The commemoration of the National Women’s Day will take place in Tshwane, Gauteng (Union Buildings) on August 9. Under the theme for 2012 is ’56 years of women united against poverty, unemployment and inequality’ – the spotlight turns to women living in rural areas and the challenges they face.
Women in rural areas still face many challenges
Rural areas include all traditional communal areas, farmland, certain peri-urban areas and informal settlements in small rural towns where people have a number of possibilities to live from the land. Women who live in rural communities wear multiple roles as farmers, mothers and homemakers and are often exposed to abject poverty.
The HSRC estimates that about 40% of South Africa’s population live in rural areas. Not only are rural people isolated from economic opportunities, but they also tend to have less access to social services such as health, sanitation and education. Challenges faced by women in rural communities include: – Poor quality education and limited access to education – Low literacy, skills levels and inappropriate labour practices – A skills deficit – lack of technical know-how as compared to women in urban areas – Poor access to socio-economic and cultural infrastructure and services, public amenities and government services – Unexploited opportunities in agriculture, tourism and mining – Increasing exposure to risks related to natural disasters, environmental changes, access to water and increasing occupational and health risks – Lack of access to water for both household use and agricultural development
A monument will be launched in memory of all those who walked to the union buildings in 1956
This year the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities in collaboration with Gauteng Office of the Premier, Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation as well as the City of Tshwane will work together to commemorate the day.
One of the major activities planned for this year’s celebration is the launch of the Women’s Monument at Lillian Ngoyi Square in Tshwane. The monument is in memory of all women who took part in the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings, it will also serve as a platform to exhibit the interpretation of all activities that link the square with the Union Building as well as the role played by women in the liberation struggle.
The monument, which includes a multi-purpose centre, will also provide space for formal and informal training for women. It will also provide market access platform for all local crafts it will also provide information to the upcoming generation on the women’s struggle for emancipation.
The campaign slogan for Women’s month is ‘Forward to the Decade on African Women.
Read more Women’s Month articles here.
– By
