KZN Legislature
Hon Speaker,
Today we are debating one of the most important issues under the theme “WOMEN UNITED IN MOVING SOUTH AFRICA FORWARD”
As the IFP we are of the firm belief that the status of women in all sectors of community life must be acknowledged as being equal to that of a man. By their very nature, women take on many roles including those of mothers, wives, sister’s breadwinners, guardians and now successful leaders in almost every sector in the economy.
We stress the importance of putting women’s perspective at the centre of integrated development projects. While celebrating 60 years we acknowledge that there is clearly a moral breakdown in South African society.
Hon Speaker: As we are debating today, a Grade 8 learner at Hoye High School was raped at her parents’ house at Bhambanana on Sunday. This manifest not only in the rape and murder of women and children but also in the rising levels of alcohol and drug abuse. We must arrest and punish the perpetrators as severely as possible. Women and children must be protected from violence. It’s disappointing. The cases of sexual violence against women are rising but it seems that the government still considers this a trivial matter.
The IFP is convinced that investing in the moral, health, education, safety and economic well- being of adolescent girls must be a priority. Adolescence is a formative process between childhood and adulthood. It is a time when intervention can dramatically alter subsequent life outcomes. Therefore investments to help girls complete good quality secondary schooling, support their transition from education to work, develop health sexuality and guarantee simultaneously accelerate progress towards several of the millennium Development Goals.
Women remain marginalized in the areas of technology and innovation that support small holder farming. Women re still grossly under represented at policy making level in agricultural production, research and institution that teaches scientific methods of farming technology and methods of inoculation.
While this can translate into concrete action to change the lives of women, it remains an issue that is hotly debated but remains unfulfilled. It is crucial that government systematically links women to the development agenda.
Government must ensure that women have access to finances to advance agriculture. We call for more investment and support to young girls in agricultural research. In order to empower communities, it is women who have to be given opportunities. Once women are on the move, the family moves, and the village moves and the nation moves.
Even though women have experienced significant changes with respect to their socio-economic and cultural development, there are still inequalities in opportunities and access to opportunities between them and men. Putting resources in the hands of women improves their confidence and status within their families, their communities and in our province generally.
So it is very important that we deal with empowerment of women by making equal opportunities available to them because in so doing we will be eradicating poverty.
Sometimes women are still discriminated by society. The fact is that women are capable of leading when given the opportunity. Let us not be put in a position in order to advance other people’s agendas. Masingavumi ukubekwa ezikhundleni esibona kahle nathi ukuthi senziwa izithunzela ukuze kuzuze abathize Masingavumi ekwenziwa onongekleni siphila.
Ngifisa ukubonga bonke abantu besifazane abaphuma ngobuningi babo bayovota bevotela ushintsho komasipala, sibonge futhi ukukhula okwenziwa abantu besifazane abakhunjulwe ngezinsuku zokugcina benikezwa izijumbana. Kuhle kakhulu abakwenzile bakhombise ukukhula kwezepolitiki.
In all IFP controlled municipalities we will provide sanitary towels to school girls. Furthermore, we are against sugar daddies and blessers. Sigqugquzela abzali ukuthi bathathe indawo yabo ekukhuliseni izingane zabo ngendlela efanele. Siyazi ukuthi bakhona abazali abafundisa izingane zabo ngendlela bese izingane zithi zingaphuma emakhaya zifike ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme ziziphathe ngendlela engafanele. Sibonge kulezo zingane ezisakwazi ukugcina iziyalo zabazali ezaphuma nazo emakhaya ezaba umphako wendlela eziyowusebenzisa ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Izingane zethu zisidinge kakhulu kulesisikhathi.
I thank you,
Contact:
Mrs TP Mthethwa MPL
071 884 3844
