President Thabo Mbeki has called on the private sector to accelerate the empowerment and emancipation of women.
”We must always measure what progress we are making towards the emancipation of women, so we can decide what to do next to improve our performance, so at all times we can measure the progress we are making in the private and public sector,” Mbeki said.
The president was addressing a National Women’s Day rally at the Hlogotlou Stadium in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, on Tuesday afternoon.
”In the public sector, we are making some progress … the situation in the private sector is not good.
”As we continue to march towards a better life for all, we should continue to seek better and more effective ways to accelerate women’s empowerment and emancipation.”
Mbeki said: ”I think it is appropriate that we adopted this theme as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.”
The president paid tribute to the women of South Africa because of the ”central role they played in liberating our country”.
”These heroines did not only play a role supporting men … but sacrificed their own lives so that we could be free.”
The president said there is a need to increase the numbers of women in senior management positions.
”We must use this occasion of Women’s Month to speed up the process of the emancipation of women.”
”The theme for this year’s Women’s Month is Women Building a South Africa that Truly Belongs to All, building on Beijing.”
Mbeki was referring to the United Nations Women’s Conference held in Beijing in 1995. — Sapa