Women to reflect on democracy
Nombini Matomela
19 August 2004
Women from around the country will on Friday descend on the Old Assembly in Cape Town to take part in the Women's Parliament.
Participants and observers to attend this event would include some of the 20 000 women, such as Martha Mahlangu who braved the brutality of the then government and marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to oppose the imposition of pass laws by the apartheid government.
Mahlangu is the mother of the late Umkhonto WeSizwe operative Solomon Mahlangu.
National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said on Wednesday the main purpose of the occasion was to mark the anniversary of the adoption of South Africa's Constitution and the celebration of 10 years of democracy.
The event also forms part of the programme planned for celebrations of Women's Month.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde said the event would create a platform for ordinary South African women to say how the 10 years of
democracy had affected their lives.
She said the women would also reflect on the role they had played at international level.
"We have looked at a number of women who will in small groups give testimonies as individuals on how they have benefited, and achieved challenges that they have met in these 10 years," she said.
Mahlangu-Nkabinde said these women would reflect on the legislative reforms made particularly regarding women and children as well as how it had affected them.
The themes for discussion on Friday include violence against women, labour, land reform and housing, economic empowerment and the regional, continental and international role of South African women.
These would encompass the role of women in law making, how parliament can contribute in changing women's lives for the better and setting parliament's priorities for women for the next 10 years.
National Council of Provinces chairperson Joyce Kgoali said it was important that
these kinds of events were held annually.
Mbete will also host a debate on the Pan African Women's Organisation at the National Assembly on 24 August.
Source: BuaNews
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