By Wanique Block
On the eve of South Africa’s National Women’s Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reflected on the Women’s March of 1956 to the Union Buildings, led by Rahima Moosa, Sophie de Bruyn, Lillian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph.
The historic day saw thousands of women protesting against all discriminatory laws that were against women in South Africa.
“We are all familiar with the iconic image of Rahima Moosa, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Sophie Williams de Bruyn marching defiantly up the stairs of the amphitheatre of the Union Buildings on that historic day”, the President reflects.
In his weekly letter President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that although strides have been made in achieving gender equality, more needs to be done to fight gender based violence in South Africa.
“In the South Africa of today, women enjoy the fundamental rights and freedoms that their grandmothers and great-grandmothers were denied”, he shared.
Cyril Ramaphosa continues: “Today, women can advance in any occupation, study in a place and field of their choice and own businesses. Thanks to employment equity legislation and other policies of the democratic government, women’s representation in the workplace, in government and all of society continues to grow”.
Despite the strides that have been taken, the President expressed his grievances about gender-based violence being huge societal problem.
“This is not a problem of women, but a problem of men. And it is men who are called upon to be part of the solution, starting with their own attitudes and conduct,” he said.
“The prevalence of gender-based violence remains one of our biggest obstacles towards achieving full and meaningful gender equality”, Cyril notes.
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