D Peters: Launch of 50th anniversary of Women’s March campaign

8 March 2006

Programme director,
MECs, MPs & MPLs,
Distinguished guests,
Representatives of women’s groups,
Women in Business and other sectors,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Members of the media

First of all, I wish to thank fellow South Africans who participated in the
local government elections.

By making your mark, you have emphasised the fact that the upliftment of
women is fundamental in strengthening our democracy.

The year of 2006 has been declared as the “Year of Women in South Africa”.
Its significance arises from the fact that it marks the 50th anniversary of the
Women’s March to the Union Building on 9 August 1956 in defiance of the
oppressive pass laws.

This event is held within the broader framework of our constitution, which
promotes non-sexism, non-racism and equality among all South Africans.

I am particularly excited about this launch, which also coincides with
International Women’s Day, and will run until 10 December 2006, which marks
International Human Rights Day.

Women are now being celebrated for the contribution they made and continue
to make in shaping the history of our country as members of organised labour,
business, religion and political organizations.

As women we had the opportunity to join other women at the World Prayer Day,
which was held at the Dutch Reformed Church on 3 March 2006 to pray for unity,
peace and prosperity.

We together prayed for strength and courage from the almighty, in our
efforts to eradicate poverty and other social illnesses.

Ladies and gentlemen, the launch of these year long campaigns is decisive
and significant towards the mobilisation of women towards a social movement
that will transcend all boundaries and make a difference to the lives of all
women.

Despite the support provided to women by the established gender machinery,
many challenges still remain.

The path towards the envisaged non-sexist society still remains as a
challenging one.

In 1956, women stood side by side against gender deprivation and made
unprecedented sacrifices as their contribution to defeat apartheid
oppression.

Ladies and gentlemen, we should be encouraged and motivated by the actions
of November 1956, in which violent clashes over passes for women took place,
resulting in deaths and injuries.

In December 1956, front rank leaders of our people were rounded up and
detained in a nation-wide police swoop.

This was the beginning of the notorious Treason trial that dragged on until
March 1961 when all accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Many women were arrested in December 1956 including Lillian Ngoyi, Helen
Joseph, Frances Baard and Annie Silinga but only Lillian Ngoyi was brought to
trial.

Therefore, we owe it to these heroines to persevere and unite against gender
imbalances in all sectors.

You will agree with me that transformation is taking place both at the level
of practical needs with more people especially women having access to basic
services such as water, electricity, health and education improves the quality
of life of women.

Women are beginning to regain their dignity and taking responsibility for
their lives in many areas of our communities.

Society’s patriarchal attitudes are beginning to change as evidenced by the
growing anger towards violence against women.

In the private sector and civil society women are making their mark and
gaining recognition, shifting the patriarchal mindsets and changing
stereotypes.

Among the remaining challenges are poverty and unemployment among women, the
ongoing marginalisation of women in mainstream economy, continued violence
against women, higher levels of illiteracy among women, and the negative impact
of HIV and AIDS.

The majority of our women continue to be trapped in poverty.

We have to stand together side by side and continue to work for the
empowerment of women in areas of development from which they have been
historically excluded, especially in information technology.

Ladies and friends, society needs to put in place mechanisms which will
accelerate women’s chances to access economic opportunities.

It is also important to note that despite significance advances in improving
the status of women and the repeal of a number of laws discriminating against
women, women continue to be disadvantaged by some customary, religious and
cultural practices.

A number of policies are already in place, it is now up to us to implement
them.

The environment is more conducive to change, but the necessary processes
need to be put in place to ensure successful policy implementation, accompanied
by proper monitoring and evaluation initiatives.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time that the freedoms guaranteed by our
Constitution become fully entrenched in our societies in resonance of the
struggles of our heroines.

Our programme of action as government identified poverty eradication and
social cohesion, social justice and nation building as critical goals towards
an economically vibrant South Africa.

This makes it imperative to bring women to the centre of all development
projects in the country. This year long campaign is a powerful instrument
towards the achievement of this national vision.

This campaign should lay the ground for a solid foundation for an all
inclusive women movement in the province and the country at large that will
spread to the rest of the continent and eventually take root in the whole
world.

What better contribution to make than this lasting endeavour which will
fundamentally change women’s lives forever?

I call upon all women in our beautiful province to join hands and
participate in these year long campaigns to celebrate and honour our icons of
the liberation struggle.

During these campaigns we will acknowledge the contributions made by women
towards the achievement of democracy in our country.

Let us continue to conscientise the nation that women should be treated
fairly and embraced as an integral part of our political and economic
activities. Once more, I appeal to all women to participate in celebratory
activities as we commemorate a number of important historic milestones born of
struggle, during a long journey towards the victory of the national democratic
revolution and the subsequent creation of a non-sexist, democratic and united
South Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen, as our President Thabo Mbeki once said ‘We will do
this not because of an irrational attachment to anniversaries. We celebrate
these historic moments to re-emphasise the continuity of our struggle and its
founding principles that must continue to inform our strategies and tactics
during the current phase of the national democratic revolution.”

I thank you.
Ndiyabulela.
Ke a leboga.
Baie dankie.

Issued by: Premier’s Office, Northern Cape Provincial Government
8 March 2006