Moral Regeneration Movement

1. Moral Regeneration Movement BRIEFING TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE: ARTS & CULTURE IN PARLIAMENT By MRM BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUGUST 24 2005

2. BACKGROUND What 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.

3. Purpose of Presentation • To engage the Parliamentary Machinery in the MRM activities • Make a historical overview of the Movement • The Genesis • The mandate • Give a synopsis of progress to date • Raise challenges for the future

4. The Genesis of the Movement • 1998 – Moral Summit • Former President N R Mandela • 2000 – Consultations • DoE, SABC, Presidency, FBO’s • 2001- Broader Consultations • Working committee setup • 2002 – National Launch • 2003 – MRM Secretariat was employed • 2004 – National Conference

5. Recalling the Mandate • Vision: • Caring society • Promotion of the values of the constitution • National cohesion •  Mission: • To make the MRM the centre of collective activism on moral regeneration initiatives • To facilitate and co-ordinate initiatives • Mainstream moral regeneration

6. Infrastructure Setup • Office & Systems Setup • Section 21 Company with Board of Directors • Facilitating office with a staff complement of 4 • 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.

7. Infrastructure Setup Limpopo: • 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: • The committee is currently holding awareness workshops to promote common understanding of the MRM and ensuring commitment of the local structures to the MRM. • 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: • The Provincial Working Committee, consisting of 30 representatives, meets quarterly. The Executive Committee meets weekly.

8. Infrastructure Setup Activities: • The MRM has been mainstreamed in six out of ten provincial departments. • The committee runs an hour’s phone in programme on moral regeneration every Tuesday morning at 10:00. • On the 31 December every year, the provincial network organizes an annual festival ‘Heal Our Land’ to promotepolitical and religious tolerance. Gauteng • The committee is led by civil society and are supported by regional Mayors and the three Metropolitan Councils.

9. Infrastructure Setup Activities: • The committee members have visited established networks where there was none; and have conducted workshops to build capacity at local and district municipalities. • 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: • 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.

10. Infrastructure Setup Activities: • 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) • Key Factors • Successes = government + FBO’s involvement • Challenges = government + civil society

11. 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

12. A Generic Structure

13. Strategy Development To Date: • Issue based networking • Instead of partnership for their sake • Information and Knowledge Sharing • Ownership • Coordination where resources are available • Sector inclusive participation

14. Strategy Development To Date: • Intra-sector initiatives • Sector to mainstream and start own initiatives • Sharing & accountability at network level • Consistent Messaging / Communication • High moral values and standards • Our common responsibility • Key to the sustenance and consolidation of democracy

15. Key Programmes To Date: • Mobilization • Launches of provincial and municipal / metro networks • Development of localised strategies • Partnering with Stakeholders to do various programmes/projects • Mobilization of resources • Charter Campaign • Tool for dialogue and consensus building • Agree on values and norms we wish to uphold • Establish levels and areas of degeneration • Commit to action

16. 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.

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

18. Key Challenges • Mobilizing all sectors • Making the movement inclusive • Resisting FBO’s takeover & handover • Resisting political control • Programming diversity • Finding willing ambassadors • Broadening the understanding of morality • Beyond the individual • Beyond organisations • Relevant & creative programs & campaigns • Resources

19. Remember • The challenge is multifaceted and complex and solutions similarly so. But, Moral Renewal? We Can Do It!

20. Contacts MRM National Office • Tel: (011) 403 3559 • Fax: (011) 403 3457 • Email: mrm@mrm.org.za • Website: www.mrm.org.za