Ekurhuleni mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele joined the rest of the world in paying respect to women on Tuesday to commemorate International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 and focuses on women’s achievements throughout history and across nations while calling for greater equality between male and female.
It is also known as the United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
This day was conceived in 1911 to focus on working women before it was broadened to cater for all sectors of the female community.
“Twenty-one years ago leaders from all over the world committed to a future in which women are equal to their male counterparts,” said Gungubele.
“This they did because they understood that without the sacrifice of women in the struggle for supreme human order, the fight would be far from over.
“Who can forget the historic march by South African women 60 years ago, when they decided that ‘enough is enough’ with the atrocious pass laws of the time.
“These women had had enough of seeing their spouses suffer in the land of their forefathers at the hands of a minority few, and decided to demonstrate their own prowess and anger.
“Special salute goes to our own Sophia du Bruyne, Bertha Gxowa, Margaret Gazo and Ruth First who were at the forefront of this historic march.”
The mayor explained that while many were forced to go into exile, it was the grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters who remained behind to keep the fires burning and the families intact – enduring massive torture and abuse at the hands of the apartheid regime.
“However, while it is good to always reflect on the past, I wish to encourage all our people to honour the heroines of the past while acknowledging the role of women in the present,” said Gungubele.
“Let us learn from the wisdom of those great women of our past and take the lessons learnt forward.”
Gungubele believes there are a host of young South African women who have demonstrated great understanding of the present socio-economic challenges facing our people and with some support and help can change the fortunes of our land.
This year’s celebration of International Women’s Day is the first within the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, wherein gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are confidently asserted in that agenda as fundamental to progress.
“As we head towards the local government elections we must mobilise women to defend and deepen our democracy by ensuring that our children, from 16-years-old are registered to vote,” said Gungubele.
“It is also women who can assist us to mobilise most South Africans to participate in this democratic process of the local government elections.”
He encouraged all women to continue playing a key role in the socio-economic growth of Ekurhuleni, the Gauteng city region, South Africa and the rest of the world.
The City of Ekurhuleni will commemorate International Women’s Day on March 19.
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