Global Post Media

     Mawaza Police said that they arrested 48-year-old Evelyne Ndlovu, after using an ax to kill her husband, 56-year-old Rhodes Maphosa, because he refused to have sex with her, Worldwide Weird News reports

According to the police investigation, Ndlovu began arguing with Maphosa in the afternoon when he refused her sexual advances.

After several hours of arguing, Ndlovu went to sleep in the bedroom while Maphosa fell asleep on a couch in the kitchen. Around 2:00 a.m., Ndlovu woke up, took an ax and attacked her sleeping husband.

Maphosa died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

At first, Ndlovu told neighbors that an intruder was responsible for her husband’s death, but when police arrived to questioned her, she fled from the scene.

After two weeks, police managed to track her down and arrested her on charges of murder. Ndlovu was brought before the Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court, where she was released on bail.

SOURCE: http://globalpostmedianiz.blogspot.co.za/2015/01/graphic-photos-african-woman-axes-her.html

ANC Today

RADICAL ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IS KEY IN CURBING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & CHILDREN

Posted on 25th November 2016 by Staff Reporter Posted in Viewpoints.

MEOKGO MATUBA

 Annually the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) and the ANC-led government, through the Department of Women, run a successful campaign in pursuit of curbing violence on women and children as espoused in the fundamental principles of the movement of a non-violent, non-sexist and a prosperous South Africa.

Since 1998, South Africa embarks on the 16 Days campaign against violence on women and children that commences today, the 25th of November and ends on the10th of December.

The 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence, which marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of violence against women, is the Human Rights Day. This period also includes Universal Children’s Day and World AIDS Day respectively. The campaign, therefore, remains an essential tool in creating awareness on the negative impacts of violence on women and children.

The ANCWL has noted that violence against women and children is still rife in South Africa.  This violence against women takes different forms, namely; physical violence in the form of domestic violence, terrible violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and assault in the survivor’s homes and in society and the rape culture in institutions of higher learning and schools against young women and girl children.

While the ANC-run government works tirelessly to eradicate inequality and poverty, we note that the terrible brunt on our democracy is the violence of poverty, starvation, humiliation and degradation, especially against women and children. Poverty, inequality and unemployment are conditions under which violence thrives.

According to the 2015/2016 crime statistics released the by Minister of Police, Comrade Nkosinathi Nhleko, earlier in the year, there is a decline in violent crimes but for us, one incident of crime is one too many. The victims of violence are human beings and at the most violence directly and indirectly affects women and children more than it does men.  For instance, violent crimes such as murder destabilises families since children are left as orphans with lifelong psychological scars.  Again, the majority of sexual offenses perpetrators are men than women.

As much as the ANCWL appreciates the gradual decrease in crime against women & children, it is our firm belief that more needs to be done in relation to sex crimes, which includes sexual assault and rape. On sexual violence, statistics indicates that Gauteng had 9510 cases, KZN 8947, Eastern Cape 8797, Western Cape 7130, Limpopo 4369, North-West 4164, Free-State 3928, Mpumalanga 3331 and Northern Cape 1719. In total there were 51895 reported cases. These are not just numbers but there are human being and especially vulnerable women and children behind each and every number.

When we take into consideration the fact that statistics are not an accurate reflection on the number of sexual violent instances because it is only based on reported cases and it is common knowledge that there are survivors who do not report rape and assault cases due to various reasons ranging from safety, economic reasons etc. we, in the ANCWL remain concerned because crime statistics tell us that while we conduct successful campaigns yearly, we need to intensify the fight in curbing the culture of violence against women and children.

As the ANCWL launched the campaign this week, the aim is to mobilise society into acknowledging that violence against women and children is not a government or a criminal justice system problem, but a societal problem, and that failure to view it as such, results in all efforts failing to eradicate this scourge in our communities.

Violence against women and children is one of the most egregious and persistent violations of human rights, affecting victims across race, gender and age. This societal ill is a symptom of gender inequalities which are pervasive socially, in politics and in the economic mainstream. Women perform 66% of the work worldwide and produce 60% of its food, yet they earn 10% of the income and own 1% world’s property.

The ANCWL is adamant that radical economic transformation of women will curb violence against women and children. Gender gaps in the economic mainstream need to be tackled with vigour and the urgency it deserves as economically disempowered women are vulnerable to gender based violence.  Women need to be economically empowered to gain their confidence and independence respectively.

As a country we need to focus our energies on strategies for empowering women economically to afford them greater autonomy in securing livelihoods through traditional employment and self-employment.  Women empowerment has proven to yield great results in families and society at large.

Women cannot stand in the side-lines and watch the gains of our democracy regress. We, being in majority in country’s population, will continue to take up our role to influence, mobilise and fight for economic emancipation of women thus curbing violent crimes against women and children. We must move together towards a violence free South Africa.

