The 53rd anniversary of 9 August, South African Women's Day, brings back memories of those 20 000 fearless women who marched to Pretoria, demanding that passes for women be abolished, and thus rejecting enslavement by the apartheid regime, then led by Prime Minister Strijdom.
Recognising and respecting the legacy of those courageous women, the South African democratic government in 1994 acceded to the recommendation of South African women as a whole that 9 August be declared a public holiday. The government went further, to declare the whole month of August Women's Month.
This achievement by the women of this country gives an opportunity to our nation to continually reflect on the situation of women, make comparisons with those of women in the rest of the world, and monitor progress made on the national and international agenda in emancipating women.
Much water has flowed under the political bridge since 9 August 1956. One of the most noteworthy achievements was the dawn of democracy in 1994, which empowered all South African citizens, including women, to exercise their democratic right to vote and to choose a government of their choice.
Over the past 15 years women have increasingly understood and appreciated the significance of exercising this right. For example, according to the Independent Electoral Commission survey of the 2009 elections, 75% of women voters registered, whereas the percentage of male voters who registered was 69%. One of the political reasons given for wanting to vote was the belief that one vote would make a difference in the outcome of the election.
However, election results told a different story. While 56% of the registered males actually voted, only 49% of the females voted. The question then arises: What could have discouraged women from going to vote, since they had been so enthusiastic about registering? Could it be that women are beginning to lose confidence in our democratic rule, feeling that those who rule the country no longer abide by the values that earlier led to women's throwing their weight behind the struggle for democracy? [Interjections.]