Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to accelerate efforts to empower women economically and tackle the complex barriers such as poverty, inequality, and unemployment that continue to hinder their development. Speaking at the National Women's Day commemoration at Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, Limpopo, President Ramaphosa saluted the achievements of South African women over the years, including their pivotal role in transforming the nation and contributing to socio-economic development.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President highlighted government measures to increase women's participation in the workforce, bridge the gender pay gap, and achieve greater inclusion in every sector of the economy, including leadership positions. He noted that over a quarter of top managers in the private sector are women, and South Africa ranks second out of the G20 countries in terms of female representation. Furthermore, 42% of Members of Parliament are women, a figure higher than in many developed countries.
While acknowledging this progress, the President emphasised that more needs to be done to achieve gender equality throughout society. He called for renewed commitment to achieving full gender equality and noted that women in South Africa continue to benefit from the changes initiated by the brave actions of the women of 1956. The government has made strides in providing accelerated access to basic services, social welfare, and economic opportunities for women, lifting millions out of absolute poverty.
The President also pointed out that the Employment Equity Act and other progressive laws have paved the way for more equitable representation of women in the economy. He mentioned that about 40% of preferential procurement in the public sector is awarded to women-owned businesses, and that women-owned SMMEs receive support through various national funds.
In her opening remarks, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, encouraged women to continue to march for their rights, focusing on tackling gender-based violence and femicide. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba also called on women to establish themselves and support each other, emphasizing the need for women to seek help if trapped in abusive relationships.
For many women in Limpopo, the day symbolised liberation from numerous social ills. Residents like Mandy Shikwambana and Precious Ralikgo expressed the need for government to ensure the protection of women and to educate them about their rights, respectively.
Every year on 9 August, South Africans celebrate National Women's Day, commemorating the 1956 campaign against the government's pass laws. This year's commemoration is held under the theme: 'Building Resilient Economies for All'.