Eastern Cape Social Development MEC, Nancy Sihlwayi, on Monday said her department had nothing to do with the failed “16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children” event held in Nelson Mandela Bay at the weekend, where President Jacob Zuma was a no-show.
Sihlwayi was responding to criticism from the governing African National Congress (ANC) in the province.
President Zuma did not show up at the poorly attended launch of the event at Nelson Mandela University's Missionvale campus on Saturday.
He was billed to address the event which was scheduled to start at 10 am, but a statement issued by the presidency some time afterwards said he would be represented at the event by Minister in the Presidency responsible for women, Susan Shabangu.
No reason was given for the change. At the time, Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle told those present that Zuma did not attend the event because “it was behind schedule”.
At the time, some people in the crowd expressed their disappointment, saying they were looking forward to bidding Zuma “farewell”.
Others were quick to say they suspected the poor attendance was the actual reason for his no-show.
Some people also used the event to hand out pro-Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma t-shirts, supporting the former African Union Commission chairwoman’s candidacy for ANC President ahead of the party’s elective conference in December.
ANC provincial secretary, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, on Monday blamed Sihlwayi and said the event was deliberately “sabotaged” by her.
Ngcukayitobi said Sihlwayi’s stubbornness and recklessness led to her moving the pre-planned event from Alfred Ndzo to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro only to “satisfy her thirst to serve the factional political attitude”.
However, Eastern Cape Social Development spokesman Mzukisi Solani dismissed the complaints by the ANC as sensationalism.
“This was not an event of the MEC. It was a national event. It was not organised by the department of social development. It was organised by a minister in the presidency,” Solani said.
“It was the responsibility of the department to facilitate the event, budgeting of the event had nothing to do with the department. We must not be swayed by sensationalism.”
Sihlwayi reportedly co-ordinated the busing in of people from old age homes and mobilised the youth from various communities to attend the event.
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign in South Africa. The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the negative impact of violence against woman and children.
– African News Agency (ANA),