The ANCWL calls on men, young men and boys, in all their formations and in society at large to join the fight against violence on women and children. While the campaign is marked for only 16 days, the deeply entrenched scourge dictates that everyday becomes a day to make progress our fight to emancipate, first and foremost women economically and thereby curbing gender based violence perpetuated mainly by inequality and poverty.

It is the responsibility of all members of our society to ensure that the rights of women are respected as equal citizens. That responsibility cannot be relegated to women alone.

CDE MEOKGO MATUBA IS THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ANCWL

The Citizen

national 30.11.2016 10:25 am

Zuma claims he was poisoned by enemies three times

350

Citizen Reporter

President Jacob Zuma goes door-to-door in Khayelitsha while on an election campaign stop in Cape Town. Pic: Chantall Presence / ANA

Though he did not reveal any names, it appears Zuma believes his enemies are plotting to get rid of him.

During the ANC NEC meeting that took place over three days in Pretoria, Zuma addressed members on the last day, telling them there was a concerted effort from foreign forces to get rid of him.

According to The Sowetan, several sources who were at the meeting said Zuma spoke out about being poisoned. Though he did not reveal any names, it appears Zuma believes his enemies are plotting to get rid of him.

His wife, Nompumelelo Ntuli, was accused of having poisoned him in 2014. She was subsequently banished from Nkandla and is under investigation from the Hawks. At the time, reports suggested Zuma had fallen ill and flown to Russia, where he was diagnosed as having being poisoned.

At a press conference held yesterday, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe shot down reports that a debate on a motion of no confidence tabled by tourism minister Derek Hanekom had taken place.

Instead, Mantashe said the NEC had taken an executive decision to continue supporting Zuma until the end of his term in 2019.

“The NEC has resolved not to support the call for the president to step down. We resolved that we work towards achieving unity in the movement.”

The Presidency

Address by President Jacob Zuma during the launch of the National Dialogues on Violence Against Women and Children

25 November 2016

The Premier of the Limpopo Province, Mr Stan Mathabatha,

The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Ms Susan Shabangu,

Deputy Ministers and MECs,

Deputy Judge President of the Limpopo High Court Judge Fikile Mokgohloa,

Mayors, Municipal Managers and Councillors,

Members of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges,

Members of the South African Women Lawyers,

Traditional Leaders,

Members from the broader legal fraternity,

Leadership of Faith Based and Civil Organisations,

Fellow South Africans,

We have gathered here today to mark this important day in our country, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children.

We use this day each year to launch the 16 days of activism of no violence against women and children and to take stock of progress made in fighting the abuse and violence directed at women and children.

This campaign is about uniting all in our country behind one message, that women and children must be safe and must feel safe at home, in the streets and anywhere in the country.

Informed by our country’s Constitution which turns 20 years old next month, government is determined to use all resources at its disposal, to make the country safer for women and children.

The theme of this year’s 16 Days Campaign, which says“Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa Forward”, urges all of us to fight this scourge of violence against women and children.

This year’s campaign takes the form of the launch of National Dialogues on Violence Against Women and Children.

About twenty-seven Dialogues have been lined up for the various parts of the Limpopo province, to engage the victims and perpetrators. The purpose is to use the information gathered and lessons learned, to prevent the abuse of women and children and to raise awareness.

Dialogues must be held in every province. The Dialogues will provide an opportunity for government to assess its own law enforcement and social support machinery in order to enhance support for women and children.

Violence against women and children manifests itself openly in serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm or human trafficking.

What is of serious concern is that most women are attacked by men they know and in most cases men they are intimate with - their husbands or partners. We are losing more and more women at the hands of their violent intimate partners. 

International studies show that women often turn a blind eye to the violence in their intimate relationships or sometimes prefer to live in denial or disbelief.

They also live in hope that the perpetrator will change and stop their behaviour.

The danger about living in an unattended violent relationship is that it intensifies over time until it leads to death.

Violence against women has been declared a priority crime by government. Women must not be scared to report the perpetrators to the police.

As we meet already there are horrific tales of violent attacks, such as the gang-rape of a 13 year old girl by 10 men in Nyanga, Cape Town.

It is beyond comprehension that adult men can inflict such pain on a defenceless child. Other children are sexually molested at home by relatives in some cases. These are the types of incidents that should unite us all to say enough is enough.

There are also cases of the abuse of girls in schools by teachers, some of whom even fall pregnant. Government appeals to parents and girls to report such teachers to the police and social workers.

This conduct must not be tolerated. Statutory rape must be reported to the police as it is a serious crime against children.

Women are also sexually harassed in the workplace by male supervisors who abuse their positions of power.

The workplace must be made safe for women so that they can perform and be productive in an environment conducive for work.

