Honourable Speaker
Honourable Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces
Honourable Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP
Comrades and veterans of women’s struggle
Fellow South Africans
I thank you most sincerely for giving me the privilege to address this special Joint Sitting of Parliament on the occasion of celebrating the National Women’s Day.
On this occasion we celebrate the 53rd anniversary of the commemoration of the historic women’s march of 1956, the day when at the height of apartheid, more than 20 000 South African women from all walks of life, converged on the forbidden grounds of the Union Buildings. These revolutionary women came from all corners and hinterlands of South Africa with different cultures and languages, but united by one common goal to end the oppressive pass laws that treated them as inferior and second-class citizen in their own country of birth.
Today I stand to speak in this house as a woman who draws strength and inspiration from the gallant heroines of our struggle for freedom because their collective actions ushered in a new wave of equity demands of social, cultural and politico-economic rights. On that historic day, women declared to the then Prime Minister, J Strijdom:
"Wathint'abafazi, wathint' imbokodo, uzakufa you have touched the women, you have struck a rock, you have dislodged a boulder, you will be crushed".
How refreshing it is that today, as I cast my eyes around this house and around our beautiful country, I note with great pride the number of women in government and all spheres of society. I also note with pride that many of the demands that were in the petition and the Women’s Charter have been realised in our Constitution.
We have come this far because we stand on the shoulders of great women pioneers who paved the way for all of us. I speak here of indomitable women such as Ray Alexander, Ida Mtwana, Helen Joseph, Ellen Khuzwayo, Charlotte Maxeke, Dora Tamana, Lillian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Florence Matomela and Victoria Mxenge, to name just a few.
Whereas the then government chose to remain oblivious to the needs of women, the African National Congress (ANC) recognised that democracy and national prosperity only thrives in a society in which women’s contribution and potential are nurtured and embraced.
The presence of so many of us in this house is indication that with initiative, the right support and the rule of law behind them, many women can rise up to stake their claim in society. The proportion of female Members of Parliament is one of the world’s highest, as is participation of women in the executive across the three spheres of government.
The ANC has made a conscious decision to integrate women's emancipation, empowerment, equality and poverty eradication in such initiatives as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), rural development and our anti-poverty programmes as a whole.
I am pleased to celebrate today that more than ever before, women and girls in our country have access to education and greater access to health care and reproductive services, and are making inroads into professions that were previously male dominated. They are contributing more to their families and communities. They're gaining access to decent jobs that can give them a decent standard of living
Today, 53 years on and 15 years into a democratic South Africa, it is important that we use this debate to conduct a thorough assessment of the progress we have made in advancing the agenda for the full emancipation of women in our country. So, as I address you today, I will give an account of how the Department of Social Development has contributed to the attainment of this agenda and those of the Freedom Charter and our Constitution.
I hope that as we conduct this assessment, we will acknowledge open-mindedly, that despite the impressive progress we have made since the dawn of democracy, the majority of women in our country continue to experience poverty, HIV and AIDS, violence and abuse. The struggle for the full emancipation of women still remains relevant today, as it was 53 years ago.
As you all know poverty continues to disproportionately affect women. The Department of Social Development's mandate, amongst others; is to alleviate poverty and to further lessen the burden on women and children. In the last fifteen years our anti-poverty measures have become bolder and benefited a lot of women, particularly those in rural areas. The report: towards a fifteen year review shows that the single most important driver of the decline in poverty is government’s social security assistance programme.
From 2,5 million beneficiaries in 1999 to over 13 million to date, the social grant system is the largest form of government support for the poor. Of these beneficiaries, the majority is women. Our government contemptuously rejects the notion and widespread public perceptions that social grants create perverse incentives.
To suggest that government should stop providing social grants demonstrates failure to understand not only our historical past, but the socioeconomic challenges facing our country and the constitutional obligations of a democratic state. These perceptions are exaggerated and driven by negative stereotypes against women.
Contrary to these perceptions, numerous independent studies have found no reasonable evidence between the two. Instead, studies have found that poor families use social grants for children‘s education, nutrition and for other basic subsistence needs.
As you all know, education is the first foot hold out of poverty. I therefore would like to take this opportunity to urge all young girls of our country to make use the many opportunities created by government to empower themselves and create better lives for themselves and their children.
