Border Rural Committee

Today it was a big day as rural eastern cape communities gather in Bisho. About 700 people march to Bisho Premiers Office to handover a memorandum of demands. The key issues were bad roads, lack of access to water, houses for the rural poor, corruption and fraud with the state, poor performance of municipalities, increase of crime and GBVF, unemployment and poverty, a need to develop our economy. The memo was handed over with ultimatum to respond of 14 days. We have made recommendations and calls to implement auditor general recommendation and Skilling of officials urgently. The march was led by Border Rural Committee , Vulamasango Singene. Supported by some CSOs. We grateful for the turnout and support by the rural poor and neglected. Amandla. By BRC Director Phumeza Grootboom.

Traditional authorities play a critical and multifaceted role in mobilising communities for the improvement of a number of social challenges that include GBV&F in terms of the South African National Strategic Plan. There is however a notable gap between what their role, skills and capacities in gender mainstreaming and how to implement transformative initiatives. Border Rural Committee and The Eastern Cape Men’s Movement visited AmaBhele aseMnyameni Traditional Council to ascertain their awareness as a key stakeholder in the GBV&F fight and capacity. Hosted by BRC, ECMM secretariat and facilitator Mr Jongile Hoza, and the Commission for Gender Equality will lead a capacity Building workshop for the council which is a build up to an Imbizo that will be led by AmaBhele.