Umrabulo Number 26, August 2006

Number 26, August 2006

Editorial

Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi!

When women from across the length and breadth of South Africa marched on the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, their demand for freedom reverberated both around the globe and across the ages. The women's anti-pass campaign provided further evidence to the world of a people that were not to be silenced by intimidation and repression. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of that watershed event in the history of our nation, the courage, determination and message of those women continues to activate and inspire.

It is therefore fitting that this milestone coincides with the launch of the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa, which is intended as a broad front of women's organisations and institutions all committed to the emancipation of women. As is argued in this edition, this movement will need to bring together the various and diverse strands of the South African women's movement on the basis of a minimum platform of action. This task is not without its challenges and contradictions. The diversity of formations that organise and mobilise women will demand creative forms of networking, coordination, dialogue and negotiation. It will take intensive work to overcome differences of class, race, ideology, culture, focus and consciousness.

Yet it is precisely this diversity that presents the movement with its greatest potential strength. Being able to draw on the experience, energy and organisational capacity of so broad a cross-section of South African women offers the greatest opportunity for meaningful progress towards addressing the issues that affect all the women of this country.

The 50th anniversary of the women's march provides a valuable symbolic platform for the launch of this new women's movement. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the advances that have been made over the last half-century and, in particular, to reflect on the profound contribution that women have made to the struggle for national liberation, towards a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

The anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on the sobering reality that South Africa remains a patriarchal society, in which the oppression of women takes various and numerous forms, ranging from the crude to the seemingly innocuous. The prevalence of violence against women is just one among many harsh reminders of the challenges that still lie ahead. So too is the extent to which women are disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, disease and underdevelopment. Unequal relations between men and women still obtain in almost every area of personal, social, political and economic life.

Amid these challenges, the launch of the Progressive Women's Movement is a moment of hope. It is a cause for celebration. It is a sign of determination to ensure that the struggle for the emancipation of women is set to deepen and intensify.

As we welcome this new initiative, we need to guard against any tendency that regards the task of building a non-sexist South Africa as being the responsibility of women alone. It is one of the central tasks of the national democratic revolution, and, as such, is a task that falls on the shoulders of all South Africans who identify with this struggle. It is the responsibility of all of us, male and female, to fight against patriarchy, to strive for gender equality, and to build a society that belongs equally to all who live in it, men and women, black and white.

The 1956 women's march marked a high point in the South African freedom struggle. It is up to all of us to ensure that the launch of the Progressive Women's Movement 50 years later is viewed by generations to come as a pivotal moment in the struggle for a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society. Malibongwe!

An invitation to Umrabulo readers

Readers of Umrabulo are invited to submit articles for publication in the Readers' Forum section. Articles may cover any topic considered relevant to the purpose of Umrabulo, including responses to previous articles. When submitting articles, please consider the following:

Readers' Forum articles should be between 1,500-3,000 words in length.
Umrabulo is aimed at a broad range of people within the ANC and democratic movement, but especially at branch members. Contributions should therefore use plain language. Jargon should be avoided, and specialist terms should be clearly explained.
Contributions may be submitted in any South African language. Until resources permit otherwise, however, articles are likely to be translated into English for publication.
Articles should be submitted together with the name and contact details ofthe author.
Articles may be submitted by e-mail, fax, post or by hand.
The editor may edit any contributions for length or to ensure clarity.
The Editorial Collective reserves the right to decide whether or not to publish a contribution.

Articles may be sent to the following address:

Umrabulo
PO Box 61884
Marshalltown
2107

By e-mail:
By fax: 011 376 1134

[Umrabulo Index] [Home]

CONTENTS:

Editorial

Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi!

An invitation to Umrabulo readers