Issued by: SA Communication Service
Ms E E N Kankosi-Shandu, Deputy Minister of the national department of Public Works speaks out on women's rights in the Mahlabathini district at Mkhazana on 9 August 1996 for the Women's day celebrations.
Die Deputy Minister says freedom of speech, religion and education (which women are willing to pay for) are women's rights that are newly gained in South Africa. Particularly rural women who were tied down by the old Zulu laws now have the freedom to own property, previously a man's privilege in certain South African cultures. Equal marital status which was impossible under the old Natal code of the Zulu law, was repealed by the then Kwazulu Government. Deputy Minister Shandu invites women who were previously perceived as inferior to men, to come out of their shells to gain their rights.
Deputy Minister Shandu goes further by warning women that with these privileges, comes responsibility to have foresight and initiative. She challenges women to join in business ventures to become employers and managers and to venture into daring professions previously dominated by men like the Navy, Army and Aviation. She says become importers and manufacturers, be involved with international trade for example South African handicrafts that are popular with the overseas markets.
According to Deputy Minister Shandu markets targeted for South African handicrafts are Denmark, Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom as well as government departments in South Africa who want to buy gifts for overseas visitors.
Deputy Minister Shandu stresses that it is easy to ask the government what it can do for women in South Africa, she challenges the women to rather ask what they can do to help themselves. Especially rural women are advised to strengthen their bonds with their development committees, Agricultural co-operatives, their clubs and stokvels to encourage business ventures.
The Integrated Development Committee called KIDECO (Kwazulu Natal Integrated Rural Development Committee under chairmanship of Reverend Mazibela of Kwasizabantu aims at empowering development through training.
Issued by: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PUBLIC WORKS, PRETORIA TEL NO: (012) 205 2509 FAX NO: (012) 323 2856 MEDIA CONTACT: HELENE VERSTER
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