Public Safety MMC, Councillors, The Public Safety Management, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I want to thank the leadership of this department for affording me the opportunity to come and address this gathering.  It is also special since it is taking place during the month of August, which is termed Women’s month in South Africa. I am particularly pleased that this department chose to award women who have shown some commitment in executing their tasks.

As part of South African women population I feel that we have achieved so far, in terms of women in politics, Church leadership, business, and academia and in other areas of life.  I also feel that some of us are still carrying the scars of the oppression imposed by apartheid regime, culture, religion and social crimes committed towards us because we are women.

As women, it is particularly more that our male counterparts, with work during the day, and taking care of the family after work at home. For us, life is about balance. How do you acquire and hold a marriage, be a caring and dutiful mother, and yet set out and achieve your desires when it comes to your professional life. Having a large dose of stamina not to mention die-hard commitment to your ideals certainly helps.

16 August 2010 - The Emfuleni Local Municipality notes with great concern and disbelief the continued reports of burial violations conducted by funeral undertakers in and around Emfuleni. We want to strongly condemn with the contempt it deserves the unprecedented high number of illegal funeral undertakers and illegal cemeteries within our jurisdiction. The reports appear to be an ongoing and malicious campaign by the funeral undertakers to undermine the rights of communities and dignity of the deceased.