Sasolburg – President Jacob Zuma says government is aware that there is still more that needs to be done to improve the lives of women.
Speaking at the Women’s Day celebration held in Sasolburg in the Free State, President Zuma said the government focus was now on economic empowerment of women.He also used the opportunity to praise all the women who took part in the 1956 march to the Union Buildings to protest against the pass law
“Their sacrifices reminds us that freedom was attained through blood and sweat. We pay tribute to all the South African women who paid for our democracy,” he said.President Zuma said if the country is to succeed, women should participate in the economy. Also speaking at the same event was one of the leaders of the 1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Sophie de Bruyn who said the 1956 brave women should not be forgotten.De Bruyn said the march “was to show that women cannot be pushed”.
“Women stood against injustices since 1930,” she said, adding that women stood against the pass laws that controlled every aspects of their lives.
This year’s Women’s Day is celebrated under the theme: “Women united in moving South Africa forward.”Women’s Month is taking place against the backdrop of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.
he African Union has also prioritised women empowerment by declaring 2015 as the “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa's Agenda 2063.” Newly elected ANC Women’’s League President and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini in her address emphasised the importance of unity among women.
“If united, no one can course divisions amongst the women. We want to have a new vision that will change South Africa,” she said. She called on women to fight all forms of oppression while calling on fathers to support their children. Tsholofelo Mauda from Mangaung, was one of those who attended the celebrations in Sasolburg and said that she is impressed by the progress government is making to improve the lives of women.
“Today we have women representatives in almost all government structures including Parliament,” she said– SAnews.gov.za
