Media Advisory

 

DEPUTY MINISTER BOGOPANE-ZULU TO OPEN COMMUNITY CARE CENTRE FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND SAFE SPACES FOR MEN (THE LOUNGE) IN NORTH WEST PROVINCE

 

26 November: The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will on Friday, 27 November 2020 launch two departmental initiatives – a Community Care Centre and a Safe Spaces for Men (also known as The Lounge) in the North West Province.

 

The Community Care Centre will provide psychosocial care and support services and skills development to orphans and vulnerable children, including child-headed households and youth. Groot Marico is the fourth of the six Community Care Centres being constructed in the North West Province. With the financial support of the KfW (German-state owned development bank) to the tune of over Nine Million Euros, the Department has built 17 Community Care Centres that are at various phases of construction in the three provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the North West.

 

The goal of building community care centres in rural communities is to enhance the quality of services that are available to orphans and vulnerable children within their communities of origin. This approach also complements existing child-protection interventions and services such as Home Community-Based Care, drop-in centres, Isibindi, childcare forums and early childhood development.

 

The Safe Space for men, which is also dubbed the “Men’s Lounge”, will be launched in partnership with Distell (Pty) Ltd and Change Richmond Foundation and will provide men and boys of all ages a safe space to engage in open, non -judgmental conversations, where they can be “vulnerable” in the presence of their peers.

 

The launch of the lounges coincides with 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign which takes place annually. The campaign was initially launched in 1998 and this year, it is commemorated under the theme: “Women’s Economic Justice for a non-violent and non-sexist South Africa”.

 

It is well documented that South Africa has one of the highest rates of GBVF in the world. The concept of the Safe Space for Men is premised on the need to involve men and boys as partners for change in the implementation of Goal 4 of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs, which seeks to address social and structural drivers.

 

In line with the outcomes of the recently held Men’s Parliament, the Deputy Minister will be conducting Men’s Dialogues in various communities in the North West Province. The dialogues will serve as a platform to educate men about their responsibilities and their role of protecting vulnerable women and children against various social ills including the scourge of gender-based violence.

 

 

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the launch and the engagements scheduled as follows:

 

Groot Marico Men’s dialogue:

 

Date: Thursday, 26 November 2020

Time: 11h00

Venue: Groot Marico CCC, North West Province

 

Groot Marico CCC and Men’s lounge launch:

 

Date: Friday, 27 November 2020

Time: 10h00

Venue: Groot Marico CCC, North West Province

 

 

Taung Men’s Lounge launch and dialogue:

 

Date: Saturday, 28 November 2020

Time: 11:00

Venue: Kgomotso, Taung North West Province

 

Ventersdorp Men’s Lounge launch and dialogue:

 

Date: Sunday, 29 November 2020

Time: 11:00

Venue: Boikhutso, Ventersdorp North West Province

 

 

Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Makhosazana Mavuso on 072 732 9381 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  / Mr Jaconia Kobue on 063 249 5120 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

 

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 

Media enquiries may be directed to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.