E Molewa at Women's Day celebrations during Women's Month

11 August 2006

In order to successfully confront the lack of opportunity for women,
particularly in the rural areas of our province, it is critically imperative
that the North West Provincial Government develop skills that are especially
needed for the success of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for
South Africa (AsgiSA) and its programme, the Joint Initiative for Priority
Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) as highlighted among others in the Provincial Growth
and Development Strategy.

“All our programmes and strategies as the Provincial Government are designed
to ensure that the previously disadvantaged sectors of our society, including
women, begin to enjoy the outcomes of their long struggle before and after the
historical march 50 years ago,” said Premier Molewa.

Premier Edna Molewa was speaking at the Provincial Women’s Day Celebrations
on Friday, 11 August 2006, held in Swartruggens, Borolelo Stadium.

She says the North West Provincial Government strives for a democratic and
equal society that respects and promotes the rights of women in particular and
the rights of all citizens irrespective of gender, race, age or disability.

“Although a lot has been achieved and women have reason to celebrate this
day, we will nevertheless be the first to admit that a lot still needs to be
done to achieve the total emancipation and gender equality that our women
demand,” said Premier Molewa

Molewa says “it is a serious indictment of our society when the majority of
its citizens, the care-givers and life-givers, the mothers and sisters of our
nation continue to be at the receiving end of almost all the social ills of our
society, including violence and diseases like HIV and AIDS.”

“We can never stand idly by and watch as women in the rural areas still toil
under the most gruelling conditions, when women continue to face life’s
hardships without water, sanitation and electricity

“We can never stand idly by and watch when women do not enjoy property
rights in the farms that they have lived in for the entirety of their lives,”
she said.

Premier Molewa says serious stocktaking will reveal that today more women in
our province have access to clean water, sanitation and electricity in their
homes, something they never had before. “It will reveal that more women in our
province today have gained access to housing, land, education and
healthcare.”

“It will further reveal that this Government has adopted a zero tolerance
approach to discrimination and violence against women. Government is putting
more efforts at creating spaces for our women to participate in the leadership
and management of our society through access to the key resources of education,
health and housing,” she said.

“As we celebrate Women’s Day today, I would like to call upon all people of
our province to build upon the achievements women continue to register in
business and in government, in the increased gender sensitivity in
policy-making and in laying the agenda of women’s emancipation and equality
firmly at the centre of all our endeavours to create a better life for
all.”

“None of us can claim to be free when the women of our country are not free
from race or gender discrimination, from poverty and underdevelopment, free
from loss of human dignity and core human rights, free from fear, violence and
abuse,” she said.

For further information, please contact:
Cornelius Monama
Spokesperson, Office of the Premier
Tel: (018) 387 3103
Cell: 082 578 4063

Bongani Majola
Speechwriter, Office of the Premier
Tel: (018) 387 3020
Fax: (018) 384 3123
Cell: 082 339 1993
Email: bmajola@nwpg.gov.za

Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
11 August 2006