By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
“Don’t be a Monster,“This is a straightforward message and warning to abusers of women and kids by Brian Mtembu, secretary of Alexandra Art Collective (AAC)
Mtembu spoke to Alex Reporter during an event organized by ACC on Saturday themed ‘Happy 110 Alex’ with a sub-theme ‘ Artists of Region E Alexandra combating GBVF’ ( Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.)
“We need to protect our women, children and sisters,” he said.
The much anticipated event, which started at 17th Selbourne and ended at Altrec Sports Grounds, was attended by speaker of the City of Joburg, Cllr Coleen Makhubele ( and her staff) , Cllr Adolf Marema and Cllr Tefo Raphadu, among others.
ACC, which is an umbrella of Art companies, was established in 2017 and registered in 2018.
” We decided to throw a party for Alex people and celebrate 110 years,” said Sipho Gwala, chairperson of AAC.
AAC caters for about 100 local kids daily. “We have school programs for arts and we also go to schools to teach them art,” Gwala said.
” We are an umbrella of art companies. If you are an artist and feel like collaborating with us, feel free,” said Gwala.
Mtembu said their intention was to revive art in the township. “As artists, let’s all revive arts because we have seen that art within Alex is dead.”
However, they said their most challenge was financial constraints as they were not funded.
“We are trying so much to put bread on the table. We don’t have funding. We wish that we can be funded,” said Mtembu.
AAC can be contacted on 0786207273.
In another news:
DEPUTY MINISTER BOGOPANE-ZULU TAKES FESTIVE SEASON CAMPAIN TO KHOTSONG WOMEN HOSTEL IN THOKOZA, GAUTENG
Women across the length and breadth of the country go through a lot of hardships, including, exclusion from business and economic opportunities. Women and children are also at the receiving end of the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
To address these challenges, the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mme Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will on Monday, 12 December, engage women living at Khotsong Women Hostel in Thokoza Township.
Coupled with the Anti-Substance Abuse campaign, the engagement is part of the Festive Season initiative where women residing in the hostel will be taught about the importance of responsible behaviour during the festive season as well as the risks associated with alcohol and drug abuse.
In addition, to getting a sense and experience of what women residing in hostels go through daily; the Deputy Minister will also use the opportunity to empower and educate the residents about the significance of access to information on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.
These rights are fundamental in the lives and wellbeing of all South Africans as they are about the individuals’ freedom to choose whether or when to have children without any form of discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
Residents at the hostel will also be introduced to the department’s programme- Family Matters, which seeks to promote positive parenting and improve parent-child communication about sexuality and sexual risk reduction, including risk for child sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
Venue: Thokoza Hostel in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province.