Commemorating women of virtue
Unizulu host a women's celebration to commemorate 60 years since the implementation of the Women's Charter.
PHOTO: Duschanka Hitzeroth
PAYING homage to the resilient women of strength and influence of 1956, the University of Zululand (Unizulu) hosted a celebratory event to honour predecessor freedom fighters and empower the upcoming generation of women.
Different yet united in their mission, 60 years ago Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie Williams–De Bruyn led 20 000 women from all walks of life to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in defiance of the Urban Areas Act.
The panel consisting of six influential women, including Zululand Observer Deputy Editor Ronelle Ramsamy, shared their experiences with female employees of Unizulu on Tuesday at KwaDlangezwa.
‘Despite the growth in various spheres of our society, there is a diminishing respect for human rights. Today we fight a new struggle, and adopt a notion of paying it forward to build our society and develop and protect our children,’ said Unizulu Vice-Chancellor Professor Fikile Mazibuko.
‘The rate of literacy in women worldwide has not improved which is a concern. It is alarming that 10 and 11-year-old girls are becoming victims of ‘sugar daddies’ and are being infected with HIV/Aids. More than 6.3 million people are infected with HIV/Aids and 11% of that number are women. We must not only celebrate today but make this fight a lifestyle,’ she said.
Open discussion
‘Today, we face a barrage of new challenges and society is looking to a new generation of leaders – not only political. Women are builders and play an integral role in enhancing the moral and social fibre of society and nurturing youngsters,’ said Zululand Observer Deputy Editor Ronelle Ramsamy.
‘The time to take the back seat is over when there are so many atrocities prevalent in the form of disease, abuse, unemployment, crime, social problems, corruption, maladministration and moral decay, among others. A time has come for a new breed of history makers in this new dispensation and a difference can be made with the tools in our hands,’ said Ramsamy.
‘From the hands of women, leaders are raised; they are the primary teachers of the greatest leaders. If the women of 1956 were under oppression and could bring about change, we who are free have no excuse,’ added Sowetan Dialogue Coordinator Nompumelelo Runji.
