Statement on Women`s Day

8 August 2012

The African National Congress salutes the women of the country and the world for their role in sustaining humanity and having waged prolonged struggle to occupy their place in our various societies.

Women have managed to impact on the structure and relations of society particularly as it relates to the place and role of women after centuries of oppression and deprivation. The ANC believes that the struggle for gender equality is a struggle of society including men.

As we celebrate the Women Day tomorrow, on the 09 August 2012, we pay tribute to our heroines who led daring struggles of emancipation against male domination and patriarchy. We also want to acknowledge the role of women in the hundred years of the ANC`s existence. We also pay tribute to Pan African Women Organisation (PAWO), for their 50 years of relentless struggles of women in the continent in solidarity with the women of the world.

It is also with pride for all of us and all women in the continent and the world that as we celebrate this important women`s day one of our daughters of the soil Comrade Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma was elected by leaders of the African Continent to head the African Union, a first for women in the Continent. We are confident that her leadership in the AU will bring peace, stability, unity and economic progress and integration. We wish the women`s day march as a reenactment of the 1956 march every success. We also call on men to join the march.

Issued by:
Jackson Mthembu
National Spokesperson