Friday 07 February

 

This week we focus on the achievements of the last five decades since the inauguration of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) as we celebrate Africa Day. We realise that there is still much to be done to promote vibrant democracy and economic prosperity on our continent and we undertake, as civil society, to do our part in pushing for those ideals.

Monday 22 May

  • SECTION27 Executive Director, Mark Heywood will speak at the SADC Lawyers Association meeting held at the Intercontinental O.R Tambo Hotel, 21 -24 May 2017 in a session on “new wave ideology – whither participatory democracy” from 14:30 -15:30, followed by a plenary discussion from30-16.30.  Main issues to be covered include: The emergence of opposition political parties and social movements, after years of de facto and de jure one party States; the role and adequacy of elections in Southern Africa as an ingredient for the democratisation agenda; the role of civil society, Trade Unions and Traditional leaders.
  • Community Mobiliser Solanga Milambo will attend the Limpopo Provincial Implementation Plan meeting on the 22 & 23 May in Tzaneen  as Limpopo Civil Society Forum Chairperson to begin the roll out of the 2017 – 2022 National Strategic Plan for HIV &TB
  • SECTION27 Attorneys, Kate Paterson and Sheniece Linderboom will be attending a workshop on the complementary report on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Kate will be presenting on and facilitating the session on basic education.

Tuesday 23 May

  • Community Mobiliser Sifiso Nkala will attend the Msukaligwa Aids Council meeting in preparation for the Gert Sibande district AIDS council meeting.
  • On 23 and 24 May, Legal researcher Ntombi Maphosa will be attending the Global Coalition of TB Activists (GCTA) Board Meeting. The two-day meeting will be in New Delhi, India. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss various issues around TB from the board members’ respective regions. As the Africa rep I have been in communication with some organisations who do work on TB in Africa in order to find out what are some of the key points and issues on the TB Agenda that they would like to be brought forward at the meeting. These will be used in order to develop a 2/3 year organisational strategy in line with the GCTA Constitution and Strategic Framework and in order for the Regional Focus Points to develop their work plans and advocacy plans.

Thursday 25 May

On 25 May, Africa Liberation day, Mark Heywood will attend the Oxfam South Africa “Reimagine Africa” Launch at 9.00am, at Constitution Hill, Braamfontein.

Community Mobiliser, Sifiso Nkala will attend the provincial chairpersons meeting to begin finalising the Provincial Implementation Plan of the National Strategic Plan for HIV & TB in South Africa.

SECTION27 In the news:

http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kwazulu-natal/more-problems-ail-durbans-king-edward-viii-hospital-9207507

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/banning-religious-practices-will-affect-24000-schools-solidarity

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2017-05-15-dreams-in-a-time-of-war/

The week that was:

Congratulations to SECTION27 Attorney Sasha Stevenson for being awarded a scholarship for the 2017 Health Rights Litigation Intensive to be held at Georgetown University in Washington DC at the end of June.

SECTION27 intern, Alex Breckenridge successfully assisted in securing a fee exemption at a public school for a child whose mother had lost her job and could no longer afford to keep him at a fee paying school.  Well done Alex!

 


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