Pretoria: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has called for women to play a central role in South Africa's National Dialogue process. Addressing the Women's Sector National Dialogue Preparatory Summit, Letsike emphasized the importance of moving beyond legal guarantees of equality to ensure meaningful change in women's daily lives.
According to South African Government News Agency, Letsike highlighted the historical significance of the current year, marking the 70th anniversary of the Women's March of 1956 and 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution. She stressed the responsibility of the current generation to ensure equality is not only protected in law but experienced daily by women and girls.
Letsike noted that while women's voices are present in public life, institutions often fail to address the persistent challenges faced by women. She pointed to high levels of unemployment, poverty among women, the vulnerability of female-headed households, unpaid care work, and gender-based violence as indicators that gender equality remains unresolved.
The Deputy Minister argued for the National Dialogue to consider whether current systems need redesigning to prioritize gender mainstreaming in government and economic planning. She raised questions on structuring public transport, childcare systems, digital transformation, and local economic development to reflect women's realities, stating these are nation-building questions.
Letsike urged participants to address emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, climate change, declining trust in democratic institutions, and attacks on the rights of women and marginalized groups. She cited international examples like Uruguay's care economy reforms, Spain's gender-based violence approach, and Iceland's equality measures, emphasizing the need for South African-specific solutions.
The Women's Sector National Dialogue Preparatory Summit is part of broader consultations feeding into South Africa's National Dialogue process, aimed at reflecting on the country's democratic progress and future. Letsike stressed that women should engage in the process as partners shaping the country's future, not just stakeholders seeking recognition.
She concluded that the success of the National Dialogue will be measured by the strengthened institutions, created opportunities, and the extent to which women, youth, and persons with disabilities experience the promise of constitutional democracy.