delivered
24 August 2006
The delivery of the Free Basic Services (FBS) is the most basic thing that
you and I can provide to poor women and households, said the Deputy President
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as she addressed the Western Cape Women in Local
Government Conference held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre
last night.
"We cannot default on the delivery of free basic services and universal
access as already committed by Government. I hope you can resolve to make that
your priority where you are and to go the extra mile where there is poor
performance in this regard," said the Deputy President.
Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said local government had a central role in improving the
quality of lives of people and was best placed to provide gender equitable
service delivery through analysing the different needs and interests of both
women and men.
She also paid special tribute to the women who through their struggles fifty
years ago, made it possible for the current generation of women to enjoy their
freedom. She was referring to the 20 000 women who marched to the Union
Buildings in protest against the pass laws. "We salute the millions of heroic
South African women who engaged in struggle before, during and after 9 August
1956, to whom we owe the freedom we enjoy today. Without their significant
contribution, we will not have achieved what we have in the past twelve years,"
she said.
The conference drew together over 500 women from all spheres of government
from local, provincial and national governments. Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka indicated
that progress had been made at the level of legislation, which gender equity
had been achieved and was entrenched in the constitution. She highlighted some
of the advances made at a political level, mentioning that: "Just less than a
third of members of parliament 32,8 percent are women; women comprise almost 43
percent of national government ministers and deputy ministers. At a provincial
level four of the nine provinces are led by women premiers, three of our metros
are led by women mayors, while there are a number of women district
mayors."
Reminding delegates about the resolutions of the Beijing Conference she
said: �South Africa can stand proud for meeting these resolutions and
surpassing them�. Speaking specifically to women in local government she said:
"Local government is the sphere of government closest to the people, and as
women we dare argue that local government is not only closest to 'the people',
but that its impact is most immediately felt on the lives of women as they are
the primary consumers of basic services".
The Deputy President challenged the delegates to the conference to ensure
that they left a personal legacy that was destiny-changing. She also urged the
ladies to stay healthy and to love themselves. "Do not take yourself too
seriously. Allow yourself to laugh at yourself. Do not be aloof and self
important and loose yourself in the process. Be the best that you can be. Earn
your place in society and in history," she said.
She recommended that the ladies should mentor other younger women. "Lift as
you climb, be a mother, which is something that comes easily to most women.
Ensure that in your household there is no abuse, be it of your children or even
of the people you employ," she urged the ladies.
The Deputy President encouraged women in local government to be change
agents and contribute positively in society. She advocated that women ought to
utilise their collective wisdom, commitment and creative energy to play a
pivotal role and be an integral part of the forces that would drive this
country beyond the achievements that they had gained up to today. She also
asserted that "We have not done enough!"
The Deputy President further warned women to defend their gains. "The issue
facing us is that of ensuring that we consolidate the victories that we have
scored, because there is always a potential danger that if we are not vigilant,
and are complacent, such victories can easily be rolled back in a few years
time," she said.
Enquiries:
Thabang Chiloane
Deputy President�s spokesperson
Cell: 082 888 8783
Issued by: The Presidency
24 August 2006
Source: SAPA
