By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that even though we celebrate the gains made during the 30 years, our country is deeply traumatised by violence against women and children.
Ramaphosa was speaking at the Denis Nel Stadium in Pofadder, Northern Cape.
The theme for this year’s Women’s Day commemoration is “Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom Towards Women’s Development”.
The national event marked 68 years to the day since 20,000 women of diverse backgrounds from across South Africa marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
During 30 years of democracy, South Africa has made significant strides in advancing gender equality. This is in all domains of society, including economic empowerment of women.
Ramaphosa said 7% of women, that are 18 and older, had experienced physical or sexual violence in a 12-month period.
“Seven percent may not sound like a lot but it is equivalent to 1.5 million women who are abused and violated.”
The president said this number comes from a survey done by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on the prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa.
The survey – which measured physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse – is set to be released in the coming weeks.
“These are women who have endured trauma that no person should have to experience,” the president added. “No woman in South Africa should be subjected to violence or sexual harassment.”
Men must change their behaviour
He also said the survey found more than 600 000 men had admitted to being violent against women.
“Men must change their behaviour. Men must change their attitudes,” Ramaphosa said.
The president added that government has tried to fight gender-based violence and femicide by opening more sexual offences courts in recent years, and expanding the number of care centres for women seeking shelter.
“Our country is deeply traumatised by the violence that is continued to be perpetrated against women and children.
“This violence is a betrayal of our constitution. It is an affront to our common humanity.”
Women Empowerment
Ramaphosa also called for more opportunities for South African women to actively participate in the country’s economy.
“Women must take their rightful place as active participants in the economy, in a way in which they will be able to get employment, to be businesswomen, to be able to bring up their children.
“We want them to be producers, employers and we want them to succeed.”
Despite the shortcomings, the president believes a lot that has been done to improve the status of women in South Africa over the past 30 years.
Ramaphosa said South African women are significantly represented in parliament, government, and the judiciary.
“It was a moment of great pride for me to sign a presidential order appointing the first female chief justice of our country, and in this regard, I must say that we have made history.”
Background
On August 9 1956 tens of thousands of women took to the streets in Pretoria. They were protesting the introduction of pass laws, which limited the movement of black and minority South Africans. They also segregated them and required them to carry a pass at all times to authorise their presence in certain areas.
On the day, the women marched peacefully to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. There, a representative from each race group carried 14,000 petitions to end pass laws to the prime minister at the time, JG Strijdom. The petition called upon the government not to issue pass laws to African women. They wanted to secure the fundamental rights of security, freedom and justice. There were three main points to the petition:
- Women would lose the right to move freely in their own country.
- Homes would be broken up when women were arrested under the pass laws.
- Women and young girls would be humiliated and degraded by pass-searching police.
Over 20,000 women stood in silence for half-an-hour, and then they started to sing a protest song. This song, which is translated as you strike a woman, you strike a rock, now represents women’s courage and strength.