Women voice burning issues

Issues affecting women and youth in the province were vociferously raised during the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) Limpopo in Conversation with the ANC Provincial Chairperson, Stan Mathabatha at the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (Urcsa) church hall in Serala View on Tuesday.
Burning issues that were tabled included unemployment, foreign nationals ‘stealing’ business opportunities for residents, lack of funding, and people with disabilities being side-lined. Although each speaker was given three minutes to highlight the plights they are faced with, all of them used the little time they were granted to point out as many challenges they could think of. Structures that were represented included the business sector, professionals, art, faith based organisations, the unemployed, media fraternity and agriculture among others.

In his reply, Mathabatha emphasised that through unity the people defeated the ruthless apartheid enemy and its surrogates and reckoned that the same weapon of unity be used to confront the challenges of poverty, joblessness and inequality: “In this regard, we expect the ANC women’s league to lead from the front. This meeting comes just a few weeks after a similar meeting organised by the national leadership of the women’s league to engage with an open conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa. During that meeting, President Ramaphosa emphasised one important thing, the unity of our movement and the unity of the people of this country.”
Mathabatha went on to say it was true that without unity there will be no growth and added that they won’t be able to deliver on their political mandate if they don’t grow the economy. He further said almost 80% of South Africans entrusted the ANC with their votes hence it was time for the movement to deliver on people’s expectations. The gathering was also attended by ANCWL Treasurer-General Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Members of the Executive Council namely Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Thandi Moraka, Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba and Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Monicca Mochadi.

Story/Photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za