Women demand equality

Women from all walks of life, demanding equality, joined a national march on Friday. About 2 000 women walked to the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) offices in the City of Mbombela.

`The protesters said it was a simultaneous demonstration in all nine provinces to raise various issues that hindering their ability to participate in the country’s mainstream economy.  

Phindile Mbowane coordinator of the Mpumalanga march, from the Young Women Desk (YWD) and member of ANC Youth League’s Enhlanzeni region task team, said they joined the march that was led by Women of South Africa (WoSA) and supported by the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) and YWD in the province.

“For effective transformative policies within the private sector, women must be given equal economic opportunities without any discrimination, as well as 51 per cent of economic dividends,” Mbowane said.

They submitted a memorandum to the MEGA offices. Their demands include women equality, the funding of women-owned businesses, economic freedom and for an end to be brought to the killing of women.

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WoSA representative, Charmaine Mabuza, joined the local march. Lidea Moroane Zitha, coordinator of ANCWL Mpumalanga, and Busi Shiba, convener of ANCWL Mpumalanga, also took part. According to Mbowane, the town was filled with women dressed in black. “Lidolobha belingcole li black ngma young women.”

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At the time of going to press, MEGA had not responded to questions forwarded to it.