Address by Mrs Thandi Nontenja, UDEMWO Secretary General, at a Women’s Day 2013 Celebration on 9 August 2013 at the Thulamahashe Stadium, Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga

Mr President
Ministers and senior government officials at national and provincial levels
Honourable guests
Fellow South Africans
Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the United Democratic Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO), I acknowledge the fact that, since we attained our political freedom in 1994, great advances have been made in South Africa regarding gender equality.

We are amazed to this day by what the brave women leaders of 1956 did. Twenty thousand women, under the inspired leadership of people such as Helen  Joseph, Ellen Khuzwayo Lilian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu and Ruth First, did the unthinkable, at a point in time when people went to jail for less. They stood up against a government that deemed them even worse than second-class citizens.

We must learn from this extraordinary display of political strength, female solidarity and inner fortitude. As women leaders we must take responsibility for this legacy and blaze the trail for those who come after us.

In fact, we are very proud of the women who occupy leadership positions in many sectors of our civil society and business. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Chairperson of the African Union) and Mrs Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (head of United Nations Women) are excellent examples of South African women who have been internationally recognised as leaders. Congratulations and good luck Sisters.

As we hail our achievements, we must however admit that we have not completed our mission and we still have a long way to go. Gender bias and discrimination remains an unfortunate factor in our country.

In various sectors of our society, large gender disparities exist between men and women. In fact, our mothers and young women (particularly in rural areas) remain at the margins of economic activities.

Another issue close to UDEMWO’s heart is the abuse of women and children. We welcomed the sentencing of the Modimolle Monster because it sent a clear and unmistakable message to those criminals who;

  • abuse their positions of trust;
  • have no respect for women and
  • do not see anything wrong with verbally abusing, beating and murdering a woman and/or a child.

Mr President, since the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is your brainchild, please crack the whip and have this Ministry and the Department properly fulfil its mandates.

In addition, the budget allocation for this Department is not adequate. We are concerned that other departments have a much bigger slice of the cake. For instance, the Sport and Recreation budget is much larger than that of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. Does this mean that we do not take the work of this Department seriously?

As UDEMWO, we are also concerned about the level of skills and capacity of those deployed and employed in this Department.

Aside from its primary mandate, Mr President, the Department might do a better job of communicating if they had a functional website; neither of their two websites is working. (www.wcpd.gov.za or www.dwcpd.gov.za).
 
As we reflect on this year’s theme we salute South African women who continue to contribute to our children, our societies and South Africa’s future in creative and sustainable ways.

But we must not think that the successes of the past guarantee a worthwhile future for South African women. We must be vigilant and not rest on our laurels. We cannot disappoint the women who passed the baton to us; and we cannot fail our girls and their daughters.

As women leaders, both in the UDM and UDEMWO, we commit ourselves to a Centenary of Working Together Towards Sustainable Women Empowerment and Gender Equality

Wathint’ abafazi wathint’ imbokodo

Thank you.