The National Dialogue Must Be A Place For Women To Raise Their Voices

Addressing The Nation - Letter From The President

By Fiona Wakelin

On 11 August, in his letter penned to the nation, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa focused on Women’s Month and empowerment. His letter began with a reference to Women’s Day in South Africa which commemorates the 1956 Women’s March on the Union Buildings - a political protest against the apartheid-era pass laws, and a powerful assertion of women’s agency.

His Excellency then segued to 15 August when organisations from across South Africa will gather at the National Convention in Pretoria to commence the National Dialogue process that will bring together individuals and organisations from across society to find common ground and new solutions for the country’s challenges.

“Recognising that the lives of women are bound up with the future of the nation as a whole, we are counting on women’s groups and organisations to mobilise around the National Dialogue process. If we are to remain true to our objective of giving all sectors of society a voice as we build the South Africa we want, we have to ensure that all women are represented. This means a concerted effort to mobilise young and old, urban and rural dwellers, women from different ethnic and linguistic communities, women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people.

“The reality is that women’s struggles are not all the same and we should not assume they are. Although they may be similar in certain respects, the issues and challenges facing rural women and women in traditional communities differ vastly from those of women in urban areas with access to education, resources and public services,” – H.E. Ramaphosa.

His Excellency emphasised that the Government of National Unity is driving the strategic priorities of inclusive growth, job creation, alleviation of poverty, addressing the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state. He confirmed that the GNU is committed to ensuring that gender is mainstream in all government policy and that a gendered lens is consistently applied to every challenge when developing and implementing solutions.

“From the protests against the pass laws, to the so called beer-hall protests of 1959, to the rent boycotts of the 1980s, to the contemporary protest movements against gender-based violence, South African women have a proud history of standing up and being counted.

“With the first National Convention taking place during Women’s Month, we call on all sectors of society to come together to ensure the full participation of all women in the National Dialogue. This would be the most fitting and powerful tribute to the legacy of the pioneers of 1956,” – His Excellency Ramaphosa.