Executive Mayor of City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
Councillors
Senior Managers present
Our Esteemed guests – the Women of Hammanskraal and Beyond

Programme Director:

It is my singular honor indeed to be part of these many women’s celebrations across the length and breadth of our land.

In this Month our country commemorates the historic struggles and sacrifices of South African women, black and white, who proudly stood shoulder to shoulder against the twin evils of racism and sexism.

This event today reminds us of the 1956 Women`s March against the oppressive apartheid laws and the sterling role women played in liberating our country and in shaping our democracy.

We will therefore, year after year, continue to pay tribute and salute all our unsung heroines who led by example and left us a legacy of the true meaning of courage, sacrifice and determination in pursuit of the noble goal of equality, freedom and justice for all.

In this case, we talking of heroines of our struggle such as Charlotte Maxeke, Ray Alexander, Ida Ntwana, Helen Joseph, Lilian Ngoyi, Lily Diedericks, Francis Baard, Rahima Moosa, Florence Matomela, Victoria Mxenge, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Sophie de Bruyn, Dora Tamana, Bertha Gxowa, Ruth First, Dorothy Zihlangu, Ray Alexander, Liz Abrahams, Dorothy Nyembe, Phila Ndwandwe, Nomkhosi Mini, Coline Williams, Fatima Meer, Florence Ribeiro, Emma Mashinini, Sister Bernard Ncube, Lydia Kompe, Dulcie September, Josephine Moshobane, Mildred Lesea, Helen Suzman and many others and many others who throughout the long years of struggle for freedom demonstrated fortitude in confronting white minority rule.

This year is 100 years since the formation of the Bantu Women’s League and a hundred years since the birth of that great stalwart of our movement, Mama Albertina Sisulu. 

As a nation we mark this historic event not merely to recall the extraordinary path that the women of our country have walked over many decades of oppression, repression, discrimination and exploitation. 

We do this not only to applaud the outstanding contributions that millions of women have made to the achievement of our non-racial and non-sexist democracy. 

We are guided by the revolutionary vision of Charlotte Maxeke and inspired by the courage and commitment of Albertina Sisulu that we will surely succeed to build a society in which the young women of our country will live in peace, dignity, security and comfort. 

We celebrate Mama Sisulu’s extraordinary contribution to the struggle of the South African people for liberation. 

Through Mama Sisulu’s courage and selflessness, she worked tirelessly to keep the flame of freedom burning even in the difficult moments of oppression. 
 

She embodied the values that continue to guide our struggle for the emancipation of women and, indeed, the freedom of all people, everywhere. 

Our collective programmes have liberated the women of this country from the reality of racism, sexism, poverty and underdevelopment in both our rural and urban areas.

We would be able to say women live in conditions of emancipation, empowerment, equality and eradication of poverty when indeed we have made greater progress towards realising the goal of a better life for all, and when we have made greater progress in the struggle to end the depraved acts of rape, physical abuse and violence against women our country continues to experience.

The liberation of our country cannot be complete when a huge section of our nation is still confined to the margins of mainstream society because of disempowerment, illiteracy, poverty, and lack of access to indispensable resources.

We cannot claim to be free from oppression when we read daily in the media harrowing accounts about the abuse of women and children. Lest we forget, Rasuge story just around us, may her soul rest in peace

We can only ignore at our own collective peril the fact that the culture of gender inequality continues to undermine efforts towards the development and growth of our economy.

If we fail to mobilise the potential of all our people in conditions of total liberty so that they can give unencumbered expression to their creativity, we are, effectively, depriving our country of the possibility to leverage its full potential to achieve the goals of growth, development and shared prosperity.

It is equally important that the male population in our country joins the struggle against all forms of gender oppression.

The South African Men`s Forum - together with a few other men`s organisations - work from the standpoint that the struggle to emancipate, empower and liberate our women cannot be complete without the meaningful participation of our men.

These are men who know from within the structures of patriarchy the male experience of growing up socialized and misled to believe that you are better and superior to women simply because of your gender.

The emergence of gender activists in South African Men`s Forum  represents a new consciousness of a radical male seeking to create and entrench the ethos of equality and non-sexism in a society where some continue to treat the challenge of gender equality as a side issue.

The struggle for gender equality is a struggle for human freedom. The liberation of our country will remain incomplete until the total and unconditional liberation of women is achieved.

Programme Director

We are also pleased to state that despite existing challenges, the democratic South Africa we are all building is beginning to yield positive results in many areas of gender empowerment.

Many women in our country have, rightly, staked their claim in democratic South Africa by grasping at opportunities created by the democratic space.

There continues to be a significant increase in the intake of women into the formal sectors of our economy and into leadership positions, particularly in the public sector where gender representation has improved significantly.

For example, the collective determination of government to recognise women as critical players in our country has resulted in 40 percent representation of women as national government ministers and deputy ministers.

Today women have access to social grants, to housing, education, health care and free basic services among others. More than ever before, women enjoy rights and privileges in accordance with our constitution.

We have also made a conscious decision to integrate women`s emancipation, empowerment, equality and poverty eradication in such initiatives as the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Furthermore, as government, we will continue to work with our social partners to promote the economic empowerment of women to have easy access to resources such as finance and ensure that we fast-track skills development at all levels.

As we gather here today we are aware that much still needs to be done to eradicate the legacy of gender discrimination, inequality and poverty.

Within the practice of participatory democracy that our government has espoused as an effective means of mobilising social actors as partners so that together we help deepen our democracy, government continues to interact with the Women Working Group to explore better ways of addressing the many issues facing women.

We believe that, as the basic unit of society, the family unit must play a critical role in the education and upbringing of girls and young women. Mothers, fathers, the home and the community must play a critical role in teaching and guiding young girls around issues such as teenage pregnancy, safe sex and AIDS.

We also agreed that government will, together with women`s organisations, address the challenges faced by female farm workers many of whom are not aware of their rights. The challenges of farm labour will be given a special attention by among others, engaging this important part of our working class so that they too understand their rights.

As government, we need to pay extra attention to the matter of basic services for women in rural areas, such as the continuing challenge of access to water and sanitation.

All of us are aware of the fact that, notwithstanding the existence of such legislation as the Domestic Violence Act, many women are still subjected to various forms of abuse.

We therefore call upon all sectors of society to join forces in a national partnership to fight against all forms of abuse against women, to join the Campaign of 365 Days of Activism against Violence Against Women and Children.

In all these matters we need strong partnerships. Partnerships, between government, civil society, faith-based organisations, trade unions, traditional organisations should, through co-operation, dialogue and education work together to inject greater urgency in the work we do to build a non-sexist society.

Probably, today we need to renew our pledge to realise our vision of a non-sexist and non-racial society in which women are equal and active partners in building the new South Africa.

Fellow compatriots

The struggles fought by the Bantu Women’s League affirmed black women as political activists and social reformers, leaders in their own right and agents of their own liberation and they defied not only the tyranny of racial oppression, but also the prejudice and discrimination that women daily confronted. 

It advanced a vision of a society defined by freedom, dignity, equality and respect. 

 We pay tribute to the women who went to prison for burning their passes, who stood trial for treason, who defied unjust laws, who went on strike for a living wage, who joined the ranks of Umkhonto we Sizwe, who were banished, censored and jailed, who lost their lives to the murderous forces of the apartheid state. 

Today we celebrate the achievements of these women and millions more. 

It is a celebration of the great achievements over many years of struggle to ensure that the role of women in society and in public life is recognized and affirmed. 

The statistics, even though they are only partially known, are truly shocking. The fact that an estimated one in six South African women is being abused by their male partner is something that should not be tolerated in any society. This pervasive violence against women has as its one most extreme expressions, the terrible phenomenon of serial murders. We must eradicate this violence against women.

I therefore welcome the initiative such as shut down campaigns and marches that are taking place around the country I would urge all of you to support, as I am doing, to unite against this evil. By doing so you are not only showing your solidarity with victims of abuse. You will help spread awareness of what has been too long hidden. You will give a clear message to the perpetrators that what they are doing is beyond the bounds of human conduct.

Our anger should strengthen the resolve of all of us, inside and outside government, individuals, organisations and communities to join hands with the police in combating violent crime. Our ultimate victory in the war against criminals depends on the support and co-operation of every sector of society.

We know that the criminals, including those who abuse women, depend on people around them, women as well as men, keeping silent even though they reject what they are doing. The time has come to speak up and expose the criminals.

Only through a partnership of police and those they serve will we truly achieve the Peace to which August 9th this year is dedicated.

Let us join hands, in response to the call of the women, to fight against gender violence.

