By Emily Setona
INTABAZWE – Women were told to stop suffering in silence and to use the law, social services, and community support as Executive Mayor Tumelo Thebe’s office closed Women’s Month celebrations in Intabazwe on Friday, 28 August.
The event at Intabazwe Multipurpose Hall brought together the Department of Justice, Social Development, CPF patrollers, and community leaders to give women direct access to help.
Nombulelo Nokoane, Court Intermediary from the Department of Justice, urged women to claim maintenance and protection orders correctly.
“When you involve the courts in your financial disputes with the child’s father, we become involved in your matters,” Nokoane said.
She warned women who reconcile with fathers after opening a case to return to court formally to have the order changed.
“Verbal agreements can be recognised, but you must follow proper procedure when circumstances change,” she said.
Probation Officer Confidence Masuta addressed the crisis of children in conflict with the law.“We have a problem of parents who do not want to be involved in the lives of their children,” Masuta said.
She explained that probation officers work with police and families to rehabilitate minors. If both parent and child comply, the case can be dropped and the child’s record cleared.
Masuta called on mothers to work with schools and social workers. “It takes a village to raise a child,” she said.
The event also included spiritual encouragement from Moruti Matebesi Lakaje, who told women: “People may disappoint you, but God will not.”
For 60-year old retired teacher Dibakiso Khalipi, that was the day’s highlight. “As women we must not cry to people but cry to God,” she said.
Nqobile Mlaba (32) said the event was practical: “We learned a lot. Patrollers were given lights and we will be safe. The fact they ended Women’s Month here shows we are important.”
Mayor Thebe said the programme was about restoring confidence.
“Everything today was to close Women’s Month and return strength to women as the ones who build families. “A mother is the one who raises children,” Thebe said.
The message to women was clear: know your rights, know where to go, and you do not have to face it alone — not just in August, but every month.
