NPA SOCA Community Dialogue - 26 August 2023

ABOUT

Join us for a free workshop focusing on Maintenance and Family Law. Our community of professionals is dedicated to facilitating discussions on the relevant challenges encountered in court by parents, court officials, attorneys, mediators, and social workers as well as members of the public. We aim to establish safe environments where we can collaboratively seek solutions to various pressing issues pertaining to Maintenance. 

This month, our focus will be on amplifying the Voice of mothers within the justice system. We fully recognize the daily challenges, pain, and suffering endured by the mothers in the maintenance courts. Our goal is to find effective ways to empower and motivate them to demonstrate courage and strength as they continue to fight for their children.

We are honoured to have an all-women lineup of speakers, offering valuable insights into the diverse challenges that impact mothers within our justice system:

Ms. Bongelwa Qandashe (MC/Host): Advocating for the voice of vulnerable women and children in family courts and maintenance courts.

Advocate Bonnie-Currie-Gamwo (Special Director of Public Prosecutions, NPA): Protecting the rights of vulnerable women and children in the criminal courts.

Ms. Abongile Khwaza (Founder, Help A Girl Campaign): Advocating for Menstrual Health to be recognized as a Human Right.

Dr. Carmel van Niekerk (Senior Lecturer, University of the Western Cape Private Law School): Addressing the challenges faced by single mothers in the maintenance courts.

Ms. Natalie Ruiters (Mediator, La Poppie Mediations): Emphasizing the role of Mediation in protecting vulnerable women and children in family courts.

Ms. Kim Stephens (Author, Hold the Line): A single mother’s personal journey through divorce and motherhood.

Dr. Ray Mohamed (Medical Doctor, Hermanus Hospital): Advocating for medical care of vulnerable children and women. 

Ms. Noluvuyo Bekwa (Director - Court Operations, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development):Shedding light on the Service Delivery Code of the Department of Justice.

Dr. Roschana Kemp (Social Worker Manager, Western Cape Education Department): Discussing the Department of Education's protective measures for vulnerable children in schools.

T&Cs apply:

*Please make sure you select the correct ticket type – either online or in person. This is important for us as it helps us cater accordingly.

**Please ONLY reserve a ticket if you intend coming. If something comes up, kindly let us know to free up the ticket for someone else. Email: [email protected]

Head count helps us with planning logistics like printing materials, refreshments, number of volunteers on the day. Please do honour your ticket, as so much work goes into planning these dialogues. As these are free events, they are volunteer run, please honour and respect our volunteers and guest speakers time.

***We have limited space for children, booking tickets for your children and not pitching takes opportunity away from a parent that needs it. Also we rely on volunteers in the kiddies corner, if kids do not pitch volunteers end up coming in for nothing (they give up their Saturday for us). Please ONLY book a kiddies ticket if you intend coming. Repeated no shows will be not be allowed to book a ticket in future.

Please remember to save your ticket QR and barcode to sign you in. Please bring your ID to confirm identity. NO ID, no entry. Thank you.

This a free ticket to attend in person. Please only select if you commit to attending. This helps with planning logistics as noted in T&Cs.

DIRECTIONS