Madam Speaker, Ministers, 2010 marks the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW. Therefore it cannot be more fitting that, in celebrating Women's Day, we reflect on strides and failures in ensuring that women in particular benefit from created opportunities.
South Africa has undeniably made strides as far as women representation in government and in Parliament is concerned, even though the quota has decreased with this current administration. That is a cause for concern. Forty-one percent of the working population is female, yet women constitute 19,8% of executive managers and 13,3% of directors. Is this right? A recent study shows that for every R1 men earn, women earn 75 cents. How does this justify the country's commitment to gender equity? Only 11% of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, JSE, have 25% or more of their directors' positions occupied by women. I ask again: Is this right?
Women make a major contribution to household wellbeing through productive labour, but they have been largely absent in the debates on land reform or not rewarded for their contribution. Our land reform policy is unlikely to develop poor rural women as its direction prioritises promotion of commercial farming above other commitments. Yet, rural black women suffered most in colonial and apartheid history and had no rights altogether on land ownership. Where is justice?
It is encouraging to learn that 97% of women use antenatal care services, and 95% of babies are delivered in hospitals and clinics with a nurse or a doctor present. But what quality of health care are we giving our women and children if South Africa still has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the world? Fifty-five percent of those infected by HIV and Aids are women.
Rural women face enormous challenges in the quest to protect themselves from HIV and Aids as they are often threatened with violence at the suggestion of the use of a condom. What have we done to empower them effectively and efficiently? How many of them have even seen or heard of the female condom? What have we invested in ensuring progressive development and improvement of the femidom?
HIV and Aids treatment requires frequent visits to health care centres that administer treatment. For rural women living in poverty, access to these centres is sometimes virtually impossible. Lack of physical access to treatment centres amounts to denial of health care services. Can we pat ourselves on the back then?
One thousand four hundred women die every year at the hands of their partners. We have the Domestic Violence Act, but how have we made sure that it is implemented effectively? What purpose does it serve to have beautiful policies purporting to emancipate women when we do not implement them?
I conclude that though we have taken great strides in terms of legislation and policy formulation, women, surely, will be raped in our country today. Another one is that you will be beaten by a partner today ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]