Moral Regeneration Movement

BRIEFING TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE:ARTS & CULTURE IN PARLIAMENT

ByMRM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUGUST 24 2005

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BACKGROUNDWhat is the MRM?

The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) is a movement that is at the Centre of Collective Activism for Moral Regeneration Initiatives.

The MRM is an inclusive movement basing its roots within communities with support from government.

It offers a unique opportunity for us, South Africans, to redefine and reaffirm ourselves as moral beings, and collectively formulate tangible, practical and workable strategies and programmes that will see us endorsing values compatible with the new democratic South Africa.

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Purpose of Presentation

To engage the Parliamentary Machinery in the MRM activities

Make a historical overview of the Movemento The Genesiso The mandate

Give a synopsis of progress to date Raise challenges for the future

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The Genesis of the Movement1998 – Moral Summit

o Former President N R Mandela2000 – Consultations

o DoE, SABC, Presidency, FBO’s2001- Broader Consultations

o Working committee setup2002 – National Launch2003 – MRM Secretariat was employed2004 – National Conference

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Recalling the Mandate

Vision:o Caring societyo Promotion of the values of the constitutiono National cohesion

 Mission:o To make the MRM the centre of collective

activism on moral regeneration initiativeso To facilitate and co-ordinate initiativeso Mainstream moral regeneration

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Infrastructure Setupo Office & Systems Setup

• Section 21 Company with Board of Directors• Facilitating office with a staff complement of 4

o Provincial Networks• Most Provinces have launched MRM and the

following have operating provincial structures:• Northern Cape

There is a Provincial Working Group consisting of thirty people that meets twice annually. This consists of District Working Committees. There is the secretariat based at the Premiers office, and the districts also have a secretariat.Activities:

• Annual inter-faith dialogue which focuses on religious tolerance, provincial prayer days, women and child abuse and dealing with media stereotypes.

• There is a pilot project to combat racism and the stereotypes that advocate that the MRM is a Black issue.

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Infrastructure SetupLimpopo:o The Premier oversees the MRM activities and has mandated the

MEC for Sports and Culture to resource the office. A budget of R150 000 thousand was allocated for the project as start up capital. There is an office with a secretary, office furniture, phone and the computer. The MRM committee oversees the running of the office. SACC has seconded Mr S Nkube who is the committee secretary to work on MRM activities.

Activities:o The committee is currently holding awareness workshops to

promote common understanding of the MRM and ensuring commitment of the local structures to the MRM.

o The University of Venda has embarked on research on Moral Regeneration and two Professors have been asked to mainstream Moral Regeneration into the University Curriculum.

Mpumalanga:o The Provincial Working Committee, consisting of 30

representatives, meets quarterly. The Executive Committee meets weekly.

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Infrastructure Setup

Activities:o The MRM has been mainstreamed in six out of ten

provincial departments.o The committee runs an hour’s phone in programme on

moral regeneration every Tuesday morning at 10:00.o On the 31 December every year, the provincial network

organizes an annual festival ‘Heal Our Land’ to promote political and religious tolerance.

Gautengo The committee is led by civil society and are supported

by regional Mayors and the three Metropolitan Councils.

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Infrastructure SetupActivities: o The committee members have visited established networks where

there was none; and have conducted workshops to build capacity at local and district municipalities.

o The Gauteng committee taking responsibility for developing Men’s programme. This programme seeks to promote sexual rights and health: family and community responsibility against violence, increase participation of men in strengthening the family (the MRM provincial committee has partnered with the Gauteng Department of Social Development).

Eastern Cape:o A provincial structure existed that was inclusive of the six regional

councils, one metro and the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer from the civil society. This structure was supported by the previous Premier and the MEC Local government. The Chairperson has moved to Cape Town and the Premier also changed. The political changes in the province have made the running of the MRM unstable. The MRM national office will work side by side with provincial stakeholders to establish the situation.

