Madikizela-Mandela calls for action against violence
Struggle veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has called for an inter-denominated prayer session amid the recent incidents of violence against women and children.
"This things started at the beginning of the year when we watched women being raped, mugged and others killed," says Madikizela-Mandela personal assistant Zodwa Zwane.
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Zwane says Madikizela-Mandela was traumatised by a recent shooting in her neighbourhood.
"We were leaving for Sandton and just before we got to Orlando Stadium, we saw two bodies lying there - people dead. That day is one of those days we saw Mrs Mandela really sad. It traumatised her and she talked about it all the time. She asked what we can do and asked what we did wrong," says Zwane.
They have partnered with the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) and the inter-denominational Churches to arrange the event at the Dobsonville stadium tomorrow.
NTA spokesperson Theo Malele says they are committed to addressing crime and violence in the industry.
"We are in the process of beginning to vet every taxi driver employed by us as an industry. We have also made a request to authorities that they give us the system they use to vet drivers before getting them on board," says Malele.
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Malele says they also need to bring in an element of training new drivers.
"We want to capacitate these people so that they know precisely what they are supposed to do," says Malele
Zwane was unable to confirm whether Madikizela-Mandela would attend tomorrow's prayer given her bad health, but she stressed the importance of the gathering for the ANC stalwart.
"Mama Mandela will be there tomorrow. She really wants to be there, unless her health does not allow her. She won't speak, but her presence will mean a lot, will say what she thinks," says Zwane.