ALEXANDRA - Madala hostel, Alex residents and service providers engage on interrelations and services.
A play on family power dynamics staged at the Madala hostel social dialogue.
Madala hostel, which is feared by some people in the township as a place of crime and violence, was a hive of activity recently when service providers engaged in dialogue and provided the residents with a range of services.
The hostel is home to more than 4 000 residents and was previously a labour camp and home to only Zulu-speaking men until government repealed discriminatory laws, allowing hostels countrywide to be converted to family dwellings.
The hostel induna Sipho Mwelase welcomed the event. He said it was long overdue and necessary to promote local social cohesion and unity. “Our children and parents should play and intermingle freely in order to remove the division, and foster respect for each other. The criminals on both sides should be exposed and prosecuted, so that we can live in peace,” Mwelase said.
The dialogue focused on, among others, child and women abuse, which Alex police chaplain Captain Chaka Motanyane said was a challenge to the hostel residents.
“They want to be part of the broader community and access all services provided by government and the non-profit organisations (NPO’s), including health and security. This will help stop diseases like HIV/AIDS through awareness programmes, condom distribution and [the use of] refuse bags, which were provided at the event,” he said.
Local female leaders at the Madala hostel dialogue. From left, councillor Sannie Mabona and Brigadier Zoleka Kuboni flank a male police official.
Peter Mahani of the NPO Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training said more similar events were necessary to reduce perceived discrimination in access to services, and to eradicate gender-based violence resulting in many cases of rape and sexual violence.
Thabang Mametse of the NPO Grassroots Soccer commended the event as a collective effort to address psychosocial challenges which disempowered women in particular.
“All age groups should engage freely on issues of respecting each other, confidentiality and none disclosure of others’ HIV/Aids status. Leadership on both sides [hostel and residents] should meet regularly to decide on solutions to urgent challenges,” said Mametse.
Informative plays were also staged, coupled with interactive feedback from participants on family wellness, trust and also the negative effects of violence and emotional abuse.
Sphiwe Ngadi of Grassroots Soccer also urged for more similar events, which will enable service providers to give timely advice and encourage the residents to contribute solutions to their problems.
