Violence Against Women

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize has committed himself and his cabinet to intensifying a campaign aimed at mobilising civil society to work with government to advance the rights of women. He was speaking today at the opening of KwaZulu-Natal Women Summit at the Royal Showground Pietermaritzburg.

The opening of the two-day summit was attended by Minister of the Status of Women, Children and People with Disability Lulu Xingwana, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize. The theme for Women's Day 2013 is "A Centenary of Working Together towards Sustainable Women Empowerment and Gender Equality". This theme is in line with what the former President of the ruling party O.R Tambo said in 1981.

The mobilisation of women is the task, not only of women alone, or of men alone, but of all of us, men and women alike, comrades in the struggle. The mobilisation of the people into active resistance and struggle for liberation demands the energies of women no less than that of men. A system based on the exploitation of man by man can in no way avoid the exploitation of women by the male member of society.

There is no way in which women in general can liberate themselves without fighting to end the exploitation of man by man, both as a concept and as a social system."

"Guided by these wise words we have ensured that the line-up of speakers and the Summit itself is structured to enable all delegates to unite behind a common goal of ensuring the empowerment of women." "The Labour Force Survey has consistently recorded a higher unemployment rate among women since its inception in 2001, compared to men."

"The most recent Survey released by Stats SA shows that the number of unemployed women increased by 118 000, while the number of unemployed men remained virtually unchanged (increased by 4 000)." "Year-on-year, the number of unemployed women increased by 151 000 (or 6,8%),while the number of unemployed men increased by 103 000 (or 4,6%)."

"I am highlighting this just to emphasise the point that the socio-economic well-being of a society cannot be achieved if women are massively underprivileged, particularly in the employment sector, compared to their male counterparts."

"Nor can an economy remain healthy without utilising the contributions and skills of women in different economic activities whether its agriculture, engineering, construction, information technology, maritime, mining or automotive industry."

"Advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women, and the elimination of all kinds of violence against women, and ensuring women's ability to control their own fertility, are cornerstones programmes spearheaded by the Provincial Gender Machinery and Office of the Status of Women and Children, located in the Office of the Premier."

Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier