Mbeki calls for end to abuse

2003-08-09 17:49

Pretoria - President Thabo Mbeki has called for an end to the abuse of women and children.

"Our culture does not allow the rape and abuse of women and children," Mbeki said during a Women's Day celebration address at Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday.

"Even when our forefathers were fighting against apartheid, they did not hurt women and children."

Applauding the large number of men in the crowd, he said: "I hope their presence here will communicate the message that the rights and women and children should be respected."

Earlier, the roof of a tent caved in on Mbeki and other dignitaries on Saturday, disrupting the celebrations.

Mbeki was not hurt. He appeared unperturbed, and even smiled, as he was quickly helped from the platform which was in shambles.

A woman, Suraya Scott, was slightly injured and carried away on a stretcher.

Mbeki, flanked by Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa and Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad, was about to address about 3 000 people on the lawn below the Union Buildings.

The president was taken home as attempts were made to restore the public address system.

Meanwhile, during a Women's Day rally in Klipgat near Pretoria earlier in the day, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya said the government had noted with pride women's achievements in all spheres of human development since 1994.

"As we applaud the work done by South African women, we wish this day to be the most memorable one. As we approach the 10th anniversary of our hard-won freedom, there are many South African women we ought to be proud of."

Still battling

The government had noted that no matter how hard "we tried to redress past imbalances, the mothers of our nation and their children are still battling with poverty, child and spousal abuse, high unemployment and retrogressive cultural practices."

The Department of Social Development's mandate was to alleviate poverty and to further lessen the burden on women and children.

Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said during a rally in Bloemfontein on Saturday: "We celebrate the accomplishments of women. But as we acknowledge what they have achieved, we must also acknowledge that the situation of women in general in South Africa is desperate.

"There is perhaps no country in the world that provides greater legal protection to women and children than South Africa does.

"But the reality is that ten years after South Africa won her freedom, South African women and children still suffer from violent brutality and repression."

Freedom Front leader Dr Pieter Mulder said discrimination against women in South Africa prevailed despite numerous precautions to avoid this.

"This discrimination frequently differs from community to community and, although more subtle than in the past, we do not dare close our eyes to its existence. Invisible glass ceilings do exist for women."

Mulder said the FF therefore welcomed the celebration of Women's Day.

Force to be reckoned with

New National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk saluted all South African women, saying "they had shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, that they will take a stand for what they believe in and will actively build this country for the sake of their children."

Van Schalkwyk was speaking at a rally at Mitchells Plain, Cape Town on Saturday.

Meanwhile the Christian Democratic Party said in a statement on Saturday that it was setting the standard in acknowledging the role that woman will play in future governments in South Africa.

Saluting the party's women in leadership, leader Rudi du Plooy said: "At our Gauteng Congress today 50 percent of those elected to serve on the Gauteng Management Committee were female.

Invaluable contribution

"In Gauteng half of our councillors are also female. They always work diligently and perform their duties with great regard of the needs of our citizens."

The Inkatha Freedom Party said it wished to "acknowledge and thank all women for the enormous and invaluable contribution that they make to their families, communities and life of our nation."

In a statement on Saturday, the IFP said: "Unfortunately the legacy of women's subordination and disempowerment spawned by the brutality of apartheid still persists.

"Until the rights contained in the Bill of Rights and the provision of the Constitution are achieved, women will not be totally liberated and be free to fulfil their God-given potential."

Why Women's Day?

National Women's Day commemorates a march on the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956, when women of all races petitioned against the country's pass laws that required black people to carry a document at all times to "prove" they were allowed in a "white area".

The women signed a petition addressed to the then prime minister, DF Malan, demanding the withdrawal of the legislation.

The document stated that for hundreds of years black people had suffered under the most bitter law of all - the pass law.

It read: "Raids, arrests, loss of pay, long hours at the pass office, weeks in the cells awaiting trial, forced farm labour - this is what the pass laws have brought to African men. Punishment and misery - not for a crime, but for the lack of a pass.

"We African women know too well the effect of this law upon our homes, our children. We, who are not African women, know how our sisters suffer.

"We voters and voteless, call upon your government not to issue passes to African women. We shall not rest until all pass laws and all forms of permits restricting our freedom have been abolished.

"We shall not rest until we have won for our children their fundamental rights of freedom, justice, and security."

In 1955 the government said that all African women would be issued with passes from January 1956. Until then only black men had been obliged to carry passes.

Hundreds of thousands of signatures on petition forms were deposited at Malan's office. He was not available to receive them.

- SAPA