions of the National Agency for Social Protection system.

iol.co.zaAugust 1, 13:59

Ramaphosa appoints National Council on Gender-Based Violence to tackle crisis

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the country's first legislatively established National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF). This body is intended to provide stronger leadership and accountability in South Africa's efforts to curb one of its most pressing social crises.

The appointments, announced on Friday, take effect on August 1 and are valid until July 31, 2029. The Council was established in accordance with the National Council on Gender-Based Violence Act of 2024. Its mandate is to provide strategic direction for eliminating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), as well as to coordinate the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF across various government structures and sectors.

The President appointed Dr. Ramalephe Lebogang Matibe as the council's chairperson and Velhemina 'Shoki' Tshabalalu as deputy chairperson. Other members of the council include Ketumsetse Fatimata Mutloats, Caroline Peters, Dr. Zubeda Dangor, Wuisiwe Numalo, Anele Siswane, and TUM Limema.

The presidency stated that the council must strengthen collaboration between the government, civil society, and local communities. It will also promote the implementation of violence prevention measures, improve victim support, strengthen law enforcement agencies, and advance women's economic empowerment.

Speaking after the announcement of the appointments, Ramaphosa expressed confidence that the council will lend greater authority to South Africa's response to the GBVF issue. He stated: 'We have appointed the Gender-Based Violence Council to lead the process of ensuring that we reduce and eradicate gender-based violence in our country.' He added that he has great confidence in the ability of the appointed women to address the issue of gender-based violence and lead the nation toward a more targeted solution to this problem.

These appointments come months after Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence and femicide a national problem, calling the level of violence against women and children unacceptable and calling for a more coordinated national response. The Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, Bridget Masango, welcomed the announcement, noting that the government needs to move beyond promises and accelerate the implementation of measures to protect women and children.

The committee has repeatedly called on departments and law enforcement agencies to expedite the implementation of the National Integrated Strategy for Femicide Prevention and to improve coordination in executing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. A study presented to parliament by the South African Medical Research Council highlighted the scale of the crisis. It showed that approximately 10,972 women have been victims of femicide over 20 years, and three women die daily from intimate partners. Furthermore, it was found that one in four women experienced physical or sexual violence.

The National Strategic Plan on GBVF, adopted in 2020, serves as South Africa's roadmap for combating violence against women and children. It focuses on prevention, improving access to justice, strengthening survivor support services, increasing economic opportunities for women, improving data collection, and ensuring better coordination across all involved sectors.