We should ask ourselves as to what more should we do to ensure that the empowerment and emancipation of women becomes a daily reality. As we celebrate today we should resolve to accelerate our progress towards gender equality both in the public and private sectors and in society as a whole.

We should ask ourselves as to what more we must do to end all forms of women abuse and violence against women and children, including the terrible crime of rape. We must work in partnerships and implement programmes that would help us push back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment that characterise the lives of millions of women in this country.

On this day our country commemorates the historic struggles and sacrifices of South African women, black and white, who proudly stood shoulder to shoulder against the twin evils of racism and sexism.

These women and many others who believed in the possibility of a South Africa based on non-racial, non-sexist, just and democratic ideals, freedom and equality, represent the very essence of being human.

Fellow South Africans:

At the same time, we see daily the terrible legacy of gender oppression which continues to defile our society.

We would be able to say women live in conditions of emancipation, empowerment, equality and eradication of poverty when indeed we have made greater progress towards realizing the goal of a better life for all, and when we have made greater progress in the struggle to end the depraved acts of rape, physical abuse and violence against women our country continues to experience.

If we fail to mobilise the potential of all our people in conditions of total liberty so that they can give unencumbered expression to their creativity, we are, effectively, depriving our country of the possibility to leverage its full potential to achieve the goals of growth, development and shared prosperity.

We celebrate many women who have excelled in fields from which they have traditionally been excluded, who today occupy positions of authority and responsibility and strides they make in the fields of farming, medicine, science, arts, entrepreneurship and politics. 

Fellow South Africans,  

Poverty, hunger, homelessness, landlessness and unemployment define the lives of millions of our people. Prejudice, discrimination, exploitation and violence are still present in our society, which – despite the progress we have made – has not yet fully emerged from our racist and patriarchal past. 

Many South African women are still burdened by poverty, and oppressed by cultural practices, social convention and prejudice. The face of poverty and suffering is still worn by the women of our country. 

Many are not able to have and access educational and economic opportunities. They are neglected in the provision of government services and are overlooked by the business community. 

Patriarchy is still a defining feature of our society

Our President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa implored us all as government to start with a grave admission, of saying that we failed our women.

Across our society, in towns small and cities large, in homes, in schools, in colleges and universities, in our streets, our parks and open spaces, a war is being waged against women. 

It is a war against women’s bodies, their dignity and their right to freedom, security and equality. It is an affront to our common humanity and a betrayal of the values of our Constitution. 
In ways that are both subtle and brutal, women are subjected each and every day to verbal, emotional and physical abuse. 

In a society that has long struggled against gender-based violence, the assault on the integrity and humanity of women has reached unprecedented levels. 

Because it is difficult to establish the full extent of this epidemic – as many offences go unreported – studies show that the lifetime experience of South African women of gender-based violence is higher than the global average. 

Shockingly, a significant percentage of South African men admit to perpetrating violence against women. 

Women are abused by virtue of the fact that they are women, transgender, are gender non-conforming or because of their sexual orientation. Violence is perpetrated against women by men who are strangers, acquaintances, relatives or intimate partners. 

The violence that women are subjected to crosses boundaries of race and class, culture and language. Yet there is a real danger that because violence against women has become so pervasive, society is gradually unmoved and has stopped seeing it as unacceptable and abhorrent. 

We are committed to deal with any public servants especially our police officers who, through their treatment of survivors of violence, make the trauma and pain even worse. We therefore share a responsibility to correct this failing, to work together across society to fundamentally change attitudes, practices and institutions to end violence against women.

As women we have welcomed the President’s announcement that National Gender Summit would take place on 31 August to forge consensus on approaches to effectively and urgently deal with the crisis of gender-based violence, discrimination against women and gender disparities. 

As well as the assurances that the recommendations of the Gender Summit will be comprehensive, guiding the work of government and the activities of all stakeholders. 

Programme Director

This lecture sustains momentum created by various initiatives such as marches by political parties, Not in My Name march by men and Total Shutdown march by women on the 1st of August, to send a clear message that enough is enough about femicide and gender based violence.

We also applaud the men who participated in the 100 Men March that took place on 10 July 2018.  South Africa needs more men to stand up and challenge fellow men who instigate these acts of violence against women and children.

