Address by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Education MEC: Honourable Peggy Nkonyeni at the Woman’s Day event in Mandeni
Programme Director,
Interfaith representatives,
All Councillors present,
Senior Management of the Department of Education,
Senior Management of the Sector Departments,
Members of the Media Fraternity,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Ngiyanibingelela nonke!
Program Director, we have gathered here to elevate and awaken the conscience of many to the important role of women in our society and indeed the world as a whole. The continued prejudice of any form or magnitude together with any reactionary attitudes by anybody that encroach and deny women their civic rights should not only be frowned upon, but must be harshly acted against.
Today no one can dispute that women are pillars of our society in many respects. Those who subscribe to the Holy Book would not dispute this as our Creator saw it not good for a man to be by himself on earth. He thus created a woman to bring a balance to the equation.
Women unfortunately are the ones who bear the brunt of all social ills we experience in our lifetime. As a result of this, in our South African context, the services delivered by our government to the voters bring great relief to the plight of women in our country.
These basic services include among others:
- Free primary health care
- No-fee paying schools
- Social grants - old-age and child support grants
- Housing
- Water
- Sanitation
- Electricity.
Women in the liberation struggle
Program Director, our country has a very long and rich list of young and old women who have demonstrated exceptional bravery for the liberation not only of women, but also of the whole country. Many of these heroines paid an immense price for this liberation.
Many did not live to see the fruits of their struggles and sacrifices. They were women who lived by faith and not by sight. Although they did not live to experience this freedom they saw it in their spiritual eyes and felt it in their hearts and veins hence their relentless quest for the emancipation of this country from the bondage of apartheid, colonialism and all forms of systematic inequality and segregation.
Today we stand tall with our heads up and like Martin Luther King Jnr we can say “Free at last, free at last: thank God Almighty we are free at last.” Women, as Conduits for Change Program Director, it is true the saying that ‘when you empower a woman, you empower a nation’. Unless our women are thoroughly empowered, it will take decades for us as a nation to completely eradicate many social ills we face today. We must build on the foundation laid by our female patriots from the early 1900s to date.
A few examples of these in no particular order are: 4 Charlotte Maxeke, Lillian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Florence Mkhize, Victoria Mxenge, Ela Ghandi, Winnie Mandela, Nellie Jebeliza, Mildred Lesia, Amina Cachalia, Helen Joseph, Dorothy Nyembe Some of the contribution of these and many other women to the liberation struggle include, but not exclusively the following:
- The anti-pass campaigns and marches initiated and led by women in 1913 and years that followed. These spread all over the country including rural areas.
- The 1918 campaigns, marches and boycotts against township beer halls that gained momentum over years and spread all over.
- The 1957 boycott against Public Utility Transport’s increase in bus fares which resulted to some walking over 9 miles one way to work daily.
- 1960-1964 Cato Manor boycotts against forced removals and beer halls
- The 1960 Sharpville massacre in which 40 women out of a total 186 people killed and wounded.
- 1976 Student uprising in Soweto and around the country In one of her books titled “The African Midwife,” our very own Dr Lungile Bhengu-Baloyi reminds us all that each and every one of us is a conduit and guardian for the development of this world. While the statement is true to both males and females, it does however resonate more to us women.
Dr Bhengu asserts that our Creator intends doing His work among all people by using others. We are to use the gifts and privileges He has given to us share and empower those around us who are less capacitated or privileged than we are. Women are to been seen and regarded as agents and conduits of change to our nation.
Gender equity report
Program Director allow me to zoom into the current status of gender equity report as released by honorable President Jacob Zuma on 9 August 2015. It is extremely important to look into these as they serve as a yard stick by which we can gauge if as a nation we are 6 making any progress in achieving the goal as set by among others these heroines of our liberation.
Women in the National Assembly moved from a mere 2.7% pre 1994 to the current 41%. Both the Speaker and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces being women. Women constitute 43% of our National Cabinet with about 45.9% being deputy Ministers. The representation of women on Local Government Councils is at 38.4% compared to 28.2% in 2000.
Women constitute about 33% of all the judges in our judiciary. The judiciary had two white women in 1994. Now, in democracy, there are 61 women judges of which 48 are black women. Furthermore, we have two women Judge Presidents and a woman Deputy Judge President.
Women constitute about 41% of the total magistracy. Women make up almost 40% of the Senior Management Service in the public service. 7 KZN Province Current Status: Program Director allow me to pause here and mention that out of 11 portfolios of our Provincial Executive with Cde Senzo Mchunu at the helm, 5 are headed by women of which I am one.
