“It’s empowering to be yourself and it’s empowering to treat others with the respect and dignity that they deserve” – Munroe Bergdorf
Monday 20 November
Court proceedings in the matter of Rosina Komape vs The Department of Education and Others will continue this week in the Polokwane High Court. Taking the witness strand this week are Civil Engineer David Still, SECTION27 Budget Expert Daniel McLaren and our Executive Director Mark Heywood. Read our latest statement on this case here: https://section27.org.za/2017/11/michael-komapes-parents-complete-their-testimony/ and watch our Michael Komape tribute video here: https://section27.org.za/2017/11/do-you-know-michael/ The video provides a re-enactment of the moments leading up to little Michael’s death.
The Life Esidimeni arbitration goes into its sixth week this Monday. Dr Manamela, former Director of Mental Health in the Gauteng Department of Health, is appearing as witness this week. SECTION27 currently represents 65 families who lost their relatives as a result of the Marathon Project. Follow the SABC You Tube channel and eNCA for livestreams.
Tuesday 21 November
KwaZulu-Natal Field Researcher Patrick Mdletshe will be presenting on HIV and AIDS ethics at Helen Joseph hospital in Johannesburg. This counseling course is a refresher course for nursing staff and lay counselor’s at Helen Joseph Hospital.
Wednesday 22 November
Legal Researcher Tendai Mafuma and Executive Director Mark Heywood will be speaking on a panel discussion organised by the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) and co-hosted by SECTION27. The discussions, titled Beyond oaths and ethics, what change is needed to support healthcare worker advocacy, will focus on the failures of the health system that led to such crises at Life Esidimeni and others and how to improve the system so this never happens again. It will take place at 15:30 for 16:00 at Wits. See here for more details: http://www.rhap.org.za/public-debate-raising-alarm-heard/
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Gill Lewin, Grants Coordinator Elinor Kern and Spotlight administrator Cecilia Melani will attend a Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) meeting in East London. The meeting has been organised by SECTION27 Advocacy Officer Vuyokazi Gonyela. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and agree on a strategy for SRHR schools interventions in three districts in the Eastern Cape and to consolidate a position paper that will be submitted to the provincial Department of Education. It will hopefully assist the province to take a position on what services to make available in schools in line with the policy on HIV, TB and STIs. It will be attended by delegates from various government departments, NGOs and social movements.
Thursday 23 November
KZN Field Researcher Patrick Mdletshe and Researcher Thuthukile Mbatha will attend the Treatment Action Campaign and SECTION27 partners meeting in Bloemfontein. This meeting aims to report to the Free State Health Coalition on the latest interventions to address the crisis in the healthcare system in the province, and begin planning for increased advocacy efforts in 2018.
Friday 24 November
ON 24 November 2017, SECTION27 will host a dialogue on gender-based violence (GBV) discussing the failings of different systems. The dialogue will focus in particular on the criminal justice system’s response to GBV. The event will take place at SECTION27’s offices in Braamfontein at 14:30 for 15:00. Sharon Ekambaram, Manager of Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme at Lawyers for Human Rights will facilitate the discussion between representatives of The Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority; The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police; and GBV activists. See here for more details: https://section27.org.za/2017/11/53604/
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