Let’s Never Forget.

Let’s Never Forget.

 By BRIAN KAJENGO

Jane Sithole MPL the DA’s Provincial Spokesperson on Women, Youth,

                        Children, and People with disabilities during the debate on Women’s Day.

Women’s day in South Africa marks the remarkable demonstration that took place in 1956.  On that

day women of all races and backgrounds marched in protest against apartheid pass laws, women

across South Africa moved in solidarity and signed the petition in this regard.

This ground breaking protest represented women’s bravery, courage and strength and I stand before

you today in honour of those women who have inspired, who have paved the way and given hope to

so many of us.

Women like, Rahima Moosa, Sophie Williams, Helen Joseph, Lilian Ngoyi to name a few gave me and

other women the confidence to be who I am. 

To be comfortable in my own skin and to be who

I want to be without having to explain myself to anyone.  And the sacrifices they made gave me the

freedom to choose my affiliation, my association, my organisation, my DA, my future.

The violence that women face on a daily basis remind us of how risky it is to be born a girl.  In

particular we must not forget the girl children of Nigeria, who are still in the hands of Boko Haram, to

this day it is still unclear what Nigerian government is doing to help bring back our girls.

And we spare a thought for the massive number of women in our rural areas who are victims of

economic and social crises that they had no part in creating.  Ours should be to enhance the freedom

of other women and not stifle it for our own selfish reasons or political gain.

Women and children are at the receiving end of the ongoing struggle between Israel and Palestine,

families in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip are torn apart as they watch their loved ones vanish

one by one.  We can’t look away, screams for help plaque our TV screens every moment, and we

continue to pray for a peaceful solution to the conflict.