Tribal Courts: A fight for rural South African women’s rights

Starting in 2008, the South African government tried to pass a law that would formalize traditional courts. Opponents said it would change the nature of the courts, while locking in violations of women’s constitutional rights, and perpetuating apartheid-caused jurisdiction problems. The opponents won.

Featured Speakers/Guests:

Sizani Ngubane was active in the anti-apartheid movement and women’s struggle for rights in South Africa’s constitution; she founded the Rural Women’s Movement in Kwazulu Natal province. Nolundi Luwaya is a Researcher at the Law, Race and Gender Unit at the University of Cape Town. Unidentified male traditional leader mediates conflicts in deliberation with members of the village council. Aninka Claassens is Senior Researcher at Rural Women’s Action Research Project at the University of Cape Town. Sindiso Mnisi Weeks was Senior Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town during the time when the new Tribal Courts Bill was introduced and debated. Patrick Mashego is a community leader from Limpopo province.

This is an investigative documentary produced over a 4-year period specifically for WINGS.

Credits:

Produced by Erna Curry; Sizani Ngubane interviewed by Marsha Branch; Series Producer, Frieda Werden.

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