MEC Calls on Women to Take Centre Stage
By Themba Gadebe

June 17, 2005- (BuaNews) MEC of Gauteng Local Government Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu has made a call for the society to place the emancipation of women high on the agenda.

Ms Mahlangu was speaking at the regional women's dialogue in Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal region today.
Addressing the women, she said in June 1955, thousands of people from all occupations gathered in Kliptown to denounce apartheid and declared: "Freedom in our Lifetime."

"It was when these courageous men and women adopted the Freedom Charter which laid the foundation for peace and freedom.

"The sacrifices they made on that day, and the sacrifices of the '76 class and those of the Lillian Ngoyis - (struggle activists who led the women's anti-pass march in 1956) - laid the foundation for us to build a democratic country.

"As we celebrate...the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter [28-29 June], we have to put the emancipation of women high on the agenda."

In addition, South Africa will be celebrating Women's Day on 9 August, commemorating the women who marched to Pretoria in 1956 in the anti-pass protest.

"Today, we are enjoying the fruits of liberation and must also remember those who came before us," she said.
She also noted that the dawn of democracy had seen women taking centre stage, being appointed to ministerial positions in government.

"Gone are the days when women's roles were only confined in the kitchen. Women have assumed leadership positions in business, politics, mining and so forth. However, there is still a long way to go in order to correct the mistakes of the past."

In elevating women's issues, Ms Mahlangu said it was imperative to remember the women who fought for freedom.

The heroines included Lillian Ngoyi, Bertha Mkhize, Ray Alexandra, Helen Joseph and many others.

"Others who lit the torch for us to see the path we are traveling are Adelaide Tambo, Albertina Sisulu and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Their commitment and undying support for women emancipation needs to be applauded."

The MEC encouraged women to continue making history in all the various fields, adding there was a possibility South Africa might be the first country on the continent to have a woman president.

"As you ponder and deliberate on issues, you have to bear in mind that as women, you play an integral part in society and the country at large. There is dire need for mass involvement of women in policy formulation and implementation in making South Africa a better place for all."

She also called on women to "get out of those cocoons, and stand to be counted" in developing their communities.

She also spoke strongly against the dependency syndrome and urged women to focus their attention on uplifting their lives.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200506170232.html