Programme Director
HE Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa
Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape
Honourable Ministers
Deputy Ministers
Premiers of Provinces
MECs
Mayor of Buffalo City and Amothole District
Traditional leaders
Senior government officials
Distinguished guests
Women of South Africa
Programme Director, you have allocated me a task of introducing a man that is well known each one of us gathered here. Angithi sonke siyamazi uMsholozi. Viva Msholozi viva!
This is a man who has led our organisation and country into taking a major step towards the attainment of gender equality. Under his leadership, the ANC adopted the principle of 50/50 gender parity. Action is being taken to realise this resolution including the development of the Gender Equality Bill by the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
Mr President, we have come together here today to celebrate National Women’s Day. This is a day that marks the spirit and courage of women in our country past and present. It was on this day in 1956 when 20 000 women, carrying 100 000 petitions descended on the Union Buildings, the seat the-then-mighty apartheid government. These women protested against the inhuman act of having to carry passes in the urban areas something their white sisters did not have to do.
These women delivered the petitions to the office of JG Strydom’s office. Women throughout the country had put their names to these petitions indicating their anger and frustration at having their freedom of movement restricted. Although Strydom was not at the Union Buildings to accept the petition, the women of South Africa sent a public message that they would not be intimidated and silenced by these unjust laws.
54 years later the famous women’s March, the phrase (“you strike a woman, you strike a rock, uzofa Strydom”) has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa. As a group that has been marginalised, women rose to question the barrier and fought for their emancipation and freedom for all.
Since 1994, this day has been commemorated every year to recognise and recall the bravery of these women who risked arrest, detention, banning and forced exile to have their voices heard. This day in the calendar of our country serves to remind us that we need to review the path we have travelled and find solutions for the challenges facing us now.
Like our mothers did in 1956, we, the women of South Africa must today continue the struggle against the system of patriarchy and sexist stereotypes the underlying factors that hinder progress toward gender equality and perpetrate gender-based violence.
Our country can show many gains and achievements in promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality. However, some challenges persist and need to be overcome if we are to achieve a truly democratic and non-sexist state. The key issues include intensification of poverty eradication, rural development, economic empowerment of women and effective response to the major challenge of violence against women and girls.
Mr President, the commemoration of Women’s Day might be celebratory in nature focusing on this historic day and month. However, the focus of the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities is to mainstream gender into the all programmes and everyday work practices of government. We are ensuring that government and the society at large move with more speed to comply with the constitutional requirement for gender equality and women’s advancement.
Mr President, our programme for this month is a dynamic one. It seeks to reach women of different social backgrounds in their localities. Yesterday, we met university students to discuss issues of education and the critical role they have in transforming the gender demographics of our economy through the careers they choose. Last night we gathered with women from various churches and prayed together for a society free of all forms of abuse of women and girls.
We are taking this approach, reaching out to women in rural and urban areas, employed and unemployed, rich and poor seeking to address the various limitations that patriarchy affect their lives and limit their development.
Mr President, women are committing to work together with government to ensure equal opportunities and progress for all.
Baba Msholozi, thetha, abantu balalele.
Viva Msholozi viva.
Source: Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
