Human rights programme brings services to Zululanders

The far-reaching negative impact of HIV/Aids has left many serious scars on the lives of survivors, while the scourge of GBV continues to impact families, leaving children stranded and homeless.

It was the plight of these many affected citizens that prompted the Linzwa Foundation to host its Human Rights Programme at Mkhwanazi Tribal Court last Wednesday, themed ‘A right delayed is a right denied’.

Several stakeholders were in attendance, including department representatives from Social Development, Sassa, National Youth Development Agency, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency. Representatives from the Unizulu Law Clinic, Isibani Development Partners, and Khandisa Clinic also attended.

Linzwa Foundation finance manager Sphesihle Sibiya said all government departments from the Ward 10 Ward Room attended the event.

“The main aim was to assist residents who need help from these departments. So we intended to bring the departments closer to them,” said Sibiya.

“HIV/Aids has left many orphans in our area. Some patients have stopped collecting their medication from the clinic owing to the stigma. We have a lot of child-headed families. Some children do not have an identity document so they can’t apply for child support grants from Sassa,” he explained.

He expressed thanks to Inkosi Mkhwanazi who attended the event, and 100 people were given bread and a goodie bag.

For the next event, residents indicated the need for the Department of Home Affairs to attend, as travel and queue waiting times were too restrictive.

Isibani Development Partners conducted voluntary TB and HIV testing on-site.

“Our organisation believes prevention is better than cure,” said Sibiya.
Speaking at the event, one resident expressed gratitude for the programme:

“Owing to financial constraints, I have been battling to go to the Sassa office. The last time I went, it was packed and all the processes had to be stopped due to load-shedding so I returned home empty-handed.”

Another resident, Mbuso Mkhwanazi said: “I am also delighted that I managed to obtain legal services for free. The advocate helped me and my family in a case that almost destroyed my family.”

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