STATEMENT BY MRS BERTHA GXOWA, ANC MP, DELIVERED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DURING THE DEBATE ON THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MBEKI

10 February 2004

Madame Speaker
President of the Republic of South Africa
Deputy President
Honourable Ministers
Honourable Member of Parliament
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an honour and privilege, Mr President, to congratulate you on your comprehensive account and reflection of the ten years of democracy and freedom in our country, South Africa.

Madame Speaker;
In support of the President's State of the Nation Address on 6 February, I would like to share my experience as an African woman and the successes that the ANC-led government has achieved and systematically ensured the "expansion of the frontiers of human fulfilment. The continuous extension of the frontiers of freedom" to many South Africans, especially women.

As we celebrate the tenth year of freedom and democracy in our beautiful country, South Africa, there are things that we must honestly remember. One of those things to remember is where we come from. We need to Madame speaker;

My second experience I want to share with the house involves the origins of some of the names that were given to us by our oppressors. I wonder how many of us know where the name "Annie" Originated from. During the apartheid days, African people were not allowed to knock at the door of a white man's house and ask for a job. One had to walk up and down the street shouting: "Any job missies?" As a result every domestic workers was called Annie".

Thirdly it is a well-known fact that African women were humiliated in apartheid prisons. When arrested African women were taken to the prison parade in the courtyard were these poor women were made to undress, instructed to perform a high jump and instructed to lie on their backs. The warder would then invite the security man watching from the balcony and say "POYISA COME AND SEE" This was the worse humiliation of its kind that any human being can endure.

Madame speaker this is where we come from as a nation.

Women have always been the hewers of wood and drawers of water. We, the women of South Africa, have every reason to look back where we come from with pride and dignity. The ground that we have covered, travelled and won many victories would not have been possible without the ANC-led Government. We need to say a big THANK YOU to ourselves and to the ANC -led government for our successes.

The ANC led government was able to restore the dignity of South African Women by bringing back the remains of Sarah Baartman to be finally laid to rest in a dignified and respectable manner in the land of her birth.

Madame Speaker;
Allow me to add to the real story of the successes that the ANC-led government achieved a decade since 1994:

• Although job reservation was abolished prior to 1994, its real meaning and application was given content and practice by the ANC-led government;
• The Group Areas act was abolished ending a long history of segregated settlement;
• Women have been given their right to sign contracts on their own behalf;
• Influx control has been abolished;
• Adult education has been introduced;
• Free health care for pregnant women and children is being provided:
• Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment has been introduced, that will amongst others, enable women to use their talents to advance their cause both in business and government;
• Creation of relevant institutions for the improvement of governance and fighting corruption in the institutions of our country;
• The opportunity to give birth to children in a free and peaceful country;
• For bringing water to millions of our people, especially women and -----------
• The South African parliament is one of the few parliaments where a high number of women are members.

Women of this country need to be proud of the strides and the ground they have covered in fighting the women struggles. The ANC-led government has led this struggle and has achieved good successes since 1994. As we celebrate this decade of freedom and democracy we must not forget that the battle is not over yet. There are still enormous challenges, especially for rural women who are still very poor and downtrodden. It is in this regard that I call upon South African women to approach the 2004 elections with determination and vote for the party that will make a difference in your life. The ANC-led government has proven that it can make a difference.

I thank you.