South African women continue to face oppression and the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
As the country celebrates Women’s Day under the theme: “The year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Realising Women’s Rights”, two women in the Northern Cape are a reminder of how women have managed to rise above adversity.
Irene Bothman and Amie Mitchille have taken it upon themselves to tackle the social ills troubling their respective communities.
Bothman runs a shelter for abused women while Mitchelle has a soup kitchen that feeds hungry women and children.
Ratanang shelter founder Bothman says: “It is dangerous outside in the community. When the women are here, they are safe, I take the woman and I support the women with clothes, toiletries and food on the table.”
Soup kitchen owner Mitchell says: “I make 15 kg of samp and what I am trying to do is to stop children from stealing, because when you ask children why are you stealing they say we are hungry.”
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the keynote address to mark National Women’s Day.
The virtual address by the President will honour women across the country for their role in making society a better place for all.
Today marks 65 years since the watershed 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings against draconian pass laws.
Although virtual, Limpopo will be the host province for this year’s commemoration. President Ramaphosa’s role in the Women’s Day commemoration will include the release of the one-year progress report on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP).
As the country commemorates 65 years since the 1956 march to the Union Buildings, more challenges still lie ahead for millions of women in South Africa.
But today’s address by President Ramaphosa is expected to give hope to those who still look out for assistance from government.
Yesterday, in honouring the strong women of 1956, the ANC Women’s League, led by Nomvula Mokonyane and Sophie De Bruyn, visited the graves of struggle icons, Charlotte Maxeke and Bertha Gxowa.
Paying tribute to 1956 struggle stalwarts:
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