Limpopo traditional leaders were this week called to join the fight against gender based violence and the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
The dialogue on HIV/AIDS, gender based violence and femicide was held on Tuesday at the Dikgale Traditional council in the Capricorn District.
Traditional leaders and healers were urged to work with government in tackling social ills which have direct impact on HIV/AIDS, GBVF as well as substance abuse.
Solly Mahlatji, the MMC responsible for Strategic Planning from the Capricorn District Municipality, who addressed traditional leaders on behalf of Social Development MEC Nandi Ndalane said by engaging in open and honest conversations, stakeholders can collectively identify strategies to address HIV/AIDS, promote comprehensive sexual education and support survivors of gender based violence.
“This government recognises the role, the influence and the authority of traditional leaders.
As a result we have taken a firm position to put them central in our planning in the fight against these twin challenges,” he said.
The Capricorn district AIDS Council also condemned old men who impregnate girls as young as 10 years old, adding that they destroy their future and in extreme circumstances infect them with sexually transmitted infections.
The AIDS Council called on the community to expose all incidents of gender based violence and refrain from sweeping them under the carpet.
Alcohol was pointed out as one of the social drivers which has direct impact on the spread of HIV/AIDS and people were called to refrain from the abuse of alcohol.
Traditional Leadership was represented by Sekoti Dikgale, who called on government to make service delivery points available at Traditional Councils offices.
He said they need social workers, SASSA, Home Affairs and SAPS offices to be made available in their offices so that communities can easily access them.