National Womenâs Day, Thulamahashe Stadium, Bushbuckridge
12 August 2006
* Programme Directors
* Members of the Legislature Ms Thoko Mabena and Ms Gelane Sindane
* Honourable MECs
* Honourable Members of Parliament
* Members of the Mpumalanga Legislature
* Our traditional leaders,
* Honourable Mayors and Councillors
* Leaders and activists of South Africaâs Progressive Womenâs Movement
* Residents of Bushbuckridge and women of our province
Fifty years ago on 9 August, thousands of women from all corners of the
country converged in Pretoria to protest against the extension of the hated
pass laws to women. Waving placards, chanting and singing revolutionary songs,
they made their way up the stairs of the Union Building, only to be told that
the man they had wanted to deliver their petitions to, had fled. One thing
which Strijdom, the Prime Minister of the strong-armed, totalitarian regime of
the day, must be credited for, is the wisdom to know the things he could stop,
and to distinguish them from those which he could not stop. He was not stupid
enough to stand in the way of a dislodged boulder and wait to be crushed. It is
ironic though, that he fled and could not defend a law that his government had
passed.
Comrades and compatriots, we are here today as women leaders and gender
activists in our province, to re-live and celebrate the spirit of the women of
1956, a legacy which firmly placed women in our country at the forefront of the
struggle for social emancipation in South Africa.
As we gather here today under the banner of an Age of Hope: Through struggle
for freedom, let us celebrate and honour the sterling role played by women in
the liberation of South Africa. As leaders and mothers, we refuse to be cowed
down to the whims of those who viewed women, especially African women, as less
than human.
Today as we reflect on the sacrifices the women of this country have made
and continue to make in the workplace, home, church and society at large, let
us once again recommit ourselves to ensuring that all womenâs rights to
equality become a living reality. Let us remember the wise words from the late
Comrade OR Tambo who reminded us that we cannot say that we are progressing as
people and as a nation unless the women of our country are truly liberated, and
there is gender equality and gender equity. Over the last twelve years we have
made progress as a country in pushing back the frontiers of women oppression
and gender inequality, thanks to the enduring legacy of 9 August 1956.
A number of pieces of legislation have guaranteed that today all women can
enjoy the fruits of freedom, supported firmly by the Constitution. These laws
include: The Extension of Security of Tenure Act of 1997, which protects women
and children against arbitrary or unfair eviction on the farms; the Domestic
Violence Act of 1998 and the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act of 1996 aimed at
protecting the rights of women and children against violence and abuse; womenâs
position in the workplace has also improved significantly through amongst
others the Labour Relations Act of 1995, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act
and the Skills Development Act; the establishment of institutions like the
Commission on Gender Equality, Office on the Status of Women; and the
Parliamentary Committee on the Improvement of the Quality of Life and Status of
Women have all contributed to placing the rights of women high on the national
agenda.
Social needs
Programme co-directors, in the past 12 years we have made significant strides
in improving the lives of women and the girl-child, especially those in the
rural areas. In partnership with all those who heeded the call for a People's
Contract to create work and fight poverty, the Mpumalanga Government has
ensured that womenâs social needs are addressed. Womenâs access to habitable
housing, arable land, proper health care, improved social grants, meaningful
and sustainable jobs, has significantly improved.
Through our Government wide awareness programmes during this 50th
anniversary of 9 August, our departments, in partnership with the communities,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, continue to make
sure that womenâs issues do not disappear from our list of priorities.
Health services
Comrades, Government continues to improve health services for women. These
include antenatal and postnatal care, prevention of maternal deaths and
screening for cervical and breast cancer. Our maternal and child health
programmes continue to provide relief to the most vulnerable. Our HIV and AIDS
prevention and management programmes, including the prevention of mother to
child transmission programme, the programme to prevent pregnant mothers from
transmitting the Human Immune Virus (HIV) to their babies at birth and our
Mayihlome Izazi programmes have been strengthened considerably. Our health
centres, hospitals and clinics now offer services which include voluntary
counselling and testing for HIV. This includes continuous counselling,
education and support as well as advice on the use of milk formula.
Poverty alleviation and economic empowerment
Fighting poverty remains a top priority for our government. Economic growth and
job creation strategies are essential in rooting out poverty in our
communities, especially in the rural areas.
Through the Department of Agriculture we are able to provide starter packs
to those who want to till the land, and all our departments collectively
contribute to the relief of hundreds of women through the Expanded Public Works
Programme, whose targeted design prioritises women in the main.
