SARPN in partnership with Princess Gabo Foundation and Free State Premier’s office to host imbizo to address Gender Based Violence (GBV)

The South African Royal Princesses Network (SARPN) in partnership with Princess Gabo Foundation and the Office of the Premier in the Free State will host an unprecedented, historic national royal women imbizo that will address GBV in Thaba Nchu, Free State on 29-30 April 2022. It will be for the first time in history that Queens and Princesses from various parts of South Africa gather speaking with one voice in an effort to seek for solutions to the GBV pandemic. The message is clear, “No to GBV. Enough is enough. Working together we can overcome this pandemic”. Expected to attend joining the Queens and Princesses are stakeholders from various parts of South Africa including representatives from the Houses of Traditional Leadership; Government; business; NGOs; youth and communities. Speakers include Free State MeC of Social Development Mamiki Motlagomang Qabathe. Premier of Free State, Sisi Ntombela will deliver the key note address. This forms part of the SARPN initiatives that seek to create awareness, address and contribute in the fight against GBV.

A meeting between the Deputy Minister of Justice Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, SARPN, Princess Gabo Foundation and Traditional Leaders will precede the Imbizo in Thaba Nchu on the 29 April 2022. The meeting will address the issue of justice for victims of GBV and the role of the Department of Justice.

This will be followed by a meeting with the Old Mutual Foundation. The aim of this meeting is to establish and identify areas of cooperation on GBV awareness and joint efforts and programs to contribute in the fight against GBV in the rural areas as well as empowerment of women and youth.

Issues of empowerment of women, youth, challenges of socio economic conditions, role of education and skills development, post trauma cancelling, substance abuse, victim support system, preventative measures as well as justice or lack thereof for those who are affected are to be discussed in this imbizo. Also an agenda item is the important role of strategic partnerships or multi stakeholder joint initiatives to address GBV eg the SAPS, Government (National, Provincial and Local), business, religious leaders, traditional leaders, NGOs, Associations and other relevant stakeholders.

The imbizo in Thaba Nchu seeks to address these with the hope of coming up with actionable resolutions to fight GBV which encompasses joint efforts of various stakeholders.