https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230829/south-african-female-official-reflects-on-significance-of-womens-month-for-nation--1061711187.html
South African Female Official Reflects on Importance of Women's Month
South African Female Official Reflects on Importance of Women's Month
Sputnik Africa
Although the world celebrates International Women's Day on March 8, South Africa has a special holiday to honor women. It has deep roots in women's resistance... 29.08.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-08-29T15:11+0200
2023-08-29T15:11+0200
2023-08-30T14:47+0200
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Every year in August, South Africa celebrates Women's Month, when the nation pays tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9, 1956, to protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.The Pass Laws were a form of internal passport system designed to segregate the population under apartheid rule.Loyiso Masuku, councilor of Johannesburg's Member Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services, said in an interview with Sputnik Africa that the women were protesting against the "inhumane" apartheid system that systematically oppressed women.The march, the official added, served as a catalyst in the fight against segregation, the struggle for greater women's rights and essentially paved the way for the creation of organizations that helped usher in the end of the apartheid regime.Masuku's activism for the rights of the disadvantaged awoke during her student years when she "realized that there were so many of the young people in my class who could come and wouldn't be able to have a meal, who would sleep in the libraries."Masuku, who grew up during apartheid and saw women "adjusting to an environment" with a predetermined place for them, later joined a public office, where she said she began fighting for the rights of the disenfranchised, women and youth, and issues that are related to the empowerment of women.The official noted that after the apartheid collapse, South African women today face a new set of challenges, such as issues of gender-based violence, gender discrimination, racial discrimination and the ability to determine their own future.The issue of women's employment and career advancement is also particularly relevant, Masuka said.In this vein, Masuku said, Women's Month and Women's Day should serve as a reminder of the importance of fighting for equal rights, and an opportunity to revisit and scrutinize the state's policies on gender issues.Masuku remarked that despite the discrimination and stereotypes, women should not "be afraid to stand up and recognize that they have the ability to lead." According to her, women's potential should be recognized, they should receive equal rights and be respected.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230721/anti-apartheid-fights-unsung-hero-honoring-andrew-mlangeni-on-third-death-anniversary-1060671927.html
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south africa, southern africa, women, holidays, africa in details, anti-apartheid struggle, human rights, gender equality
South African Female Official Reflects on Importance of Women's Month
15:11 29.08.2023 (Updated: 14:47 30.08.2023) Although the world celebrates International Women's Day on March 8, South Africa has a special holiday to honor women. It has deep roots in women's resistance to the discriminatory apartheid system, started to be celebrated on August 9, 1994, and throughout the entire month.
Every year in August, South Africa celebrates Women's Month, when the nation pays tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9, 1956, to protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
The Pass Laws were a form of internal passport system designed to segregate the population under apartheid rule.
Loyiso Masuku, councilor of Johannesburg's Member Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services, said in an interview with Sputnik Africa that the women were protesting against the "inhumane" apartheid system that systematically oppressed women.
"It was structural oppression where there was no conducive environment for women to take control of their lives. There was no conducive environment for women to address themselves publicly, to deal with issues of oppression." Masuku explained.
The march, the official added, served as a catalyst in the fight against segregation, the struggle for greater women's rights and essentially paved the way for the creation of organizations that helped usher in the end of the apartheid regime.
Masuku's activism for the rights of the disadvantaged
awoke during her student years when she "realized that there were so many of the young people in my class who could come and wouldn't be able to have a meal, who would sleep in the libraries."
Masuku, who grew up during apartheid and saw women "adjusting to an environment" with a predetermined place for them, later joined a public office, where she said she began fighting for the rights of the disenfranchised, women and youth, and issues that are related to the empowerment of women.
The official noted that after the
apartheid collapse, South African women today face a new set of challenges, such as issues of gender-based violence, gender discrimination, racial discrimination and the ability to determine their own future.
The issue of women's employment and career advancement is also particularly relevant, Masuka said.
"There are restrictions now on employment opportunities, economic opportunities, women taking up leadership spaces and developing into higher positions, women becoming premiers, presidents, deputy presidents, mayors and so forth. So that is a different generational mission that we are now facing," the councilor stressed.
In this vein, Masuku said, Women's Month and Women's Day
should serve as a reminder of the importance of fighting for equal rights, and an opportunity to revisit and scrutinize the state's policies on gender issues.
The official noted that South Africa has "very important" gender machinery at the state level, such as the Commission for Gender Equality and the Ministry for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities, which monitors and coordinates efforts of government in order to deal with women-affecting issues in the country.
Masuku remarked that despite the discrimination and stereotypes, women should not "be afraid to stand up and recognize that they have the ability to lead." According to her, women's potential should be recognized, they should receive equal rights and be respected.
"It's time for women to be affirmed in their own right [...] And we must every 365 days of the year in our lives, not only in March, on International Women's Day and when in August in South Africa, we must celebrate our strength and fight for our equal rights," Masuku concluded.
