Source: The Sowetan
"The representation of women in senior positions has steadily increased over the years, with women at present constituting 37 percent".
A NUMBER of activities have been lined up to mark Women's Month, which kicked off yesterday in the run-up to national Women's Day on August 9.
August is devoted every year to marking the important contribution women have made to South Africa's democracy.
Addressing the media at the launch of the provincial Women's Month programme in Mahikeng yesterday, Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothubi, North West MEC for social development, women, children and people with disabilities, called on women to empower themselves by engaging in government programmes.
She said the province still needed women to occupy senior positions.
"The representation of women in senior positions has steadily increased over the years, with women at present constituting 37 percent," she said.
Mokomele-Mothubi said despite the advances towards gender equality, women were still excluded from many areas of society, particularly the formal economy.
"While the government remains committed to empowering women and ensuring they are recognised, there are still many challenges for women in the workplace," she said.
She said women continued to make up the majority of the unemployed, and the majority of those employed were not given the same opportunities as similarly skilled and qualified men.
Mokomele-Mothubi said her department and the Department of Correctional Services would run week-long gender empowerment programmes in the province.
"More women than ever before are playing key roles in all spheres of government and there is an impressive representation of women within the legislative, executive and judicial organs of state," Mokomele-Mothubi said.
But she said despite these achievements women remained marginalised at certain social levels and were vulnerable to domestic violence.
This year's theme is "working together to enhance women's opportunities for economic empowerment".
The main event for Women's Day will take place at Letlhapung village in Taung, where Deputy Minister of Social Development Maria Ntuli will address the community and women gathered for the event.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the women's anti-pass march to the Union Buildings in 1956.
More than 20000 women protested against the pass laws and the Urban Areas Act on that historic occasion.
"The representation of women in senior positions has steadily increased over the years, with women at present constituting 37 percent".
A NUMBER of activities have been lined up to mark Women's Month, which kicked off yesterday in the run-up to national Women's Day on August 9.
August is devoted every year to marking the important contribution women have made to South Africa's democracy.
Addressing the media at the launch of the provincial Women's Month programme in Mahikeng yesterday, Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothubi, North West MEC for social development, women, children and people with disabilities, called on women to empower themselves by engaging in government programmes.
She said the province still needed women to occupy senior positions.
"The representation of women in senior positions has steadily increased over the years, with women at present constituting 37 percent," she said.
Mokomele-Mothubi said despite the advances towards gender equality, women were still excluded from many areas of society, particularly the formal economy.
"While the government remains committed to empowering women and ensuring they are recognised, there are still many challenges for women in the workplace," she said.
She said women continued to make up the majority of the unemployed, and the majority of those employed were not given the same opportunities as similarly skilled and qualified men.
Mokomele-Mothubi said her department and the Department of Correctional Services would run week-long gender empowerment programmes in the province.
"More women than ever before are playing key roles in all spheres of government and there is an impressive representation of women within the legislative, executive and judicial organs of state," Mokomele-Mothubi said.
But she said despite these achievements women remained marginalised at certain social levels and were vulnerable to domestic violence.
This year's theme is "working together to enhance women's opportunities for economic empowerment".
The main event for Women's Day will take place at Letlhapung village in Taung, where Deputy Minister of Social Development Maria Ntuli will address the community and women gathered for the event.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the women's anti-pass march to the Union Buildings in 1956.
More than 20000 women protested against the pass laws and the Urban Areas Act on that historic occasion.