Soul City Institute demands constitutional commitments regarding womxn
JOHANNESBURG – The party's election manifesto speaks a lot about gender-based violence, but the ANC still has male leaders who have been accused of rape.
Issues related to womxn remained unaddressed this election period, with little to no mention of womxn healthcare and their right to their own bodies in any party’s manifesto.
This according to Lebogang Ramafoko, Soul City Institute CEO, following the ANC’s re-election after the 8 May national and provincial elections.
Soul City, an intersectional feminist organisation, is calling on the reigning party to actualise their constitutional commitments regarding womxn.
Ramafoko said that South African girls remain the most at risk of HIV infection, and teenage pregnancy is still too common an occurrence.
She claims that the government’s efforts are not working.
“There is a complete misalignment in education and campaigning, and most safe sex campaigns are targeted at heterosexual womxn. The only practical help we receive from the government has been dishing out free condoms,” said Ramafoko.
“Condoms are everywhere and people are still getting HIV and having babies before they are ready. If we can see the problem, why can’t the ANC?”
Many womxn were hopeful that this election would be a time when political parties took their concerns seriously, she said.
However, based on past experiences, they are sceptical of the ANC’s plan to follow through on their promises.
“The party’s election manifesto speaks a lot about gender-based violence and bringing an end to it, but the ANC currently still includes male leaders who have been accused of rape in their campaigns.”
Ramafoko urges all womxn to hold the ANC accountable, adding that there are still the local government elections to come.
She said that they should continue to ask pertinent questions to those in power, concluding that it is the only way they will achieve equality for all.
Details: Soul City Institute 0861 768 524.
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