Zuma lashes women-haters
SASOLBURG: Women are still victims of inequality and rampant sexual harassment which severely affects their promotions in the workplace.
And in spite of all efforts made to empower women, “remnants of unfair discrimination still persist in a number of areas in our country, especially in the labour market”.
These were the hard-hitting remarks of President Jacob Zuma during the celebration of Women’s Day and the 59th anniversary of the women’s march against carrying of dompasses in Pretoria.
His address coincided with the launch of the country’s first report on the status of women in their workplaces.
Zuma was speaking to more than 20 000 mostly ANC Women’s League members in the Sasolburg township of Zamdela yesterday.
“Women are discriminated against on the basis of pregnancy or marital status. They are also subjected to inequality and sexual harassment. These must be addressed as all citizens are entitled to equal treatment,” Zuma warned.
He began his remarks by pointing out that there was an urgent need for women to play a greater role in the economy of the country.
Zuma said strides we had made as a country were attributable to endless sacrifices and the courageous spirit displayed by heroic stalwarts who paved the way.
Before detailing how women were sexually harassed and denied opportunities in their workplaces, Zuma said that after 1994, significant progress was made to empower women. He singled out his office as an important contributor to that.
“Significant progress has been made in areas such as legal status, attitudes, women’s involvement in decision-making, especially at the political level, in employment, education, ownership of homes and businesses, the justice system and economic participation.
“Women representation in the National Assembly moved from a mere 2.7 percent pre1994 to the current 41 percent. More importantly, women lead us in Parliament with both the Speaker and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces being women.
“The representation of women in the cabinet following the 2014 general elections stands at 43 percent, with deputy ministers being at 45.9 percent,” Zuma said.
He said women were constituted about 41 percent of the total number of magistrates in the country.
“As of last year, women accounted for 29 percent of appointed ambassadors, high commissioners and consul-generals. But there is still much room for improvement,” Zuma said.
But while progress was being made in the public sector, the private sector was lagging.
“The Employment Equity Report indicates that in 2014, women still accounted for only 21 percent of top executive management positions and 32 percent of all senior management positions.
“Women appear to be stuck at both middle and junior management levels, where they account for 45 percent and 43 percent respectively,” he said, adding that “it would be good to have more women serving on the boards of directors of corporate South Africa”.
He also singled out women as people who completed their post-matric qualifications on time and in greater numbers compared to their male counterparts.
“The report of the Commission on Higher Education reveals that, overall, women are more successful in their studies. In 2007, 59 percent of graduates were women, although only 55.5 percent of all enrolled students were women,” he said.
He said 55 percent of graduates at universities of technology were women, compared with 51 percent of enrolments, while in the comprehensive universities, 62 percent of graduates were women, while women made up only 57 percent of enrolments.
“At universities, 59 percent of graduates were women, compared to 56 percent of enrolments… In the education field, more than 70 percent of the graduates are women, while in the human and social sciences, more than 60 percent,” Zuma said.
Significant steps forward in government and appointments of ambassadors, but more possible