Dit is die reg van vroue om dieselfde behandeling te kry as hulle eweknie. [Women have the right to be treated in the same way as their counterparts.]
Women are carrying the heaviest part of the burden of poverty, unemployment and casualisation of the workforce. The private sector has also not played its part concerning the empowerment of women. For those of us who were involved in the struggle against apartheid, it is an insult to see how little has been done to improve the lot of women.
The ID believes International Women's Day is also an opportunity to reflect on those women in other parts of the world that have still not been afforded the respect and dignity that women deserve. Here in Africa we can do far more to encourage neighbouring countries and those further afield to join us in our efforts to empower women.
Too many women here in our own country are forced to eke out a living from informal or casual jobs and are not able to access the opportunities which this very government claims to have established to make women an active partner in economic growth.
Women are also most infected and affected by HIV and Aids.
Dit is tyd om van oplossings te praat. Dit is nie genoeg om ? paar vroue te bemagtig, terwyl die werklikheid op grondvlak nie materialiseer nie. Dit is die plig van ons verkose leiers, ons almal inkluis, om vir ons mense die inligting te gee wat hulle op grondvlak kan bemagtig.
Ons moet onsself vra of ons tevrede is met wat ons doen. Die wette wat ons maak rondom die verligting van armoede beteken vir ons niks as dit nie die vroue wat die verantwoordelikheid dra se las en pleidooi in werklikheid aanpak nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It is time to talk about solutions. It is not enough to empower a few women, while the empowerment of women is not actually being realised at grass-roots level. It is the duty of our elected leaders, including all of us, to give our people the information that can empower them at grass-roots level.
We have to ask ourselves whether we are satisfied with what we are doing. The legislation that we pass with regard to poverty alleviation is of no use to us if it does not in reality address the burden of and the appeals made by women who carry the responsibility.]
In closing, we are all sons and daughters of Mother Africa and yet our mothers and sisters are crying out for recognition. Let me just say one thing to this little young guy, Julius Malema. [Interjections.] Learn to respect women so that you can be blessed. I thank you. [Applause.]