Sometimes we South Africans do not give ourselves enough credit for how far we have gone in correcting the wrongs of the past.
Sometimes we South Africans do not give ourselves enough credit for how far we have gone in correcting the wrongs of the past.
Yes, there are still pockets of racism and many of our people are as hungry today as they were 15 years ago. A lot still has to be done to fulfill the promise of the freedom we won a decade and a half ago.
But if there is one area that we should take pride in it is our proven commitment and political will to put issues of gender representation and empowerment squarely on the mainstream agenda.
It is no mean feat that more than half of all the premiers to be inaugurated in the next few days are women. We congratulate the political parties for recognising that marginalisation on grounds of sex is just as acute as discrimination on the basis of skin colour.
The ANC has nominated Nomvula Mokonyane, Hazel Jenkins, Noxolo Kieviet and Maureen Modiselle to join Western Cape's Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance as premiers of their provinces.
The struggle for gender justice will not be won solely by appointing women to influential positions. It would also be to straightjacket these women to expect them to forever represent the views of women.
Still, their appointments spell an era of hope for the representation of women in high political office.
Era of hope for women
Sometimes we South Africans do not give ourselves enough credit for how far we have gone in correcting the wrongs of the past.
Sometimes we South Africans do not give ourselves enough credit for how far we have gone in correcting the wrongs of the past.
Yes, there are still pockets of racism and many of our people are as hungry today as they were 15 years ago. A lot still has to be done to fulfill the promise of the freedom we won a decade and a half ago.
But if there is one area that we should take pride in it is our proven commitment and political will to put issues of gender representation and empowerment squarely on the mainstream agenda.
It is no mean feat that more than half of all the premiers to be inaugurated in the next few days are women. We congratulate the political parties for recognising that marginalisation on grounds of sex is just as acute as discrimination on the basis of skin colour.
The ANC has nominated Nomvula Mokonyane, Hazel Jenkins, Noxolo Kieviet and Maureen Modiselle to join Western Cape's Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance as premiers of their provinces.
The struggle for gender justice will not be won solely by appointing women to influential positions. It would also be to straightjacket these women to expect them to forever represent the views of women.
Still, their appointments spell an era of hope for the representation of women in high political office.
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