Page 43 - Rural Voice III - Responding to a Pandemic

WE COULD NOT BE THE FORCE OF
CHANGE WE WANTED TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Thuso advice office projecT manager, michael besenT, wriTes ThaT his organisaTion was noT adequaTely resourced To sufficienTly help The communiTy of pampiersTad deal wiTh covid-19
Before the COVID-19 lockdown, we were educating the community about access to justice, ensuring people knew about our constitution. We did counselling and conflict resolution amongst political parties. I am the Area Manager for the IEC [Electoral Commission of South Africa], and we provide voter education materials.
At our advice office, we counsel women affected by gender-based violence and men involved in the violence. We try to resolve the problem without introducing warrants, and it sometimes works. We know this, because we ensure report backs and continue with mentoring. We also assist people who are laid off from work and help them apply for UIF.
how The pandemic impacTed The work of The Thuso advice office in The communiTy
The COVID-19 pandemic aggressively affected our community. Firstly, the rate of gender-based violence went up. Secondly, people were cut off from their work. Thirdly,
THUSO ADVICE OFFICE
Established in 1994 in Pampierstad (now Thuso), located 112 km from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, this small advice office provides paralegal support, advising in labour disputes and farm evictions. It has also started a YouthBank to fund projects that provide employment for young people.
DISTRICT AND MUNICIPALITY: Frances Baard District Municipality and the Phokwane Local Municipality, which incorporates the previous municipal areas of Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp, Ganspan and Pampierstad.
COVID-19 CASES: From March to the 20th November 2020, there were 8,858 cases of COVID-19 reported and 7,101 recoveries in the Frances Baard District Municipality of the Eastern Cape. There were 160 fatalities. 1,279 of these cases occurred in the Phokwane municipality, with 1,202 recoveries and 32 fatalities.
PROJECT MANAGER: Michael Lasky Besent
NUMBER OF STAFF: 3, NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS: 6
BOARD CHAIR: Peter Mothibi
BOARD MEMBERS: Dennis Sebesho (Deputy Chairperson); Meikie Lichaba (Secretary); Nokulukasi Msindo (Deputy Secretary); Shirley Gaborone; Michael Tsintsiri ADDRESS: House no 12, Jackson Makodi Street, Pampierstad, 8566.
PHONE: 079 049 3963, EMAIL: mtmaretela@gmail.com
miChaEl lasky bEsEnt
“Many children don’t have parents anymore because of COVID-19.”
RURAL VOICE III: RESPONDING TO A PANDEMIC
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