PREMIER'S ADDRESS
Chairperson
Honourable members of the executive council
Comrades
Ladies and gentlemen
Members of the Alliance
TODAY as we march into the
African century under the banner of Faranani, Khomanani, Tshwaranang,
Hlanganani - let us pause and pay homage to those gallant women who 43 years
ago said: "NO!"
In 1956 thousands of women from across the country came together to
march to Pretoria to demand recognition of their rights. Forty three years
later, we are privileged to remember the solidarity and bravery of those
women.
At the same time, we must reflect on the transformation process in South Africa and how it has related to women and look with confidence to a future in which all women can freely participate without fear of discrimination.
As we commemorate this historic days, let us remember our great heroines and veterans in the struggle for national liberation, Comrades Ida Mntwana, Lillian Ngoyi, Francis Baart, Dora Tamana, Annie Silinga, Helen Joseph, Dorothy Nyembe, Florence Mkhize, Greta Ncapayi, Margaret Gazo, Dorothy Zihlangu, Mama Holo, Victoria Mxenge and many others.
Women throughout South Africa have played a central role in the birth of our democratic nation. Far from playing only the nurturing role to which they are so often relegated, women have emerged as strong and capable leaders and decision makers. The growth and development of our country is something women have contributed to at a number of levels.
Integrating working and family life has considerable challenges but South African women have achieved good balances simply through being committed to playing roles both in public and private spheres and not allowing external limitations or views to dictate the manner in which we define our potential
April 1994 heralded a new dispensation for the people of South Africa - a new era in which all members of our society would be empowered to participate and contribute. This is encapsulated in our Constitution which we believe will be ratified in the near future. The Bill of Rights states that "everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law."
The Constitution is also clear that "the state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone", on grounds including gender. This means that the law which is the bedrock upon which we have rebuilt our country gives unequivocal respect and protection to the women of South Africa.
This is a great victory for all women as well as for men who believe that discrimination is an evil which must be eradicated. We can truly say that today we have come together to celebrate this achievement in our struggle for equality.
Since the national elections, many steps have been taken to ensure that women's issues remain on the agenda. We have had the Beijing conference.
We have seen the establishment of important institutions such as the Gender Commission for Equality. In my office, we have the Office of the Status of women an office aimed at empowering women in the both government and civil society.
Today we join hands with every concerned South African and extend a hand of friendship and solidarity beyond our borders to those people who believe, as we do, in equality and empowerment. However, we must also pause to think about the challenges that still face us.
Today is both a celebration of what has been achieved and a consideration of what still lies ahead. Many women in South Africa continue to live in difficult conditions. If we want to give content to the spirit of the Constitution, then we must actively engage in the problems which threaten women's well-being and which stall their progress in life.
Poverty is a great problem in South Africa and it affects women more starkly than it does men. The 'Key Indicators of Poverty' report shows that female-headed households have a 50% higher poverty rate than male-headed households. In addition, women suffer from higher unemployment rates than men and also from the lack of access to services in rural areas. As a result, poor rural women spend more than four hours fetching water and wood.
The gender division of labour within the home results in women bearing a greater burden in their relationships and families. We have achieved political liberation in our country. We now need to concentrate on the economic liberation which will ensure true freedom of opportunity and freeing of potential.
Women have also historically been marginalised from positions of power. They are excluded from decision-making mechanisms, both within the home and the workplace.
Our democratic elections saw more women coming into positions of leadership than ever witnessed before in this country and yet research conducted by Idasa shows us that across the country, less than 25% of elected councilors in both urban and rural authorities are women, with very few positions at the executive level being held by women.
We have one female Premier and relatively few female MECs. We firmly believe that this will change as space is created for women to function in public life but we have to take active measures to ensure that this becomes a reality.
It is no coincidence that two women are leading a National Department that most people think is a department only strong men can lead the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs.
In the Mpumalanga government we are not doing badly we have two very powerful women leading two very important portfolio. Let us give a big hand to Comraders Manana and Coleman.
We are committed to building a representative and fully participatory government and this requires actions to accompany our words.
In a few weeks time South Africa will be hosting the ALL AFRICA GAMES. A number of women will be participating in this games.
The creation of space is a critical issue and we need to extend this concept beyond government. Our educational institutions must be challenged to ensure that they are encouraging girls and women to study and that factors which may cause them to leave the education system are dealt with.
Equal access to quality health care must be ensured, so that women are able to keep themselves and their families healthy. The media needs to be challenged in its sexist portrayals of women because these images influence they way we think about each other and provide incorrect role models for our children.
Furthermore, when we speak of economic empowerment, we must ensure that women are given equal access to resources, employment, markets and trade, so that they can become self-employed, running their own businesses, and therefore economically independent. Economic rights are women's rights, not privileges to be handed out when they are deemed to be appropriate.
Violence is an issue which continues to tear the fabric of our society apart. Violence against women knows no boundaries and cuts across colour, religion and culture. The majority of abuse cases happen in the home, at the hands of partners and family members. The police estimate that only 2.8% of rape cases are actually reported due to the lack of support services for women and the social stigma that is attached to being an abused woman.
Violence remains one of the most potent weapons used
against women and hinders any true liberation.
This is unacceptable. Government, the private sector, community
organisations, NGOs and the media must work together to formulate and
implement plans of action to eliminate violence against women.
Perpetrators of such horrific acts must be duly tried and punished. We
will not stop working before South Africa is a society free of the fear
of abuse.
All of these issues are on our agenda. We in government give our commitment to you today that we will continue to fight against discrimination in every form and work towards a country which can proudly say that it has done away with prejudice and unequal opportunity. Women have the right to free their potential, and to be dictated to by no one. It is true that this country cannot truly be free until all its women are free and it is to this ongoing struggle that we recommit ourselves today.
August 9 is a very special day. It is the day of every woman in South Africa - those of you who are here in Witbank today and every other woman, wherever she may be. We hope that you will be able to celebrate in fine style, remembering our sisters of forty years ago who took those brave steps to the capital city. It is in their memory that we march today, for a free and peaceful South Africa.
Thank you.