Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Ministers and members, throughout the ages women have had to fight for recognition as individuals and the right to make their own choices. I think of someone like Florence Nightingale who defied convention and revolutionised nursing during the Crimean War, of Emily Hobhouse who left a life of prosperity in England to come and work in the concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa to assist the woman and children who were living in appalling conditions.
I think of the militant suffragettes in England who risked their lives to earn the right to vote. And then there was our own Helen Suzman who braved ridicule and insults and asked the difficult questions exposing the evils of apartheid. She stood her ground and fought for her principles and the human rights of people like Nelson Mandela and his fellow prisoners at Robben Island.
The national Woman's Day commemorates the 20 000 South African women who marched for justice on 9 August 1956. Fearlessly, they sang a song that has become a rallying cry: "Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo!" [You strike women, you strike a rock!] Women can be the rock on which a freer, safer and more prosperous South Africa is built. They just need the opportunities to be educated, to be given a descent health care, to make informed choices about their reproductive rights, to determine their own futures and those of their children.
Empowering women economically and giving them opportunity to be gainfully employed is key to social and economic progress. Their creativity, entrepreneurial skills and determination to provide for their families is a driving factor towards economic success and a better standard of living.
Remember that women comprise 52% of our population. How can South Africa prosper if more than half of the people are marginalised, oppressed and not economically productive? If patriarchal attitudes continue, and ignorance prevails, economic growth and prosperity will be impossible.
However, it is interesting to note that, according to the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Women's Advancement, more women are being enrolled at universities. Their figures show that for every 100 men in the workplace there are 75 women. South Africa has many dynamic successful businesswomen, but their biggest issue is hitting the proverbial glass ceiling. However, we need to assist those grass-roots women who have their own informal businesses and projects by giving them necessary mentoring to grow their businesses, as Mrs Lillian Masebenza does so successfully through her Mhani Gingi Programme.
Mrs Masebenza is in the gallery with many of her student volunteers from Norway, and we thank them for their contribution. She provides tailor-made skills and social justice training. "Mhani Gingi" means industrious and caring women, those on whom our social stability and moral values lie. The lives of many rural women are still dominated by the need to fetch water and firewood; they eek out a meagre living.
In some areas, women are denied the right to own property and are regarded as mere chattels to be passed from one member of the family to another. So often, platitudes are mouthed about equality, but we need to make this a reality in every day. I quote Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN:
Gender equality and women's empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals - peace, security, sustainable development - stand in jeopardy.
I would like to quote our former Speaker, Frene Ginwala, who said:
Education and training are vital for women and for future generations in order that women can be at the centre of restoring social and moral values, bringing back discipline and respect.
Hon Deputy Speaker, as leaders of our nation, may we all encourage all men to support this so that we work together for equal opportunities and progress for women, their families and our entire nation. Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi! [Let the women's name be praised!]
HON MEMBERS: Malibongwe! [Let it be praised!] [Applause.]