In order to address the economic disparity that continues to exist in our
society, government continues to give preference to women, especially African
women with employment opportunities within government, and when tendering for
work with government. All round, there is women empowerment.
Through the Social Development component in the Department of Health and
Social Services, we are able to provide immediate relief to the most
vulnerable, particularly women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities
and those living with HIV and AIDS.
Participation
Comrades, today more women participate in the governance structures at local
level, provincially and nationally. Improving the representation of women at
every level of government is an important part of the transformation of the
public service. Four of Mpumalangaâs ten members of the Executive Council are
women, and six of the ten Heads of Department (HoD) in the province are women.
There is also a growing representation of women at senior public service
management level. The number of women members of the Legislature, Mayors and
other representatives of local government has also increased significantly.
There are plans to employ more women as Chief Executive Officers (CEO) in
hospitals, more executive and senior managers and educators.
Women in sport and culture
Today more women and girl-children take part in sports and other cultural
activities. This was made possible by the number of bold initiatives we have
implemented in bringing into the fold those previously denied a chance to take
part. We also encourage and promote women exhibitors and crafters as well as
promoting emerging women musicians and artists.
Challenges
Programme co-directors, while there have been great advances made towards
gender equality and gender equity in our society over the past twelve years, it
is necessary to be sensitive to the challenges that still lie ahead. Women
continue to be significantly excluded from the economic mainstream of the
society despite the fact that they constitute the majority of the
unemployed.
As we move forward we must further ensure that women continue to benefit
directly, now and in the future, from the work opportunities created through
the expanded public works programmes as well as food security programmes aimed
especially at female-headed households.
We must ask ourselves whether in the past year we have accelerated and
improved womenâs access to government programmes including social grant
services and health care. Have we, in the past year, ensured that more women
benefit from the freedom they fought so hard for? Does the girl-learner in the
province have access to quality education and does that education guarantees
her a stake in the Mpumalanga economy of the future?
These are difficult questions that need honest answers. As the community of
Mpumalanga we must continue to fight against poverty by devising ways of
creating wealth for those who are trapped in poverty.
Violence
Programme co-directors, as government we are aware that women and children
continue to face sexual assaults and other forms of abuse at home, at work, in
their communities and at school. That is why the eradication of violence is so
high on our national and provincial agenda. We have established a number of
Victim Empowerment Centres at police stations throughout the province. These
centres provide health, social development and legal services support to
victims of violence and abuse.
The Men for Change programme also assists in dealing with stereotypes by
encouraging men to respect women, desist from assaulting their wives and
children, learning to deal with their anger and to speak out against this
evil.
We are determined to ensure that all womenâs rights to equality become a
living reality, including the opportunity to influence government programmes
and mainstream gender issues. In our province women played a pivotal role in
the consultations to review the province as part of the African Peer Review
Mechanism under the able leadership of MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini. In our
Community Development Workers Programme and in our ward committeeâs women
continue to play a pivotal role.
Womenâs movement
Comrades, let us take this opportunity to laud the launch of the Progressive
Womenâs Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) in Bloemfontein a few days ago. We
consider the launch of this inspirational movement as another mile in the walk
initiated by the heroic women who participated in 9 August 1956 women's march
to the Union Buildings.
The launch is indeed a bold step by South African women towards true
emancipation of women of our country, the continent and the world. This
development reaffirms our conviction that South African society shall one day
be truly non-sexist, non-racial, united, democratic and prosperous.
To honour the legacy of the 1956 women marchers, PWMSA must once again fire
the imagination of women in our country and society to go beyond efforts men
have made to advance social progress in our country. PWMSA must among others,
become a partner to government in realising a better life for South Africaâs
mothers in areas such as the moral regeneration crusade and the fight against
corruption in our society and government; and in strengthening government
delivery programmes, be it the feeding scheme and learner transport in
education, health, or the delivery of houses.
As we celebrate the gallant strides women made in the province, let us dip
our banners for social justice in honour of Portia Shabangu, Nokuthula Simelane
and many others, whose heroic sacrifices ensured that the legacy made by those
who came before them, was kept alive.
Let us once again bow to the women of this country for the gallant role they
played in advancing freedom and dignity to all the people of South Africa.
Long live the spirit of 9 August, long live!
I thank you.
Issued by: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
12 August 2006
