In a frank address to young women from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has called on young girls to prioritise education in order to get out of poverty and hopeless situations.
“We must encourage young girls to prioritise education in order to extricate themselves and their families out of poverty and hopeless situations that many have come to accept,” said Mokonyane addressing the International Women’s Day Gala Dinner in Pretoria on Thursday.
The International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March to honour women for their economic, political and social achievements and to share best practices with regard to overcoming the challenges in achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Mokonyane said the older generation of women must do all it can to show young girls the dangers of entering into a sexual life while still too young.
“We must arm our young girls with adequate information and skills to better survive the ever-changing world we live in.
“Young girls should never accept anything less of themselves,” she said, adding that the Gauteng Provincial Government has, after a lot of lobbying from the former Secretary General of the ANC Youth League, Vuyelwa Tulelo, launched a programme to provide underprivileged young girls with dignity packs.
The dignity packs, include enough sanitary towels, toothpaste, body lotion, deodorant and soap to last about three months.
Mokonyane said since the launch of this initiative, the number of girls bunking school and dropping out has decreased immensely.
“These girls are saying to us, ‘my government is helping me and I don’t need a sugar daddy anymore’. “We have also seen a number of teenage pregnancies go down enormously,” said Mokonyane.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said the journey to complete women emancipation was still very long.
“Out of 54 African countries, there is only one female president and only two foreign affairs ministers.
She told young women it was ok to fall in love but they should never be compromised and sell the emancipation of women.
A 19-year-old Terri-Ann Simelane, serenaded the dinner guests with inspiring poetry.
“I am overwhelmed and having a groupie moment to be among so many successful and famous women,” said Simelane.
An eloquent Simelane, who lives with the condition of albinism, said even though her condition is classified as a disability; she prefers to call it an “over ability”.
Malawian High Commissioner, Agrina Mussa noted the importance of mentorship for young women.
“I would like to advise all young women here tonight to find mentors and adopt the culture of reading. You can never go wrong,” said Mussa.
