Cde Fisani Shabangu (9 minutes) To translate to IsiZulu

Emuva kweminyaka engamashumi amathathu selokhu kwangena I African National Congress emandleni. Uhambo esesiluhambile ekuthuthukiseni abantu bakithi luyabonakala. Abantu besifazane basesimweni esincono namhlanje kunakudala.

South Africa has witnessed a huge improvement in addressing in equality and fighting for women’s rights because women are now represented in many decision-making bodies because of the 50+1 provision in the constitution. The current administration of the country is sitting at 43.5% of women representation in our national parliament from the 27.7% that it started with in 1994.  Political organizations, the African National Congress in particular also makes the same provision in its constitution to ensure representation of women in the composition of its structures to ultimately be part of the socio-economic transformation.

Okunye esikwenzile usungula I Commission for Gender Equality, The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is part of the legislations and the instruments which the government has in place in order to ensure Gender Equality in South Africa. These legislations reinforce the capacity of the government to protect the rights of women.

As a country, we still need to put extra effort in ensuring that women participate in the mainstream economy. Eminyakeni eyedlule President Ramaphosa uphakamise ukuthi izinkampani zabesifazane zinikezwe u 40% kumabhizinisi aHulumeni. Kumele loluhlelo siludlulisele nakwi Provate sector.

Lezinhlelo ziyancomeka kodwa uhambo lusalude. In National Democratic Revolution yakubeka kwacaca ukuthi akunankululeko ngale kwenkululeko yabantu besifazane abayimigogodla yemiphakathi esiphila kuyo.

The African National Congress inherited a government that was operating in a highly divided society, that make it very difficult to speedily address all the injustices of the past including gender inequality. There have been many successes by the democratic government in addressing the inequality, however, there are still many challenges as well in trying to address the issue in question. The expansion of access for women in the economic opportunities through the 40 percent set aside in public procurement.

I Freedom Charter, selokhu yabekwa ngo 1955 namhlanje isicishe yakufeza esasikufuna. Namhlanje si celebrate 70 years kusuka ngo 1955, masibheka emuva Siyabonga ukuzimisela kuka Hulumeni ekushintsheni izimpilo zabantu besifazane.

Through the Freedom Charter, the ANC expressed undisputed support on women’s rights, 70 years later, we have seen a huge improvement on women empowerment. This improvement brings hope that we are surely going to ultimately witness the non-sexist society that is envisaged by the NDR. We appreciate all the efforts that have been made in ensuring that women are represented in all spheres regardless of the challenges we encounter as a country, and it is for this reason that we believe South Africa must play a very important role to place in the African continent to continue fighting for women’s rights.