Mandela was a true advocate of women’s rights

We need more leaders to start thinking like Madiba writes, Dr Elsa Lycias Joel

The first black president of South Africa deserves a mention not only because today is Nelson Mandela International Day but also because he is still considered as the ultimate advocate of women’s empowerment.

Early on in his presidency he knew that no success was possible without gender equality.

At the opening of the first parliament in 1994, President Mande- la thundered: “Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression. Our endeavours must be about the liberation of the woman, the emancipation of the man and the liberty of the child.”

If 20 000-odd courageous, persistent, enthusiastic and indefatigable women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest legislation requiring black women to carry passes in urban areas, it’s because Mandela knew women would merge in a glorious moment of fairy-tale history.

As good as it seemed to be, in 1994, 40 years after the protest, he declared August 9 Women’s Day to honour those women.

His impact on the world was immense and his legacy of advancing abortion rights had ripple effects.

For the world to echo with Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo (You strike a women, you strike a rock), more leaders must start thinking like Mandela, who represented national and personal liberation.

Mandela stood tall by promoting women into his Cabinet, for the rest of the world to see.