We are holding this lecture just two days after learning about the loss of one of liberation struggle stalwarts, Mama Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe, who passed away this Wednesday at the age of 91.  We salute her for the role she played in the liberation of our country and serving the people with humility.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Mama Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu was a fearless champion of democracy and human rights. We celebrate her centenary under the theme is: Albertina Sisulu - “A woman of fortitude,” in recognition of her courage, discipline, integrity and love for her country.

MaSisulu was one of the organisers of the iconic 1956 March which saw more than 20 000 women march to the Union Building to protest against the discriminatory pass laws. This march has been celebrated since 1995 as Women’s Day to recognise the important role political activism by women played during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid.

She epitomised the saying: “When you strike a woman, you strike a rock.” In the 80s, she co-founded the United Democratic Front which joined the multitude of anti-apartheid groups under one umbrella. She was elected one of its co-presidents from her jail cell.

Allow me to highlight just two of the heart-wrenching cases of the perpetuated violence against women.  Rather, I would rephrase by saying, these are cases of violence directed to even girl children and young ladies who are in the prime of their lives.

In May this year, I visited the family of 10-year old Katlego “Katli” Joja in Mamelodi to pay my respects after she was brutally murdered and her body was found floating in a river after she was reported missing.  What made Katlego’s death more painful is that she was diagnosed with autism.  Have we become a society that has lost its moral conscience that we would even attack the vulnerable children?

As women and mothers of our country, we constantly ask ourselves: why would some men in our society direct this violence to their fellow human beings and their children?  Who gave some of these men the right to violate the dignity of women of our country?  What gives them the right to kill women and young girls?

Programme Director

Just as we were undertaking the Women’s Month celebrations, the nation was shocked to learn about the death of a 23 year-old, beautiful, promising university student, Khensani Maseko who committed suicide after battling depression.  Khensani was allegedly raped by her boyfriend who is reported to be a fellow student at Rhodes University.

We have to ask ourselves how we came to fail Khensani who was already a third year law student.  We have to remind the men to our society that even if we are in a relationship or married:

When a woman says NO, she means NO. 

When a woman says NO, she means NO. 

When a woman says NO, she means NO. 

When a woman says NO, she means NO. 

When a woman says NO, she means NO. 

Therefore, nor man has the right to impose himself upon a woman when she refuses to partake in whatever activity.  Being in a relationship or in a marriage, does not give a man a right to see his partner as a private property.  Women have equal status to men and this right is enshrined in the Constitution of our country.

Chapter 1 on the Founding Provisions of our Constitution, clearly stipulates our democratic state is founded on a number of values, amongst them, is the right to human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedom.  Section 10 in the Bill of Rights clearly stipulates: Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Based on these provisions of our Constitution, we then have to ask: as a nation, are we violating the Constitution and by extension, the law, by unleashing these acts of violence against women and children?  History will judge our generation harshly if we do not stand up like the women who took part in the 1956 March to say: Enough is Enough.

Men have the power to put an end to abuse, assault, rape and domestic violence against women and children.  We call on responsible father figures to instill the values of human dignity, equality and respect in young men and boys.

Women did not take part in the struggle for freedom in order to be under siege through gender-based violence nor any other kind of violence or abuse.  Due to the sacrifice of many of our heroines, we now live in a country governed by a Constitution which recognises women as equal citizens, with equal rights and responsibilities.

However, more still needs to be done to ensure the full participation of women in the economy and women in leadership positions.

In conclusion:

We can all learn from the life of Albertina Sisulu who lived to serve the people of South Africa.  Together we can continue to build on her legacy and that of countless others who gave everything for our democracy and freedom.

Together we must continue to build on the progress we have made since 1994.  We dare not rest or assume that the work is done, it is up to this generation to continue fighting for greater social and economic inclusion.

We must continue to build and strengthen our democracy by ensuring that we build on our founding values of human rights, dignity and democracy.

It is our shared responsibility to continue to shape a national identity that is built on mutual respect, tolerance and acceptance.  Let us celebrate living in a country which guarantees our humanity; irrespective of race, gender, creed or sexual orientation.

We all have a responsibility to ensure that we build a society where all South Africans are free to thrive. By working Together, We Can Move South Africa Forward.

As Government, we came here in Temba, Hammanskraal, to engage with you because Batho Pele Principles mandates us that we must put you, People First, in everything we do. 

We are here because we want to assure our women and children that, as Government, We Belong (to you), We Care (about you), We Serve (you).

I thank you.