Our Provincial Cabinet and our HODs have committed to ensuring that by the end of 2015/2016 financial year, 50% of all positions in Senior Management Service levels are filled by women. Currently in the Department of Education we stand at 39% women at SMS level and 0,08 for people with disability. I can assure you today Program Director that together with our HOD will have committed to take this up to 50% women and 2% for people with disabilities by the end of this financial year. Areas Needing Improvement President Zuma expanded on areas that need some improvement. Some of these include the following:
- As of last year, women accounted for 29% of appointed Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consul-Generals.
- While the public sector continues to improve the status of women, the private sector still lags behind.
- The Employment Equity Report indicates that in 2014, women still accounted for only 21% of top executive management 8 positions and 32% of all senior management positions. Women appear to be stuck at both Middle and Junior management levels where they account for 45% and 43% respectively.
Economic Freedom for Women in Our Lifetime
Program Director, it is undisputed that while we may have won the battle against apartheid and many of its statues, Aluta Continua against economic slavery. Our women in this country and women around the world have been in the forefront of the struggle for economic freedom.
A study conducted by the United Nations in 2010 in which South Africa was included records that “there is empirical evidence inferring that those institutions/countries that promote economic freedom have relatively better metrics of women’s well-being, as defined by the United Nations Development Program” We therefore cannot afford to perpetuate a system that continues to produce toxic elements to the well-being of our women.
The status quo must change and change is now!! I cannot help but celebrate women like Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Joyce Banda and President Sirleaf Johnson who tirelessly still continue to put economic freedom for women in particular at the top agenda of their missions 9 Join me as I call upon all men in leadership positions, whether politics, religious, business, civil society to learn from the likes of the late Mualimu Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah who by 1960 relied on women both in rural and urban areas for the development of women for economic freedom.
These men need to identify women, and ask the question asked by Former Mozambique President Samora Machel on “What role can women play in the struggle for Africa’s economic emancipation?” Actor Matt Damon, founder of Water.org, a nonprofit group that provides access to safe water and sanitation in Africa, South Asia and Central America once said “It’s an objective fact, that if you want to solve some of these huge, kind of bigger problems of extreme poverty, you have to include the women, they’re the ones who will get it done.”
The inclusion of women as equals in social issues and all areas of life is not just, African or Western, it is universal. It was God’s desire when he created both man and woman in His image that He blessed them both and commanded them to go rule and subdue the world. This demand for equality should not be negotiated!!!
President Zuma’s Declaration Addressing the Women’s Day Celebration on 9 August 2015 in Sasolburg, President Jacob Zuma said “We declared the year 2015 as the Year of the Freedom Charter and Unity in Action to 10 Advance Socio-Economic Freedom. It is for this reason that today we are releasing the Report on the Status of Women in the South African Economy.
The focus of Women’s Day 2015 is thus the economic empowerment of women. We need to join in support of the efforts and programs of government in achieving what President Zuma said. We cannot fold our arms and expect government to do it alone.
Strategic tools for economic freedom
Program Director, allow me to list a few of the strategic tools or areas that will contribute to the attainment of economic freedom for our women. Education:- This as President Mandela said “is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.”
Let us take our girl-children to school, There is free education, free learner transport, free nutrition and books. Those who dropped out for whatever reasons must do all it takes to return to school. Those who never had an opportunity must take advantage of governments programs such as AET, Kha ri Gude etc. Job Creation Programs: Government has allocated significant resources in the creation of job and skills.
Women must take full advantage of these:
- Skills Development: Skills development Colleges are available to train our women in skills to respond to economic demands especially in engineering, plumbing, IT to name a few.
- EPWP; this program focuses on community-based projects, environmental and social programmes and maintenance of roads and infrastructure
- Small Business Development: resources have been allocated to encourage women to start small business and be part of the economy players
- Agriculture Programs: Xosh’indlala projects are aimed at promoting agriculture for both subsistence and commercial farming opportunities for women especially in rural areas
- Let us support these programs and projects that will lead us to the emancipation we yearn for.
Let us continue to support one another as women. Let us rid ourselves of the Pull Her Down (PHD) syndrome as Felicia Mabuza Suttle often called it. Let us identify projects and programs that we can jointly do together and approach others for assistance 12
Conclusion
Program Director allow me to close with words articulated so adequately by Bob Chase, executive director, SERRV International, an NGO promoting social and economic progress serving in Africa, Latin America and Asia who said "When people become economically empowered, they gain political and social power.
Many of the groups that we work with do more than just produce crafts; they're involved in community development, health and education. For the women we work with, the effect is even greater. As they gain employment, they become able to leave abusive situations, to seek legal assistance, to acquire education, to become independent. Their work allows them to be economically significant in the family and gives them leverage to be considered an equal.”
I thank you!
