TTHE APPOINTMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS ( CSOs) TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME IN ALL PROVINCES ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NDA) OVER A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS

Lo mfelandawonye, ozinze ePinetown entshonalanga yeTheku, ungumfelandawonye wabamnyama okhiqiza izinto zokuzivikela, kanye nemikhiqizo yendwangu yobuchwepheshe. ISilokotho sasungulwa eMlazi ngo-2011 ngamalungu ama-co-operatives amahlanu (abesifazane abathathu nabesilisa ababili), abamukela inselelo yokuntuleka kwemisebenzi elokishini kanjalo nodaba lwezingane eziyizintandane ngenxa yokusabalala kwegciwane lengculazi.

He was verbally abusive and said he would kill me,” Dieketseng Manyokho recalls. The 32-year-old mother from Thaba 'Nchu is one of many South African women who have endured gender-based violence (GBV) at the hands of the men they love.Even though she knew she deserved better, Manyokho could not leave her boyfriend because she was jobless and financially dependent on him.

Based in Mthatha, the organisation creates a safe space for women and provides holistic healing interventions that target physical, spiritual, psychological and financial wellness.Born into a nuclear family of nine children in Willowvale Village of Mbhashe, she aspired to become a teacher. She went on to study BCom accounting and personnel management before starting her career at Standard Bank of South Africa until her resignation in 2015 at managerial level.

The programme provides a safe space for women to heal and promotes physical and spiritual well-being. In addition, women are recruited as GBVF whistle-blowers in their communities. UWSC Programme Director Kholiwe Nongauza says the MWEP, though various courses focuses on prevention through the justice system, care, healing and economic opportunities.

The cooperatives and organisations that are funded by the NDA help toaddress development in communities. Many of them feed communitiesor fight gender-based violence in our societies,” says Bouwer The cooperatives that the NDA assists must have the potential to helpdevelop the local economy or promote food security. “We also support initiatives started by the unemployed, the young,women and people with disabilities.”

Based in Mthatha, UWSC creates a safe space for women and provides holistichealing interventions targeting physical, spiritual, psychological and fi nancialwellness. Established in 1999 as a centre for abused women, UWSC’s mission has beencommunity development where women placed in shelters are empowered withskills that can generate them an income.

The NDA’s Senior Manager of Grant Bouwer Funding and Research Mobilisation, Anthony Bouwer, says itfunds organisations that promote community development, including cooperatives, faith-based and non-profitorganisations “The cooperatives and organisations that are funded by the NDA help to address development incommunities. Many of them feed communities or fight Gender-Based Violence in our societies,” says Bouwer.

Minister Lindiwe Zulu to Deliver Keynote Address at The National Development Agency’s Public Dialogue - Covid-19 Responses and The Food and Nutrition Security of Vulnerable Population Groups in South Africa.