ADRESSING THTE NATION
MARCH 2021
Celebrating Women Leaders in SA P resident Ramaphosa wrote his weekly letter to the nation on March 8, International Women’s Day, and opened by reminding us that the day has been celebrated for more than a hundred years as part of the drive for gender equity and women’s rights. Key to the women’s rights movement is the 1994 Women’s Charter, which notes that at the heart of women’s marginalisation in South Africa are the attitudes
and practices that “confine women to the domestic arena, and reserve for men the arena where political power and authority reside”
making structures. Fittingly, the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is women’s leadership and achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”
Commenting on this statement, the President writes:
Referring to the pandemic which beset South Africa a year ago, we are reminded of the pivotal role played by the courageous frontline workers such as doctors, nurses, police, soldiers and emergency personnel. And whilst the schools were closed, the dedication of teachers, principals
“There can be no meaningful progress for women if our society continues to relegate women to ‘traditional’ professions, occupations or roles, while it is mainly men who sit on decision-
10 | Public Sector Leaders • March 2021
