THEME: “GENERATION EQUALITY: REALISING WOMEN’S RIGHTS FOR AN EQUAL SOCIETY NOW”

1. Greetings and Happy Women’s Day to all.
2. Today, we are reminded of the 16 Days of Activism 2017 theme, Hon.members “Together, we can end GBV”. That was 2 years ago.
3. The question we should be asking is “What ails human civilization in the 21st century? What has become of our values and morals? Why are women not given their due? Why are family values deteriorating?
4. Do we lack dynamic ethical leadership? Politically, much has gone wrong for women.
5. Hon.members, Gender- based discrimination sadly starts from the womb where female fetuses are aborted as girls are considered a burden in many communities still. South Africa has given the world many heroines to celebrate, who remain an eternal symbol of life-giving energy that integrates our people, communities, and nations.
6. To end the scourge of GBV we need to do “root- cause analysis”and start in homes; schools and religious organisations, empowering through morality programmes.
   We must desist from believing that in S.A, GBV is a shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic instead GBV is the centre of our existence. Please read the Resolutions of the 2019 Women’s Parliament Report, Pg4 and 8 of sexual abuse of girls in schools by educators. I agree with the Hon.Chair that we must prosecute offenders speedily.
7. Our Hon. Premier is a firm believer that men should not be left behind in terms of understanding women and gender equality issues. Please ensure Hon. Speaker that our male colleagues are the role-models.
8. Finally, the World Economic Forum has stated that the 31.4% gap to bridge gender equality will take the world another 99.5 years. Hence, the equality goal of 2030 will be missed by everyone, if we don’t act NOW to bring about radical gender transformation.
9. Thank you.