FS Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae delivers women's day message

Photo: Women resistance during apartheid

Supplied

By: Staff Reporter

Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae gave a strong message in celebrating women's day.

Letsoha-Mathae said in honour of the incredible women of our country, we celebrate Women’s Day.

The women of South Africa have, over the course of history, proven to be a resilient, tenacious lot.

Not even in the face of pure evil did these incredible beings cower.

They were only too willing to confront the enemy head on, and they did, and come out the sterner and tougher.

The battle scars they proudly bear are a testament of their resilience in the face of danger.

"We must however not be in the least surprised. These are the women of South Africa. They come from a long lineage of brave warriors who, during difficult days of oppression in South Africa, were willing to lay their lives down for the good of the country", said Letsoha-Mathae.

It was little wonder then that, on 09 August in 1956, women from all corners of the country, marched to Pretoria in demonstration against pass laws.

The number of women who joined the march is believed to have swelled to 20 000.

That was a demonstration of what could be achieved if people united for a common cause.

Mind over matter!

Lilian Ngoyi and the women of 1956 achieved what they set out to.

They rattled the apartheid regime to its very core.

They dared the establishment.

They proved that unity and a common purpose triumphs all.

The women of 1956 engraved their names in the hearts of South Africans.

"We are faced with different kinds of enemies today. Inequality, poverty and Gender Based Violence are the modern-day foes that ought to be confronted and defeated. Thirty years after attaining our hard-fought freedom, women find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. We find ourselves constantly having to prove that we are equally as good, if not better than, our male counterparts", said Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae.

Photo: Women resistance during apartheid

Supplied

She added, "Worse, we find ourselves subjected to terrible abuse. The number of women who have died at the hands of men who supposedly loved them is terribly astonishing. Hardly a week goes by without a woman, or a girl child, not being violated.

Despite all these challenges, we remain convinced of a brighter tomorrow.

We believe that our collective efforts shall bear the wonderful fruits of a just and equal South Africa".

"Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo!

Victory is certain", concluded FS Premier.