The Women’s Debate in the National Assembly came at a time when there is a spike in both women and girl child abuse in our country. This debate, which was preceded by the International Women’s Conference here at Parliament, was a way of coaxing Parliament to device ways and means to inform and influence crucial policy discussions. Discussions that will foster women’s empowerment and emancipation from all forms of discrimination, manipulation and exploitation.
Notably, this year’s celebration of the Women’s Month coincided with the honouring of one of the champions of women’s liberation and struggle icon, Mr OR Tambo, said the Minister of Women in the Presidency, Ms Susan Shabangu, in her opening address at the start of the women’s debate in the National Assembly. “This year is declared The Year of OR Tambo, who is turning 100 on 27 October. But most of all, he was an exemplary champion for the emancipation of women during the dark days of our struggle for liberation. And his wisdom continues to inspire us in our efforts for women’s emancipation,” she said.
He is one of the struggle stewards who elevated women to high echelons of the liberation movement when it was not fashionable to do so. Women who went on to play critical roles in the struggle and in our democratic dispensation, she said.
“True to his conviction, he appointed women to key and multilateral platforms when opportunities arose. They include, among others, Ms Frene Ginwala, Ms Getrude Shope and Ms Lindiwe Mabuza, who were part of his collective leadership.”
This year’s theme: “Women United in Moving South Africa Forward” is a tribute to the collective leadership style that characterised Tambo’s tenure as the esteem President of the ANC (African National Congress) for decades, she said.
And it serves as a call to galvanise, particularly men, to be part of a concerted and collective effort in the fight against women abuse and other forms of gender discrimination that seeks to displace entrenched patriarchal attitudes, she said.
“What we take from OR Tambo is the call to unite across gender in order to transform society. It is due to his leadership in this regard that we continue to partner with men’s formations to end gender discrimination. It is through these partnerships that men are beginning to challenge themselves on inherited, deep-seated patriarchal attitudes.
Reading and hearing about horrendous incidents of gender-based violence and child abuse, one would be forgiven for thinking that we are in the midst of a war zone. A war perpetuated by men, said Ms Denise Robinson.
And think of the women who are subjected to secondary victimisation by police officers whenever they report cases of rape, she said. “What has South Africa learnt from the rape trial about the barriers to justice for women who approach the law. Have we fully confronted the entitlement of men in positions of power and demanded action?”
The traditional authorities must be monitored to ensure that they abide by the gender equality legislation. For that to be achieved we must ensure that the Commission for Gender Equality has a strong leadership that would see to it that objective is achieved, said Ms Makoti Khawula. “But how can that be achieved when the top officials of the Commission are there on an acting capacity?”
Referring to the 1956 Women’s March, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa claimed that the liberation of this country was built on the sweat, blood and tears of women. “The mortar mix that built our democracy and freedom was mixed not with water but with blood, sweat and tears of women, who through their selfless sacrifices sustained the struggle, particularly at the darkest and toughest of times.”
Mr Sibusiso Mncwabe stated that we should ask ourselves unequivocally whether we are indeed free or we have just attained democracy. “We have to ask ourselves: ‘does democracy equate to freedom?’. If the answer is yes, then there is nothing to debate about – for the very essence of women’s emancipation is freedom,” he said.
And there can be no doubt that it is still black women who constitute the most disadvantaged and marginalised of all people, said Mr Mncwabe.
If we were to honour the women of 1956, we must assess the progress made against the eight demands the Women’s Charter adopted on the 17th of April 1954, said Ms Cynthia Majeke. “This Charter laid the foundation for later visions of freedom, non-racialism, equality and human dignity. In paying tribute and to be true to women, we must honour this Charter.”
The true liberation of women depends on their full economic emancipation. This is a single and most common view that was emphasised during the International Women’s Conference that was held here at Parliament in August, declared Ms Rosalia Morutoa.
“Women and girls are still burdened by unpaid care work which is exploitative and undervalued. According to the Commission for Employment Equality, women are mostly represented in these vulnerable sectors of the economy with gender-stereotype roles that have low salaries and have no job security,” she said.
By Abel Mputing
19 October 2017
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