Ladies and gentlemen, Women's Month is celebrated during the month of August in this country, to celebrate and remember the historic Women’s March of 9 August 1956 to where women from all walks of life marched to the Union Buildings in protest against the pass laws of that time. It is against this background that today we launch Women’s Month in our province
South Africa continues to celebrate and commemorate the struggle of women for a free, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. In 1956, about 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against legislation aimed at tightening the apartheid government's control over the movement of black women in urban areas. Fifteen years since the advent of democracy, government has made significant strides to ensure the emancipation of women as stated in our Freedom Charter.
Government has further established a new Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities has under the able leadership of the Honourable Ms Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya. In provinces, this unit will be placed in Offices of the Premier.
We shall also use the month of August to raise awareness about this Ministry amongst our people in the North West. The establishment of the Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities consolidates our programme to continue to intensify the development of women in our country. This achievement is indicative of this government’s determination to fight ills that threaten to destroy the moral fibre of our society. Furthermore, this new ministry aims to establish effective institutional mechanisms for social and economic empowerment, equalization of opportunities and access to resources for women, children and persons with disabilities.
This means that there will be close collaboration with other departments, provincial and local government, private sector, labour and civil society, in mainstreaming issues relating to these targeted groups.
In future we strive to pull the social security net tighter and to put poverty alleviation projects on the table that will primarily benefit the many women, children and people with disabilities who continue to live in conditions of abject poverty.
Government has further passed laws that seek to better the lives of the women of South Africa and all our people. These laws include the Prevention of Family Violence Act, Choice on Termination of Pregnancy, Employment Equity Act, Maintenance Act, Domestic Violence Act, Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act and Enactment of Communal Property Associations Act.
According the recent statistics, the North West provincial government currently stands at 35 percent women senior managers. Regarding women middle managers, we are standing at 37 percent and junior women managers we are standing at 43.7 percent. We still need to ensure that we reach our targeted quota of 50 percent being women managers but we are getting there.
Women and children constitute the majority of the population in rural areas. They are at the receiving end of the challenges posed by underdevelopment in these areas. It is therefore logical that they should be primary beneficiaries of government programs on rural development, agricultural support and land reform. Our goal is to further ensure that women are liberated from the constraints of many centuries of land deprivation.
We have recently revived the provincial gender machinery and have had successful meetings with structures from all levels of society to discuss challenges and possible solutions in depth.
Some of the highlights during Women’s Month in the North West province include the South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID) and the Women in Construction Conference that will look at ways of really empowering women in construction. We need to ensure that major contractors continue to mentor women contractors so that they get to a point where they are able to stand on their own and deliver quality construction work of any magnitude.
We will also hold the female farmers award which will award and reward women farmers and in future also ensure that after care and incubation programs are strengthened.
During the State of the Province Address, I emphasised government’s five year priorities that included education, health, rural development, the fight against crime and corruption as well as creating decent work and sustainable livelihoods.
It is heartening to say that through interventions such as the rural and local economic development programmes and social safety systems, we continue to reduce the burden of women-headed households who bare the brunt of poverty. This government’s women’s empowerment fund and the Employee Equity Act 1998, continue to ensure the appointment and support for women in top leadership positions in government and the private sector.
This year’s theme “Together Empowering Women for Development and Gender Equality” is an all encompassing government statement. The theme is guided by the government program of action, drawn from the State of the Nation Address delivered by the State President on 3 June 2009. “For as long as there are women who are subjected to discrimination, exploitation or abuse; for as long as there are children who do not have the means nor the opportunity to receive a decent education. We shall not rest and we dare not falter, in our drive to eradicate poverty.”
During Women’s Month we will strengthen our partnerships in the 365 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign. A new co-ordinating and management structure for the criminal justice system is set to heighten interventions that protect women and children from abuse.
The office in the status of women and rights of the children has ensured a programme for August, filled with notable activities and events that will bring our women to the fore. On 9 August, we shall celebrate Women’s Day at Molatedi in the Bojanala District Municipality. As all these events are of equal importance, I will also indicate to you that 31 August, is another important day in our calendar.
We shall hold our annual memorial lecture at the North West University Potchefstroom campus and you are all invited to attend.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
31 July 2009
