Culture MEC Thandi Shongwe – who is widowed too – also attended the gathering and asked widows and widowers to have good character and to know God.
Legislature speaker Makhosazane Masilela has used the Widows Forum to reach out to widows in the KwaMhlanga area.
The speaker uses the forum to reach out and speak to widows on matters that affect them as people who have lost their loved ones.
It is part of the process of hearing the cries of the public on particular issues, offer awarenesses while the process also helps when lawmakers must introduce and amend laws in favour of communities.
“This occasion is convened as an important platform for dialogue and conversation, to raise public awareness, share experiences, share knowledge, educate and inspire women who have had to undergo the sudden loss of loved ones,” said Masilela.
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The event was held on Thursday 10 March 2022 at the KwaMhlanga government complex chamber.
It was held under the them: “Making follow up on promises made by government”.
Sports and Culture MEC Thandi Shongwe, who also lost her husband eight years ago, pleaded with widows and widowers to have good character and to know God – and not end up being the playing fields of Ben 10s.
Gender Commission manager Motla Mavuso was applauded for telling the gathering that an Act was passed in Parliament and it would alleviate tax implications for widows.
Other issues raised during the event were issues of widows being “robbed” by their in-laws of their husbands estate.
Mumsy Mtsweni from the social development department said it is really a painful experience when as a widow you find yourself fighting with your in-laws over the things that belonged to your loved one and which together as partners you worked to get. Widows often find themselves accused of a number of things.
The department of home affairs urged people to register their customary marriages because it is difficult to register it after the passing-on of a partner.
“The process of registering it after the passing-on of a spouse can take more than 5 months,” the department’s Mr Mabhuma said.
“Please make sure that you draw a will with a legal institution, a will make it easier to execute an estate,” pleaded Ester Baloyi, a lawyer from the department of justice.
Baloyi said widows should be careful not to remarry in community of property because if they do that they are transferring their wealth to the new marriage.
Others issues mentioned were poverty and unemployment faced by many widows in the townships and government was therefore requested to come on board and build decent homes for them.
(edited by MLM)
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