BuaNews (Tshwane)
Seshnee Govender
27 August 2007
Cape Town — Adequate information on the country's laws must reach rural women in order to help them know their rights.
Ahead of the 4th annual Women's Parliament, North West delegate, Catherine Motlhabane, told BuaNews Monday, that women in rural areas must be aware of provisions in legislation governing their rights.
An example of such a right, which many rural women were not aware of, she explained, was the right of married women to buy homes without their husband's consent. In the past, women were compelled by law to have such consent before buying real-estate.
"Women didn't have access to property but now they do. However they still do not buy houses because they are not aware of their rights," she said.
Implementation of the law, she said, was the most difficult because there was not enough education that goes down to the lowest level.
The Women's Parliament which kicks off Tuesday, will be held under the following themes: "Women in Education", "Women in Environment", and "Women in Land and Property".
The aim of the Women's Parliament she said is to ensure that the MPs take the message back home to the lower levels.
"We need to teach women and children their rights. We need to go back home and teach them the law," Ms Motlhabane said.
MPs addressing the seminar ahead of the official opening said there was a need to empower women through education.
Another delegate at the seminar, a community development worker from Gauteng, Makalo Leshalabe told BuaNews that government and the private sector should work together to address the issues affecting women.
"We acknowledge the work that government has done thus far, but more needs to be done.
"We need to tap into each others' resources. Both private sector and government must unite and work together," Ms Leshalabe said.
Another delegate, Mamorena Mosala from the Free State told BuaNews "...women's emancipation starts within us.
"We can't wait for government; we have to take it upon ourselves. If you want it to happen we must take responsibility and make the effort."
The Women's Parliament consists of proportional representatives in line with all political parties in the current legislature.
The debates start at district level and then move to provincial levels, where a paper is presented to the legislature.
It forms part of activities planned to celebrate Women's Month, observed annually in August to recognise the role that women played in bringing democracy to our country, and to devise means of addressing the challenges modern women face.
In the context of gender equality and women emancipation, it also seeks to appreciate and encourage the participation of women in areas previously dominated by men.
On 9 August 1956, 20 000 women from all sections of the population took part in a protest march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against unjust apartheid pass laws.
The march was part of a broader defiance campaign against the pass laws which started with the 1913 march in Welkom and the 1919 march in Bloemfontein
About 14 years into democracy, South Africans continue to appreciate and celebrate the contribution of women in the social, economic and political development of society.
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