Our former President, Nelson Mandela once said, “We hope the world will reach a stage when it realises that the use of violence against any community is something that puts us next to animals.” These words are a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility towards the protection of women, because the abuse of women and children is one of the most serious social problems, if not the most serious one, in South Africa today. As a nation we cannot hope to move forward if women of our country are trapped in endless cycles of poverty, abuse and oppressive cultural practices.
Working together with our social partners, the Department of Social Development has taken necessary steps to address this problem through the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP). The emphasis of the programme is on prevention of victimisation, providing support, protecting and empowerment of victims of crime and violence with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly and people with disabilities.
The Department has a long standing partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the programme of assistance to the victim empowerment programme in South Africa. Through this partnership, four one stop centres have been established since 2003 in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
To commemorate Women’s Month, we will be launching two more centres Gauteng and North West provinces respectively. Our aim is to ensure that we have at least one shelter in each province, with a particular focus on rural areas.
These initiatives underline the extent and scope of the national effort to combat and control the scourge of violence directed against women and children in our country.
As part of government’s anti-poverty strategy, we have also launched a number of development projects in poor communities targeting women. Key among these is the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The EPWP in the social protection and community development sector has focused on the areas of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Home Community Based Care (HCBC).
I must say that the sector’s progress has been impressive so far. Even more remarkable was that the target of 40 percent for women employed was exceeded. Thus social development was able to achieve the two main objectives of ensuring that the women, mainly from rural areas are drawn into the world of work, while at the same time enhancing the provision of social services.
In order to address the challenges confronting women and other social development challenges in our country, it is important for us to work together. To this end, my department is engaging the corporate sector to explore possible ways in which they can make contribution to the attainment of the national priorities.
I am happy to report to this house that these engagements are finally bearing fruits. Just yesterday, we launched kwanda a pioneering community development project which seeks to empower women in disadvantaged communities. Through this project women are offered the opportunity to become participants in social enterprise, thus promoting greater inclusion and solidarity within the community.
It helps to alleviate wider development issues ranging from food security, HIV and AIDS, child protection, youth empowerment and contribute to the general well being of participating communities. Other initiatives include the promotion of community cooperatives in the predominantly rural provinces of Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
Honourable members
From this assessment, it is remarkable what we have accomplished as a country in the last 15 years in terms of advancing the agenda for the emancipation of women. Indeed the tide has turned and women in our country are arising in their numbers, both individually and collectively, are creating possibilities where none existed before. They are making significant contributions towards the creation of a caring society. Much of this progress has been sparked by our unwavering commitment to women empowerment.
However, this should not induce in us a feeling of complacency. As we commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the historic march of 1956, we recall that there are still many challenges ahead. One such challenge which demands the urgent attention of this house is the reported abduction of young girls in some parts of our country under the pretext of culture (commonly known as “Ukuthwala”).
Whereas our Constitution affords the uppermost respect to diverse cultural practices, we cannot allow unscrupulous people to commit atrocities against children in the name of culture. Section 12 of the Children’s Act, deals specifically with social; cultural and religious practices for the purpose of protecting the children against abusive practices. In terms of section 12 (1) “every child has the right not to be subjected to social, cultural and religious practices which are detrimental to his or her well-being. Section 12 (2) states that a child:
* Below the minimum age set by law for a valid marriage may not be given out in marriage or engagement
* Above that minimum age may not be given out in marriage or engagement without his or her consent.
I therefore would like to call on the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, the Select Committee on Social Services and the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children, Youth and People with Disabilities to follow these cases and report to this house on their progress. This, Honourable members should be our preoccupation as we move into the second decade of democracy. I need not remind you that posterity will judge us harshly, if we fail to break down these cultural barriers that prevent young children from enjoying their childhood.
Honourable members
Amongst the greatest needs of children is to have families that love and protect them. However sometimes this does not become possible, especially for orphans and other children made vulnerable by many causes, including HIV and AIDS. Some of these children have assumed adult responsibilities long before they are ready to do so, and look after younger siblings in case where parents have passed away due to HIV and AIDS or other causes (child headed households).
We encourage South African families to adopt children and provide them with permanent families and love. I would like to make a special appeal to our communities to work together with government in giving such children the necessary care support they need.
In conclusion let me quote the former first lady of the United States and the current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who on the occasion of celebrating the International Women‘s Day said, "Women's rights are not something to be given or taken away like a subsidy. Women can only hold up half the sky if their feet are planted firmly on the soil of freedom and equal justice.”
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Social Development
27 August 2009
