Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on Friday lit a flame at the Katlehong Stadium to launch a campaign of 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children.
The flame will be passed on to various sectors of society, the first being the Department of Transport, which will launch its Arrive Alive campaign in December, she said.
”This is the flame of no violence … that must burn throughout the year in our hearts and in our lives,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
She said a torch of peace ”whose flame will burn on” will be lit in August next year during Women’s Month.
”The torch will be lit in August for Women’s Month, which in 2006 will be the 50th commemoration since women marched on the Union Buildings.”
Mlambo-Ngcuka urged men to respect women and children, saying women are not inherently weak.
The real beginning for respect of women and children starts at home with partners, parents, relatives and friends who cannot and should not be abusers and perpetrators.
A group of people was beating drums at the ceremony to drive home the message that women and children should not be abused.
Mlambo-Ngcuka was accompanied on Friday by Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour; his deputy, Cheryl Gillwald; Deputy Minister of Health Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge; and Ekurhuleni mayor Duma Nkosi.
This year’s campaign of 16 days of activism will be held under the theme Peace Begins at Home, said Gauteng health minister Gwen Ramokgopa.
”We are for peace. We are opposed to the abuse of women and children,” she said. — Sapa