By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address at the National Women’s Day Commemoration hosted by the Greater Tzaneen Municipality in Limpopo Province.
Women’s Month 2025 marks the 69th anniversary of the historic 1956 demonstration in which 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August to protest against the extension of pass laws and the Urban Areas Act.
Ramaphosa addressed the national commemoration of Women’s Day under the theme “Building Resilient Economies for All”.
The event took place at the Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen.
The theme aligns with South Africa’s G20 Presidency women engagement working groups on empowerment prioritising socioeconomic development; strengthening an enabling ecosystem for women’s participation in the economy; fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration for impact and strengthening GBVF prevention through education, dialogue, and social mobilisation.
The commitment to empower women encapsulates South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme of Solidarity. Equality. Sustainability.
The focus of Women’s Month and is on promoting women’s participation and representation in leadership and the economy. This focus recognises the potential of peace and security to create a conducive environment for women to thrive, undergirded by women’s key role in fostering social cohesion and building resilient communities.
Ramaphosa mentioned the importance of ensuring that young men are taught to treat women with respect and care from a young age.
“We have zero tolerance for the abuse of women and children. It will never be acceptable, not now, not ever. Real men do not abuse women. Real men do not rape women. Real men do not kill women,” the president reiterated.
The SA Police Service (Saps) have reported that 5 578 women and 1 656 children were murdered in the year ending March 2024. At least 966 women were murdered in the first quarter of 2024-25 – a 7.9% increase from the previous year over the same period.
In the first quarter of this year, 10 688 rapes were reported, a 0.3% increase from the previous year over the same period.
Ramaphosa also used the opportunity to boast about the country’s transformation laws which have empowered women to lead in the workplace and determine their own financial future.
The Employment Equity Act and other progressive laws have paved the way for more equitable representation of women in the economy – and by this one must add all women, whether they are black or white. About 40 percent of preferential procurement in the public sector is awarded to women-owned businesses,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa highlighted the ongoing struggles women face, including gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.
He also called on men across the country to support, uplift, and protect women.
“So, we want the men of our country, of South Africa, to respect our women, to support our women, to uplift our women, to ensure that the women of South Africa succeed. Don’t compete with women, help them to succeed and to prosper. Then, if you do all that, as a man, you will be a real man.”
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.