Undlunkulu ushaya phansi ngezintombi ezingaphansi kuka-16 emhlangeni

UNDLUNKULU waKwaLinduzulu, uThandekile Jane Ndlovu Zulu, ukhuza abazali nonomehlo abadedela izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-16 ukuba ziye eMkhosini woMhlanga.

UNdlunkulu uthe ukudedelwa kwezingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-16 ukuba ziye kulo mkhosi ohanjelwa yizinkulungwane zabantu, kwephula amalungelo ezingane angaphansi komthetho iChildrens Act.

Uthe ukuvunyelwa kwabangaphansi kweminyaka eMkhosini woMhlanga kungabophisa abazali, onomehlo nabahlela umkhosi. Ukusho lokhu ngesikhathi ekhuluma esithangamini sokuqeqesha omama abahlola izintombi esifundeni iTheku.

Lesi sithangami siyingxenye yamalungiselelo oMkhosi woMhlanga wakulo nyaka ozokuba sesigodlweni eMashobeni, ngoSeptemba 12.

UNdlunkulu uthe iChildrens Act, ayivumi ukuba izingane ezingaphansi kuka-16 zibe ingxenye  yoMkhosi woMhlanga.

Unxuse onomehlo ukuba bangazivumeli izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka ukuba zize emkhosini wakulo nyaka.

"Ngiyacela bantakwethu. Angazi ukuthi ngizothini bakithi. Izingane ezineminyaka engaphansi kuka-16 azingezi. Ngiyacela, azingezi. Izintombi zomhlanga lezi. Sikhuluma ngezintombi zomhlanga. Ingakho sibeka iminyaka ukuthi siqala kuphi kuya phezulu."

Uthe akuphephile ukuba izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka zihambele uMkhosi woMhlanga.

"Nokuthi lezi zingane ezincane ubani ozobheka zona? Kubuye kugijinywe laphayana, kugxotshwane. Niyaye nibone nasezinkundleni zemidlalo kunyathelwana. Kungani niletha izingane ezincane lapho?"

Undlunkulu uthe baningi abangaboshwa uma kungenzeka kube khona ingane engaphansi kweminyaka evelelwa inkinga.

"Niyazi yini ukuthi zonke lezi zikhulu ziyoboshwa nokuboshwa uma sekutholakala ingane engaphansi kuka-16 isishonile? Niyazi yini ukuthi sonke siyoya ejele uma kungatholakala ingane engaphansi kuka-16 isigxobeke yashona? Kuyoqala koyifake ebhasini, siboshwe sonke. Ngakho ke ngiyacela bakwethu ukuba ningazilethi izingane ezingaphansi kuka-16 ngoba nizosidalela inkinga. Onomehlo abangazi ukuthi bazozishiyaphi izingane abasale nazo."

Uthe iziqiniswa kakhulu imigomo emkhosini wakulo nyaka.

"Sizokubopha usathi uza nayo ingane engaphansi kuka-16. UMkhwanazi (uKhomishana wamaPhoyisa KwaZulu-Natal) uphumile. Ufuna abanjengani abazoletha izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-16 ngoba umthetho usubekiwe."

Undlunkulu uphinde wakhala ngokuthi imithetho yakuleli yenza kube nzima kubazali ukuba bakhulise ngendlela izingane zabo.

"Uhulumeni kufanele ubuye ubheke ukuthi le mithetho ayishayayo ayisixovi yini. Sekuthiwa singazithethisi nokuzithethisa. Nithi singathethi kakhulu kanti kwesinye isikhathi uma uqinisa izwi enganeni iba nokwethuka, isabe. Angisho ukuthi asizishaye kodwa ukuthetha nje kancane kuyasiza. Izingane azisesabi lutho."