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9 August 2008

Theme: 'Business unusual: All power to women'

Programme director,
MEC's here present,
Executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality,
Mayor of Maruleng Local Municipality,
Speakers and councillors,
Traditional leaders,
Veterans and stalwarts of 1956
Leadership of the Progressive Women's Movement
Leadership of other women formations,
Distinguished guests,
Women of Limpopo

It is always a pleasure to join the millions of South Africans every year in celebrating and commemorating Women's Day. It was on this day in 1956 when 20 000 women from all over the country, marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in protest against the extension of pass laws to women. This day, therefore, is an important reminder of the role which women played during the struggle for freedom and democracy in our country. The day further gives us a rare opportunity to pay tribute to all exceptional women in our lives - be they mothers, girls, sisters, daughters, wives or grandmothers.

We have gathered here in Maruleng Municipality in Mopani District to simply reaffirm our commitment to the course of women development in our country, in the same way our forebears did on 9 August 1956. By converging here today, we are in way sending a clear message to the people of our country that, days have come to pass when women were regarded as inferior citizens in the land of their birth.

It is days such as these, when we recall with fondness the calibre of leadership displayed by such heroic women as Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Ray Alexander, Ruth First, Winifred Kgoare, Dora Tamana, Martha Motsoenyane, Mari-Stella Sexwale Mabitjie and Adelaide Tambo to mention but a few. It is important to mention that even before 1956 many of these women had already received political baptism from the early struggles waged by the Bantu Women's League under the leadership of Mme Charlotte Maxeke.

Although women were not full members of the liberation movement then and only deemed as associate members, the Bantu Women's League fought very hard against oppression and not only for women's rights but also for the rights of both men and women to be recognised.

As early as 1954, women had already drawn up a Women's Charter, which was later to become the foundation stone for women's rights in this country.

Today as we speak, we are proud that many of the demands contained in this Women's Charter are now fully entrenched in our democratic constitution and the Bill of Rights.

This year we celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the 1956 march, which also coincides with the 90th anniversary of the launch of the Bantu Women's League and the 50th anniversary of the Zeerust anti-pass march.

One of the greatest achievements of our freedom and democracy has indeed been the extent to which we have gone as a country in uplifting women from the lowest rungs of society.

It is indeed true that since 1994, there have been a tremendous increase in the participation rate of women in the formal employment sectors and leadership positions, particularly in the public service, where gender representation is significantly high.

We are speaking here not only of middle class women who occupy positions of responsibility but also about ordinary women who have now found their rightful place in the centre of our society.

Through instruments such as policies and legislations, we have ensured that every woman has a right to:
* dignity
* the right to education
* right to vote and
* the right to participate in the economic and governance life of our country.

Our government's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has increased the number of women involved in small-to-medium-scale construction including those undergoing training as early childhood practitioners and community-based care workers.

Women also continue to benefit from social wage through measures such as child support grants, provision of housing and municipal services, as well as the provision of free basic water and electricity.

Our country has ratified many international conventions on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women as a sign of our commitment to the practical realisation of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Thus, at institutional and theoretical level, we can proudly assume that we have already ridden our society from the spectre of women oppression. However, this is far from the truth if we consider the fact that women today still mirror the face of poverty and unemployment. Even when they find employment, many women still occupy poorly paying jobs, which are only temporary. They constitute the majority of farm-workers and those doing domestic jobs. This makes women particularly more susceptible to poverty and diseases, let alone sharing in the economic benefits of their country.

The battle is still far from over, if we consider that women today are still counted amongst the most vulnerable everywhere in the world. As we have seen in almost all armed conflict, women are often the first victims to suffer the brutality of war. They are the first to be subjected to rape, violence and murder. This happened during the wars in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and still continues to happen to this day in places such as Darfur in Sudan and Somalia. We must condemn and fight this kind of brutality where women and children become targets of systematic rape, and human weapons, which are used for the purposes of stocking the flames of conflict.

Our government continues to hold a view that the development of our society cannot succeed unless it accommodates and acknowledges the needs, the insecurities and aspirations of women and other vulnerable groups. We hold a view that this situation will not end, unless and until, we stop putting our women and children in the periphery of society. We remain convinced that our society will never be free until women are free. There can be no question that good moral values remain key, in the fight against violence and abuse. This is why government calls on all women's groups and organisations to also play a part in fostering social cohesion and moral regeneration in our society. Once again, there can be no doubt that in order for us to change this situation for the
better, we must all start by first addressing the question of the girl child, in everything that we do.

Many of the challenges facing women in present-day South Africa can at best be described as generational problems which can be overcome only if we place more emphasis on the education of the girl child and the boy child.

Programme director

In order to address the scourge of poverty, our government will be implementing an integrated and comprehensive War Room against poverty. This inter-departmental War Room against poverty will be led by the Office of the Premier and similar structures will be established in municipalities. There will also be an establishment of Ward-based Anti-poverty Action groups to complement this strategy. The strategy will also address a number of challenges, which have emanated from global inflationary pressures, particularly around the escalation of food and fuel prices.

This challenge of high food prices must particularly give women an opportunity to go back to the fields and till the land, as we knew women historically and traditionally to be the ones known for providing household food security. As they say in Sepedi: 'Lehumo le tšwa tšhemong' consistent with the same strategy, government will also give special and immediate attention to municipal areas, which have been identified as worst poverty stricken in the province. These municipal areas include Maruleng in Mopani, Blouberg in Capricorn and Fetakgomo and Makhuduthamaga in Sekhukhune. We will also continue to work with our social partners to promote the economic empowerment of women through access to finance and fast-tracking of skills development at all levels. One of our objectives should be to ensure that poor households gain access to productive community assets like land and livestock. We must also ensure that more and women are economically active and have access to assets of their own.

Our generation has a responsibility to defend the gains that our heroic mothers made through blood and protracted struggle. This includes uniting and working together to lead the fight against women abuse and the attacks on people from other countries.

Acting together with men, women have it within their power to make South Africa a better place to live in.

Women's rights are human rights!

'Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo, uzokufa!' Malibongwe gama la makosikazi!

I thank you.

Issued by: Limpopo Provincial Government
9 August 2008
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za)