Unisa, in collaboration with the South African Women in Dialogue is hosting a Women’s Month Dialogue under the theme “Women, Democracy and Leadership in the South African Government of National Unity”.
The dialogue aims to reflect on the legacy and struggle of South African women as the country commemorates the 68th anniversary of Women’s Month where over 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against the pass laws.
Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities is scheduled set the scene for the discussion and reflect on the road travelled by the women of South Africa in the country’s 30 years of democracy.
The dialogue takes place during a unique year for democracy after the 7th democratic elections held on May 2, 2024 ushered in a government of national unity after the highly contested polls, where no political party won an outright majority.
This conversation happens at a time when South Africans are grappling with these developments, concerned about the well-being of all members of society and the protection of the principles of equality and justice, to ensure that the gains made since the first democratic elections in 1994 are not revoked.
Directed by Dr Criselda Kananda, a passionate broadcaster, human rights ambassador and gender activist, the programme areas of the dialogue will focus on progress made by women since 1994 and what the 7th administration can do to empower the women of SA today.
Another focus is the overview of the national gender machinery in South Africa, successes, gaps and challenges and what it means to have proper and effective representation of women gender-integrated planning in SA: implications for the GNU.
The host, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Vice-Chancellor and Principal, asserts that "When you live in a country where youth and young adults might fall through the cracks because of their economic condition, we must invest in solutions to these critical or grand challenges of our times."
Dr Pregs Govender, a South African human rights activist and author, and the dialogue keynote speaker expresses; “We want to build a culture where our bodies, our sexualities and our identities are respected, a culture where we don’t have to be afraid to walk where we want to walk and to wear what we want to wear.”
The dialogue takes place at Function Hall, Kgorong Building, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus in Pretoria.