Opening remarks by Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana during the National Assembly debate on WEGE Bill
Honourable Speaker,
Honourable Members.
Women struggle’s historical context in view of 1913 to date
Once again as the African National Congress (ANC) government we have yet another good story to tell today to the women of South Africa that their cry for empowerment and equality has been heard.
As we deliberate on this important piece of legislation today, the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill B50B-2013], also known as the WEGE Bill, I would be failing in my duty if I do not remind this house that the path we are on has been a long a difficult one – yinde le ndlela!
This was started over a centenary ago through the heroic struggles of the sheroes and stalwarts of our struggle such as Charlotte Maxeke, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophie De Bruyn, Dorothy Nyembe, Albertina Sisulu, Ruth Mompati, Victoria Mxenge, Mmadinoge and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and many others who are the embodiment of the 101 years of the relentless forward march towards the total emancipation of women in South Africa.
In the past century, the struggle for women empowerment and gender equality has been fought against the deeply entrenched patriarchal system that subjected the majority of our women of South Africa. These women said the women of South Africa must fight side by side with their men. Today they are saying we cannot wait any longer to share in the fruits of our democracy.
It was former president Nelson Mandela, who, 20 years ago, during his inaugural State of the Nation Address, asserted that “freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression, [and] are empowered to intervene in all aspects of life as equals with any other member of society”.
This assertion has placed on all of us a responsibility to ensure that we accelerate efforts towards the empowerment of women so that they are indeed freed from all forms of oppression.
Honourable Speaker,
If you have never experienced the effects of colonialism and apartheid, combined with the highly patriarchal system that we continue to live in you cannot begin to appreciate the need for a vehicle to accelerate the empowerment of women in our society; socially, politically and economically towards the total emancipation of women such as the WEGE Bill.
Why the Bill
There is consensus from various quarters and internationally that South Africa has some of the most progressive policies and laws that are aimed at advancing women empowerment and gender equality. While significant strides have been made to empower women and promote gender equality, women still bear a disproportionate burden of the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Women continue to be marginalized and discriminated against in terms of economic opportunities, the labour market as well as access to land, credit, and finance.
Again, just like in many other areas where transformation is needed, the women of this country have vociferously called upon the African National Congress (ANC) led government to ensure that their lot does not remain marginalised forever.
Hence, the WEGE Bill seeks to ensure that gender is mainstreamed in all spheres of life, both in the public and private sectors. It will also ensure that policies and laws are engendered and equal and full representation of women in decision making structures is enforced.
This justifies the relentless struggles of the women of 1913 when they decided “enough was enough, we shall not carry passes anymore in our motherland” and of 1956 when they marched to the Union Building and told J G Strijdom, “Wathint’ abafazi wathinti imbokodo, uza kufa” - You Strike A Woman you Strike A Rock, you will die.
These stalwarts and many other have longed to see this day, and I have no doubt that wherever they are they are smiling down on us for we have not betrayed their course. Bayalilizela lapho bakhona, bathi Malibongwe ingama lamakhosikazi! Malibongwe!
Honourable Members,
Allow me to comment on several arguments that were advanced against the Bill.
Constitutionality of the Bill
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa under the Bill of Rights states that, “Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons or categories of persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken.”
Duplication with other legislation and Commission for Gender Equality
Those who cry duplication have failed to indicate specifically where this duplication is, except for making wide references to legislation.
The Bill does not seek to duplicate existing legislation but it elevates the prioritisation of women empowerment in various Acts. Furthermore there is no duplication between the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities’ mandate and that of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), if anything there is greater opportunity to work together to advance gender mainstreaming in our society.
50/50 representation
Honourable Speaker,
The WEGE Bill calls for the progressive realisation of at least 50% representation of women in decision making structures. A minority within this house has chosen to ignore the two key words ‘progressive realisation’ and instead wrongly state that the Bill is ‘a top-down manipulation to achieve equality’. Quite clearly, they do not want women to be empowered.
This is regrettable considering that women’s poverty is a central manifestation and a direct result of their lack of social, economic and political power which reinforces their subordination and constrains their enjoyment of every right.
Fortunately, the ANC, the only political party to do so, adopted the 50/50 representation of women in all its structures and in all levels of society. This 50% gender parity policy is articulated in the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill we are debating today.
It is because of the ANC’s commitment to women empowerment and gender equality that today women constitute 44% of the Parliamentarians in this house and 42% of Cabinet Ministers thanks to the political will and leadership of President Jacob Zuma and the ANC.
It is also under the ANC led government that South African women have continued to gain international recognition and have been entrusted with global leadership.
The appointments of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chair of the African Commission; Dr. Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director and Under-Secretary General, UN Women; Ms. Geraldine Frazer-Moleketi, Special Gender Envoy to the African Development Bank; Judge Navi Pillay, Chairperson to the UN Human Rights Commission, as well as Ms Yvonne Chaka Chaka, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to mention but a few bears testimony to the gravitas of women leadership in the country.
Women empowerment
Honourable Members,
The undeniable fact is that women in South Africa constitute 52% of the population. How can we as a country hope to truly prosper when women, who happen to be in the majority, continue to be excluded? Kufana noba uqhuba imoto enesibane esinye – washiywa zezinye iimoto!!
In conclusion, honourable Speaker
Systematic exclusion a guise to empowerment
One of the fundamental principles or provisions in the Bill is Chapter 2 Clause 4 which talks to the training and education of women in order to achieve the progressive realisation of at least 50% representation and meaningful participation of women in all decision making positions and structures.
Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance. We will not enjoy security without development, we will not enjoy development without security, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights, especially women’s rights. Women empowerment is a precondition to a flourishing economy for all!
As Charlotte Maxeke put it in Social Conditions of African Women and Girls (1930), we will know that we have succeeded “to lift women and children up in the social life” of the African when even men benefit, “and thus the whole community, both white and black benefit”.
There are women sitting at the Gallery who have come to witness this memorable day when Parliament deliberates on a piece of legislation aimed at ensuring that they too benefit from and enjoy the fruits of democracy. Yes it is happening under the leadership of the ANC, another good story to tell.
The road ahead may be long, but when we look back, despite the many challenges, the evidence that South Africa has a good story to tell in empowering women is overwhelming. This confirms that South Africa is a much better place to live in now than it has ever been.
To the women of South Africa I say, go out there and vote for the party that has your best interest at heart. Go out and vote for the party that has a track record of women empowerment and gender equality, a history of more than 100 years of women struggles. A party that has stood the test of time! Go out and vote ANC.
Malibongwe!
For more information:
Motalatale Modiba, Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 072 515 3022
Tel: 011 359 0023
E-mail: Motalatale.Modiba@dwcpd.gov.za
