Watch | Public Lecture By Minister of Justice and Correctional Services – Honourable Ronald Lamola
As the country celebrates women’s month, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Honourable Ronald Lamola recently visited the University of Venda (UNIVEN) to address staff and students about issues of gender-based violence, drug abuse and crime. This event took place at the University’s Auditorium on 01 August 2022. In his address, Minister Lamola mentioned that one of the biggest problems we are facing as a country is the gender-based violence pandemic.
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Honourable Ronald Lamola
He said today the President through his weekly newsletter has announced that we now have a new law which establishes a legal duty to report to authorities when we have knowledge, reasonable belief, or suspicion that a sexual offence has been committed against a vulnerable person. “The definition of vulnerable persons has also been expanded to include women underneath the age of 25, this includes students. I do not think that these amendments would find violent opposition in these corridors.” Minister Lamola continued to say that feminist scholars have shown us of the years that women abuse, rape and domestic violence is rooted in patriarchy and toxic masculinity.
“It is my hope that a partnership like this can produce a proactive engagement with stakeholders such as civil society organisations, academia; standardise and internally control, in a transparent manner, investigation competencies and skills so they are victim/survivor-centred, and rights-based; training and educating society at large on Violence Against Women and Girls; prevention and investigation so responses are rights- based, gender-responsive, and trauma- informed.”
Minister Lamola concluded his talk by mentioning that these solutions must be central to our response to this pandemic. He said from here in Thohoyandou to Cape Town, gender-based violence is real and is causing untold harm. “In this month of celebrating the brave women of 1956 who marched 66 years ago for gender equality, we must realise that gender-based violence is not only a matter for the justice system; it is a societal problem, one which we can resolve,” he concluded.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Bernard Nthambeleni
In his opening and welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Bernard Nthambeleni told the audience that last year UNIVEN was accredited to have its own School for Legal Practice. Dr Nthambeleni said local law graduates will no longer have to go to Pretoria or Polokwane for them to attend the practical law school. He said same applies to accounting. Students don’t have to go to the University of Johannesburg for honours in accounting because the University has been accredited to offer the BCom (Accounting Sciences) undergraduate degree by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). This year again, UNIVEN was accredited to offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. These are some of the great achievements that the university has accomplished. “We are busy engaging with municipalities to fuse words to making Thohoyandou a better town.” Dr Nthambeleni was also proud to mention that there is no sector in the country where you won’t find UNIVEN graduates. This shows that the University is in the market. Furthermore, he indicated that the University doesn’t offer degrees only, but we also need to impact the lives of our communities.
Regional Representative from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UODC) Regional Office for Southern Africa, Dr Jane Marie Ongolo
Regional Representative from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UODC) Regional Office for Southern Africa, Dr Jane Marie Ongolo said their office exists to engage people on issues of drug abuse, issues of crime, human rights, human trafficking, and issues of gender inequality. She said one of the reasons they saw it fit to come to address students and staff members during this event is because they have realised that Thohoyandou is next to the border and usually human trafficking is higher at the areas that are next to the borders.
It was highlighted that Minister Lamola and the UNODC’s part of their visit was also commemorating the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the theme: “Use and abuse of technology.” The theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking.
She said Everyone can become a victim of this crime. “Traffickers are now using the internet to lure those they want to traffic. This place is not that far from the border, so we need to be careful about human trafficking.” She said they have standard rules known as Mandela rules. When talking about issues of drug abuse, Dr Ongolo mentioned that people’s health related to drug use are also their concern. “Most people who use drugs are now in prisons because they were doing illegal things that they would not even do when they were sober. There should be a link between universities and these secondary schools. This university should act as the Centre for e-learning tool for teaching the communities about the dangers of drugs abuse.” In this occasion, Dr Ongolo wished the UNIVEN well for celebrating 40 years of existence. She said discussions are underway to explore possible areas of cooperation between UNIVEN, Departments under the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Prof Barwa Kanyane
The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Prof Barwa Kanyane said this event is blessed because it has managed to bring the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to the university through the office of the Minister of Correctional Services. Prof Kanyane further mentioned that colleagues in the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law are closely engaging on these matters of drug abuse. “We are beginning to interrogate what is happening in South Africa because there is so much crime happening. As a university we have the capacity to canvas the research to make sure that there is transformation within our society.” He described this Public Lecture as an affirmation of the long-lasting relationship between UNIVEN and Minister Ronald Lamola. “To demonstrate our commitment, the School of Law has just made a call for papers in law to hold a conference under the theme: The Rule of Law and Criminal Justice in Contemporary South Africa. The Law and Criminal Justice hybrid Conference will take place from 27-28 October 2022. This lecture should assist us to raise research questions that will be addressed by the upcoming conference. We need to interrogate these human rights issues,” he concluded.
Mr Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale
When responding to issues of overcrowded prisons, Mr Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, who is the Acting National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services said they have overcrowded prisons, but they make sure that all prisoners have beds in line with Nelson Mandela rules. He said once a person has been sentenced, there is no way that they can reject a sentenced person due to shortage of space in prisons.
University Registrar, Advocate Edward Lambani
In his vote of thanks, University Registrar, Advocate Edward Lambani said the University has changed its gears to ensure that it becomes a better university for all.
Director: Marketing, Branding and Communication, Dr Takalani Dzaga
The programme was directed by the Director: Marketing, Branding and Communication, Dr Takalani Dzaga.
A group photo of Minister Ronald Lamola, Dr Bernard Nthambeleni, Dr Ongolo, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, Dr/Adv Tsietsi Ramatsekisa, the Mayor of Thulamela Cllr Athongozwidivha Sarah Rambuda and Prof Barwa Kanyane
Gifts from Correctional services- these gifts were produced by inmates.
Watch | Public Lecture By Minister of Justice and Correctional Services – Honourable Ronald Lamola
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding & Communication
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525 /8710
Date: 02 August 2022
