THABAZIMBILOCALMUNICIPALITY
SELO SA BASADI
NORTHAM
07 OCTOBER 2006
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE MAYOR OF THABAZIMBI: -CLR. NL. MATLOU
Madam Programme Director, Councillors, Selo sa Basadi Trust Officials, Mr. Solly Moholo and his band and our beautiful ladies here today including the gentlemen who have come to lend their support to our beloved women, I greet you all.
I must confess Madam Programme Director, that I am honoured to be welcoming such a wonderful, colourful and beautiful audience to ThabazimbiLocalMunicipality. We are proud to be hosting Selo sa Basadi or loosely translated this women thing. I believe you will enjoy the warmth of the people of Thabazimbi.
Although I believe this is not a day for speeches, I believe never the less that this women thing is about discussing important issues that affect women both in Thabazimbi and South Africa as a whole and therefore I will take this opportunity to raise some of the pertinent challenges that I believe face South Africa today in our quest to advance gender equality in this country.
Madam Programme Director let us take a close but brief look at some of these challenges.
Firstly HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging our society and leaving many children orphaned. Unfortunately women and girl children are the most affected by HIV/AIDS. The power imbalance between men and women in interpersonal relations contributes to this State of affairs and coupled with poverty, the situation becomes gloomy. This is also a challenge to us as men to take an active role in making sure that we love you, care for you and support you. But it must also become a challenge to you to stand up and protect yourselves and your children, our children.
Secondly the issue of violence against women is a major problem in our society. This manifests itself in rapes, beatings, psychological abuse and murders. It is shocking though, to find that some women are party to this, going to the extend of allowing their girl children to be raped by their fathers because we are afraid to report because they are our bread winners. We forget that the damage caused to these children by such acts are devastating and life long. Make use of the Justice System that is now favourable to protect you against such evil deeds.
The other challenge relates to poverty in South Africa. Again women are the ones mostly affected by this scourge. Women in rural areas are at the receiving end and some of our cultural and traditional practices have disempowered women in such a way that it will take years to reverse. It is the duty of those women who are enlightened to take the lead by not looking down on those who are poor and vulnerable, instead be the champions of the emancipation of the downtrodden and the marginalised. If you cannot take the lead, then you will have failed them.
Madam Programme Director, the role of women in the economy of this country cannot be negotiable. Over the years women had to be confined to the kitchens of their homes as if they cannot contribute anything to the growth of the economy. The democratic system of government has opened many opportunities for women and it is encouraging to see women taking the initiatives to establish their own businesses and succeeding. Still a lot remains to be done and others need to be assisted to succeed and to take up opportunities now emerging.
I do not intend to bore you with a long speech but it is critical that as you break into various commissions to deal with issues affecting women, it is important that some of these points become a subject of deliberations and sharing of information in your commissions.
I believe that women have an equal role play, as men in building a better society. In Setswana we say “Mmangwana o tshwara thipa ka fa bogaleng.” This means you have to tackle these challenges head-on. We are proud of you, we are proud of our children and we regard you as our equals in all respects.
Finally Madam Programme Director, be assured that ThabazimbiMunicipality supports this initiative and we want you to succeed in your endeavours. This is your day, celebrate it while we poor men take the back seat. I must warn you though that the resolutions of these commissions must say to us as men that you love us, that you want to strengthen our homes and the South African Society. We deserve no less
Thank you.
Have a nice day.
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