Central SA
Women’s Month concludes with dialogue on gender violence in Free State─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 15:52 Fri, 30 Aug 2024
“Tradition, customs, culture, and spirituality are often weaponised to oppress women.”
Women’s Month in the Free State concluded with a powerful dialogue led by Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Maropene Ramakgopa, at the Kaizer Sebothelo Arena in Botshabelo on Friday (30/8).
The event continued the month-long commemorative engagements and initiatives across the country under the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy Towards Women’s Development”.
Amidst escalating cases of missing women later found murdered in the province, the dialogue centered around gender-based violence (GBV)as a significant human rights violation and one of the barrier to women’s economic emancipation. The forum provided an opportunity for women to discuss and confront the pervasive issue of GBV and women empowerment, which remain of critical concern in the Free State and across South Africa.
‘I come from a home where my mother was abused’
Mangaung Mayor Gregory Nthatisi spoke candidly at the event, sharing a personal connection to the day’s topic. “I come from a home where my mother was abused,” he said, reflecting on his own experiences and the continued prevalence of violence against women.
Nthatisi also revealed he’d be attending the funeral of Masabata Lekonyane, a Mangaung municipal worker and victom of GBV, whose body was found in a veld near the R702. Lekonyane will be laid to rest om Saturday (31/8) in her hometown of Bloemfontein.
“Mangaung Metro has become a hotspot for GBV,” Nthatisi remarked, calling on women to take charge of their lives and refuse to allow men to destroy them.
He highlighted how tradition, customs, culture, and spirituality are often weaponised to oppress women, citing the belief that men are inherently the heads of households and leaders in churches as examples. He emphasised the importance of educating boys about respecting women from a young age.
More support for shelters
Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae recently reiterated the province’s commitment to fighting GBV and supporting women’s empowerment. She announced plans for increased provincial government support for shelters and safe houses for survivors of GBV.
Letsoha-Mathae emphasised the need to allocate more resources to hire qualified professionals to provide specialised support and intervention for victims.
Letsoha-Mathae’s dedication to women’s empowerment was evident in her leadership, when she appointed a majority-female cabinet.
