AS Women’s Month drew to a close, the Zululand District Municipality (ZDM) organised a Women’s Day celebration event at Pongola.
August 23 saw throngs of women gathered at Ncotshane Sports Field, to celebrate Imbokodo.
Among the dignitaries was National Freedom Party Leader and newly appointed National Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi, who was guest speaker.
Due to rampant abuse and killings of women and children in the area, aggravated by the recent kidnapping, murder and decapitating of four old Lungisani Ntuli, ZDM, in collaboration with its stakeholders within the area of Pongola decided to convene a mass Women’s Day Celebration, starting with a march to say to those who abuse others: ‘Enough is enough’.
Gogos, mothers and young women, supported by men opposed to these social ills packed the huge tent to pay tribute to the mothers of the nation, and to warn abusers: ‘Now it is time to fight fire with fire’, and saying to the law enforcers ‘If you don’t deal with the perpetrators, then we will!’.
Speaking to the congregants, Deputy Mayor of Pongola Cllr JB Ngema said, ‘Women have been oppressed by the systems in governments, by their husbands and within communities in which they live for decades, and now it is time for them to stand up and fight this scourge.’
The event was characterised by hearty ululations, singing and praises.
KaMagwaza-Msibi took to the stage, and presented her speech, saying ‘This is the time for the pillars of the nation to stand up and condemn these rampant abuses and killings of innocent women and children; which are threatening our children’s future.’
