LEGISLATURE HOLDS FIRST EVER WIDOWS FORUM AT EMALAHLENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

LEGISLATURE HOLDS FIRST EVER WIDOWS FORUM AT EMALAHLENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Speaker Thandi Shongwe addressed the first ever widows forum at Lynville Community hall at Emalahleni Local Municipality.

Speaker Shongwe informed the gathering that the purpose of the widows forum, is to establish a provincial body called Izwi Labafelokazi (Voice of the Widows) that will address issues affecting widows.

She further alluded to the fact that she learnt about this concept – Voice of the Widows from a similar forum in the Province of KwaZulu Natal.

The Speaker said, she never really took note of this body until she herself had gone through the same experience.

 “My eyes were opened when I lost my husband and I realised that there were numerous issues affecting widows when we go through such times.”

She says this body will be the Voice of the Widows. Speaker Shongwe says she has since realised that this sector often not given a space to speak on issues affecting them.

Shongwe also says the forum will inform widows about their rights and of relevant structures like the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), which they can utilise in the instance they face the trying times.  

Women who attended the forum have shared their difficult experiences when they are going through the mourning process.

The major issue that women complained about among others is the abuse in particular by immediate family members, hiding behind the cultural systems that affect the distribution of the estate.

They also raised the issue of the young men who pretend to be providing support when they go through difficult times. Widows maintain that these young men (BEN 10s) disappear when the money left by the deceased husband is exhausted