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Infrastructure Setup

Activities:o The Nelson Mandela metro is spearheading the

following activities:Awareness campaign on moral renewal agenda for prison inmates: Holding meetings with Commissioners and marketing the programme to all prisons in the Eastern Cape. (This is spearheaded by the Metropolitan Council with the Provincial network in partnership with the FBOs, Dept of Correctional Services and the Dept of Education)

o Key Factors• Successes = government + FBO’s involvement• Challenges = government + civil society

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Recalling the Issues

Building the family

Developing moral Leadership

Combating Crime & Corruption

Values in Education

Religion Riches & Poverty Positive Images in

the Media Focusing on Youth

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A Generic Structure Provincial Working

Committee

Develop and implement provincial plans and liaise with national programmes

Initiate and give strategic support and direction to the Province. Launch provincial led campaigns. Ensure provincial support to districts and municipalities by initiating creative

projects such as the provincial pledge (serve as rallying vehicle). Manage and coordinate provincial initiatives using provincial mass media (radio

/ print / other provincial PR activities) To ensure provincial implementation – work closely with districts. Key focus

area government departments Initiate government led campaigns – key focus departmentally driven

Municipalities / Metro’s

Develop and implement municipal plans and liaise with provincial and national programmes

Ensure implementation of provincial campaigns and National Charter campaign.

Develop Local implementation action plans Coordinate municipal led campaigns / events. Coordinate key stakeholder meetings Coordinate wards committee involvement and local implementation Prepare regular monthly reports to the district coordinators Work closely with other sectors in the community, such local churches /

principles etc..

Serve as the ultimate vehicle of implementation at a local level Work closely with other stakeholders in the community, such local

churches Encourage door to door distribution of information Coordinate volunteers Distribute information amongst local leaders community structures etc.. Police forums – youth groups – sports and women groups including all

other

Ward Level

Develop and implement municipal plans and liaise with municipal, provincial and national programmes

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Strategy Development To Date: Issue based networking

o Instead of partnership for their sakeo Information and Knowledge Sharing

Ownershipo Coordination where resources are

availableo Sector inclusive participation

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Strategy Development To Date: Intra-sector initiatives

o Sector to mainstream and start own initiatives

o Sharing & accountability at network level

Consistent Messaging / Communicationo High moral values and standardso Our common responsibility o Key to the sustenance and consolidation of

democracy

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Key Programmes To Date:

Mobilizationo Launches of provincial and municipal / metro networkso Development of localised strategieso Partnering with Stakeholders to do various

programmes/projectso Mobilization of resources

Charter Campaigno Tool for dialogue and consensus building

• Agree on values and norms we wish to uphold• Establish levels and areas of degeneration• Commit to action

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The Charter of Positive Values The Moral Charter will constitute a framework of

ethical and moral reference for all South Africans. The specific objectives of the Charter include:

Generating a moral vision for South Africa by defining what constitutes morality and rightful conduct thus laying the foundation for commitment;

Conscientising the South African society to take collective responsibility for developing a framework for a South African Code of Conduct; and

Restoring and anchoring values in the constitution, including respect or human rights and accepting accountability for one’s being and actions.

The Charter Launch Campaign, after extensive work from provinces soliciting input, is mainly for awareness after all the inputs. After all the data is collected, it will be consolidated for the Charter adoption which is envisaged for October / November 2005.

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National Initiatives

National MRM Conference Launch of the Charter of Positive Values 16 Days of Activism Campaign Consolidating government partnerships

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Key Challenges

Mobilizing all sectors Making the movement inclusive

o Resisting FBO’s takeover & handovero Resisting political controlo Programming diversity

Finding willing ambassadors Broadening the understanding of morality

o Beyond the individualo Beyond organisations

Relevant & creative programs & campaigns Resources

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Remember

The challenge is multifaceted and complex and solutions similarly so. But,

Moral Renewal? We Can Do It!

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Contacts

MRM National Office

oTel: (011) 403 3559oFax: (011) 403 3457oEmail: mrm@mrm.org.zaoWebsite: www.mrm.org.za