Holomisa berates practice of beating wives
The practice of African men beating their wives was wrong, outdated, misguided and had to stop, said justice and correctional services deputy minister Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa.
Holomisa also said attacking fellow Africans was unAfrican.
Speaking at the handing over of toiletries, nappies, blankets and R51,000 to Ikwezi Lokusa Special School in Mthatha on Monday, he said the claim that this violence was somehow a “show of love” was also completely wrong.
The donations were raised by correctional services staff working in partnership with Umhlobo Wenene.
Most of the donations were sourced from citizens during a revival (imvuselelo) held in Mthatha last month.
Holomisa said men who beat their wives were hiding behind culture and customs.
“It is totally unacceptable.” Holomisa said borders separating African states had been put up by people (colonisers) who wanted “to oppress us”.
He said the violence and killing of South African women and attacks on foreigners were also an indication of how the values of Ubuntu, for which South Africans were renowned, had been eroded.
As such, the donation to the school showed that there were still people who espoused the values of Ubuntu.
Principal Mzontsundu Gulwa later told the Dispatch that the childrens’ beds were built in 1964 when the school was established. At the time, they were meant to help protect children with disabilities from injuring and breaking their backs. The school currently has 231 pupils, some of who needed new wheelchairs.
Gulwa said most equipment was old.
They needed energy-saving machinery to cut their high electricity bill.
School governing body chair Nokuzolo Phandle said the school still did not have a physiotherapist, speech therapist, physical therapist, social workers and psychologists.
“There are children at the school who also dream of becoming something in life. Some want to be doctors and lawyers. We would appreciate it if government could assist with these things,” she said. of their