Speech by Minister for Women, Children and People With Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana on the occasion of the unveiling of a bust in honour of former President Nelson Mandela by the Parliament of Venezuela
Programme Director,
Ambassador Thaninga Shope-Linney;
Former South African First Lady, Mrs Zanele Mbeki,
Representatives of the Venezuelan Government,
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
The people of Venezuela.
Let me at the onset begin by thanking the people of Venezuela through your government for having chosen to honour one of the greatest icons of our time, the late President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, in this manner.
It is perhaps more befitting that the unveiling of President Mandela's bust today happens at a time when women from our two countries are taking part in the Cultural Exchange Programme to share knowledge, skills and best practices.
Madiba, as he is affectionately called back at home in South Africa, was an advocate of women empowerment. He presided over the drafting of a Constitution that paved the way for the introduction of laws and policies that favoured the advancement and economic empowerment of women. As a result, women in South Africa now have equal rights in law to education, jobs and opportunities.
It was Nelson Mandela who, when delivering his inaugural speech as the first democratically elected President of South Africa, said that “... Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.”
President Mandela in the same address added that women need to be empowered to intervene in all spheres of life as equals with any other member of society. What better way to ensure that women indeed get to participate in all spheres of life than by capacitating them through these kinds of programmes.
The reality, though, is that despite the strides that have been made in creating an environment that allows women to flourish women across many parts of the world are still not enjoying socio-economic empowerment, particularly women in rural areas.
In keeping with the values of a South Africa, as envisioned by President Mandela and many other founding fathers of our democracy, where human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms, are paramount, the South African Government is in the process of introducing the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (WEGE BILL).
The Bill will among other things ensure that women are educated and trained in order to achieve equitable and sustainable development and economic empowerment including a minimum of 50% representation and meaningful participation of women in decision-making structures.
As an international statesman and a well-respected human rights activist Mandela fought for the rights of the most vulnerable among us. He did this while teaching the world about Ubuntu – human kindness, which he personified in all that he did.
It is my hope that this statue/bust will serve as a constant reminder, to the people of Venezuela and those from other parts of the world who would grace these walls, to live by the values of a free and equal society for which Mandela lived. And that we would not fail our generation by failing to heed the voice of Madiba as it reverberates through time reminding us that "It is in our hands to make a difference."
I thank you!
