H Yawa: Masizakhe Women's Group 10th Anniversary celebrations

3 April 2009

Programme director
Honourable Executive Mayor Councillor China Dodovu
Woman of the Highest God Reverend Sefora Namane
Honourable Speaker of City of Matlosana Local Municipality, Councillor Rosy
Thabanchu
Chief of City of Matlosana Local Municipality Councillor Bunga Ntshangani
Honourable councillors
President of Masizakhe Women’s Group Ms Ntombekhaya Ngxingo
Committee members and members of Masizakhe Women’s Group
Government officials
Members of various community based organisations
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Though the democratic government led by the African National Congress (ANC)
inherited a huge backlog in housing when we took over as government in 1994,
even our worst critics concede that the delivery of 3,1 million subsidised
houses, 2,7 million free houses for the poor within a period of 15 years is
unsurpassed achievement in the history of human development. Our delivery track
record has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to accelerate housing
delivery. Working in partnership with our municipalities, developers and
contractors, we have managed to restore the dignity of our people by providing
shelter to an additional 14 million people.

Earlier this morning, I together with the Executive Mayor, Councillor China
Dodovu launched a R98,3 million housing project that is currently under
construction in Jouberton Extensions three and 22 and Tigane. 559 houses that
are part of the 2 000 housing units are already completed. The developer, M3D
has assured us that the project will be completed by June this year.
The ANC government is determined to improve the quality of the lives of our
people through housing provision to address the apartheid legacy of
homelessness, and deprivation. We will not rest until we have eradicated all
informal settlements and have provided decent housing including rental housing
to all of our people.

The determination of our women to contribute towards the creation of
sustainable, vibrant human settlements by participating in the construction
sector and in particular the housing sector is encouraging. In my 2008/09
budget policy statement I committed the department to capacitate women
developers and contractors because the ANC government believes that women are
an indispensable part of any transformation process therefore it is imperative
to bring them to the centre of all developments.

To give meaning to fundamental principles of equality, representivity,
participation and inclusively, we allocated R506 million towards empowerment of
women contractors and registered more than 20 women contractors on our
database. We are impressed with progress they are making in accelerating
housing delivery in the province.

The delivery of 20 completed houses through the People’s Housing Process
(PHP) by Masizakhe Women’s Group is another delivery milestone we are proud of.
The human settlement policy adopted by the ANC dictates that government should
promote and integrate the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Masizakhe Women’s Group has managed to demystify the myth that “a woman’s place
is in the kitchen” by being awarded the best performing non-governmental
organisation (NGO) in the housing sector at our Inaugural 2008 Govan Mbeki
Housing Awards.

We are honoured to be part of Masizakhe Women’s Group’s 10th Anniversary
Celebrations. The story of Masizakhe is one of hope and resilience. It is a
story of determination to succeed and triumph over exclusion and despair. It is
a celebration of partnership for a better life for all.

Through the resilience, determination and courageous action of heroines of
our struggle a united and stronger women's movement took shape and was later to
play a sterling role in the liberation struggle of our country. The selfless
contributions of our heroines have opened doors not only for future generations
of women, but equally for their male counterparts. You should recall that, in
the past, women were considered inferior citizens whose existence was limited
to the confines of homes and care of the children. They were regarded as
nothing more than possessions of their husbands or fathers. Women did not have
the right to go to school, own property, earn wages, sign contracts, or take
part in governance, and in the politics or elections of their country.

This had been the case in spite of records of the existence of successive
generations of women matriarchs or queens, who ruled ancient Africa, since time
immemorial. Egyptian queens for instance, are believed to have governed from as
early as around 3000 Before Christ (BC), of which the first female ruler to be
named by sources, was Queen Ku-Baba, who ruled Mesopotamian City State of Ur
around 2500 BC. The other earlier Queen known in history to have reigned in
Yemen and in Ethiopia is Queen Makeda of Sheba, whose reign lasted from 1 005
to 965 BC.

Our country is replete with many similar examples of female dynasties,
regents and rulers who took up positions of leadership during pre-colonial
times and through the periods of wars of resistance. I am referring to Queen
Modjadji of the Balobedu, Queen Mantatise of the Batlokwa, Queen Mother Nandi
of the Zulu-speaking people and King Shaka's aunt Mkabayi ka Jama who helped
shape the Zulu nation behind the scenes to what it is today, and others too
many to mention.
We salute Masizakhe Women’s Group as our heroines in the housing sector for
their courage, determination and resilience. You have embraced the spirits of
Vuk'uzenzele and Letsema. You are an embodiment of selflessness and it takes
people of your calibre to build a nation. Working together, we can do more for
our communities.

To the beneficiaries, I wish to say that our housing programme is linked
with a string of services. It is about creating vibrant and sustainable human
settlements with basis amenities such as accessible roads, clean running water
as well as access to sanitation. We are not merely providing top structures,
but we are providing you with a start to a better life. Take care of your
assets; it is an investment for your children and generations to come.

In conclusion, I wish to remind you to exercise your right to elect a
government of your choice on the 22 April 2009. We should all mobilise our
families, friends, relatives and neighbours to vote for a government that is
committed to fight against crime and corruption in order to establish a service
delivery culture. We should go out in great numbers to vote for a government
that will prioritise education and health for our children and
communities.
Ours remains a government that is committed to create decent work and
sustainable livelihoods, a government committed to rural development, food
security and land reform.

Ke a leboga!!!
Baie Dankie!!!

Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
3 April 2009