Rather, I would like to refer to what I said ten years ago, in 2004, at an occasion in Johannesburg to celebrate the 10th anniversary of WIPHOLD, about which you might have been told already, which, as does our celebration today with regard to the 20th anniversary of WIPHOLD, also celebrated the related anniversary of our democracy. Then, in an article which the editors of the newsletter, ANC TODAY, entitled “The President thanks the women of South Africa”, I reported on what I characterised as “an important and moving event which took place at the Johannesburg Headquarters of the company established by black women, WIPHOLD.” On that occasion, ten years ago on August 13, 2014, I said some things that I would like to repeat here today, without substantively changing anything. I said then, which continues to apply to day, that (as over this weekend): “A number of the women spoke briefly during this unforgettable evening, raising a number of important matters. The comments they made confirmed the centrality of a number of issues that our movement, (the ANC), our governments in all spheres, and our people as a whole must take seriously. Some of these are that: • the emancipation, upliftment and empowerment of the women of South Africa, black and white, are fundamental to the birth of our new nation; • all this should be done with the women, and not just for them as passive beneficiaries; • this process must not only benefit a thin upper stratum of successful women, but women as a whole, including the poorest and the most disadvantaged in our urban and rural areas; • given the opportunity, which is all they are asking for, the women are capable of matching and surpassing men in achieving success in all fields; (present in the room were company owners, company executives, managers, accountants, finance experts, scientists, engineers, lawyers, medical doctors and other professionals, elected public representatives, and others;); • the process of black economic empowerment should not marginalise women, treating them as token five percenters, given limited participation merely to demonstrate that the women have not been forgotten; • neither should they be confined to a ghetto, patronisingly described as the most disadvantaged, and shoved into one basket containing the women, the youth and people with disabilities; • real and meaningful resources should be provided by both the public and private sectors, genuinely to secure the advancement of the women of our country; • even the most successful among the women never lose their sensitivity to the reality that much work remains to be done to end poverty and underdevelopment in our country: neither do they forget their own obligation to help address this challenge; • however much they succeed as individuals, they will not and should not forget the reality that it is the process of national liberation that has given them the possibility to succeed; and, • they are therefore committed to ensure that they contribute to the defence of our democratic gains and the further entrenchment of the genuine transformation process. “To them all, I extend our humble thanks, the humble thanks of our leadership and membership, of the millions in our country, women, children and men, who, though poor, walk with a spring in their steps, because freedom has restored their sense of dignity and self-worth, and given them the priceless gift of hope. “I thank them because what they did during one autumn night contributed magnificently to our possibility to say to those who may have nothing but dignity and hope that the blessings of the summer rains are not far behind.” Former President Thabo Mbeki
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 07:18:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015