Women and children must be safe, and must feel safe in their country.

We should in the same vein also step up our efforts in fighting sexually orientated violence perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex  people. They also deserve to be safe and feel safe, everywhere in the country.

Bakwethu,

Sihlangene namhlanje ukuvula ngokusemthethweni uhlelo lokuqwashisa ngokuhlukunyezwa kwabesimame nezingane.

Sikhumbuza umphakathi wonke ukuthi kufanele sibambisane silwe nalesisihlava sokuhlukumeza, ukushaya, ukudlwengula, ukuthumba kanyenokubulala omame nezingane.

Lezizigameko ziyenzeka emizini nasemiphakathini eminingi. Kufanele ziphele. Omama nezingane banelungelo lokuphila ngokuthula nangokuphepha.

Importantly, violence against women and children is not a private matter. It is everybody’s business. Neighbours must not keep quiet when they see or hear women or children being attacked or abused.

Some families take a decision to hide the abuse of children to avoid embarrassment. These incidents must be reported to the police and social workers. Children deserve justice and protection.

We have legislation in place such as the Sexual Offences Act, Children’s Act, Domestic Violence Act, the Child Justice Act, Older Persons Act and many other laws which are important instruments to fight abuse.

We urge all our police officers to receive women sensitively when they come to report the cases of abuse or violence at the police stations.

A conducive environment is being created at many police stations.

The police Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units were re-established in June 2010.  Members of the Units receive specialised training to deal effectively with sexual offence related case.  

Police run many campaigns around this time as well, raising awareness of the services they provide.

Every Magistrate’s Court has a division that deals with Domestic Violence matters. 

In large offices, there are dedicated clerks and Magistrates to attend to domestic violence matters. This is yet another indicator of the measures taken by government to fight the abuse of women and children.

Women should not keep quiet, and must use all avenues to report abuse and to seek help.

Government has, through the Department of Social Development, established a 24 hour call centre, the Gender-based Violence Command Centre.

The Centre deals with issues relating to domestic violence, rape, physical abuse, indecent assault, verbal abuse/intimidation, abandoned children and non-GBV cases. A majority of cases reported involve incidence of physical violence.

The call centre handles one thousand and five hundred calls a day and these calls are handled by 40 social workers able to deal with the issues raised. The centre refers cases of violence to the police and to social workers. Women should contact social workers to obtain phone numbers or the nearest SA Social Security Agency offices so that they can be assisted.

Such centres are important as they provide a helpful voice on the other end of the line, especially when women and children are not comfortable with speaking to family members.

The prevention of these crimes is also important.

Government’s socio-economic development programmes are designed to improve the living conditions of all, especially women and children.

Some of the interventions which are continuing everywhere by government include the provision of street lighting, reliable and safer public transport, water and sanitation inside the house which create better and safer living conditions for women and children.

  

Going to the river to fetch water or going outside the home to use a toilet at night have become risky for women which is why government continues to provide these services in the home.

Improving the economic status of women is also paramount in order to stop the financial and economic dependence on men, which makes many women vulnerable to abuse.

Some women stay in abusive relationships because they are unemployed and depend on the perpetrator for shelter, food and all basic needs.

I have instructed the economic cluster in government to ensure that all economic programmes of government consciously include the empowerment of women.

This follows the production of the important report on the economic status of women, by the Department of Women in The Presidency.

Programmes are ongoing to improve women’s access to land so that they can grow their own food and build their homes.

Women also need access to business financing and credit so that they can establish small businesses or cooperatives to generate income.

The promotion of education and training opportunities is important measures aimed at empowering women and promoting economic independence.

One of the achievements of government in alleviating poverty has been the social grants system. Many families are able to put food on the table because of the money from social grants.

Government will also continue running Victim Support and Victim Empowerment Programmes to provide much needed psycho-social support.

Government does not work alone in fighting abuse. We acknowledge all non-governmental organisations that support women in distress. They run shelters for abused women, crisis centres and call centres.

We acknowledge religious leaders, traditional leaders and community leaders to whom these cases are also reported. We appeal to them to continue supporting victims and survivors of such cases.

We recognise organisations run by women and men’s organisations, raising awareness and promoting positive role models for men and boys in the campaign of promoting safer homes and communities.

Let me also applaud women in the legal profession for their participation in this important campaign.

The Department of Women is working with the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges and the South African Women Lawyers Association, to host the South African Family Law Dialogue, as part of the sectors dialogues within the National Dialogues in the provinces.

This exercise will provide a platform for women in the judiciary, the legal profession and public service to reflecton the South African family law, its implications, benefits and challenges, and whether the laws are helpful to women or not.

Compatriots,

Let me emphasise that this campaign should not run for 16 days only.

We must together implement our decision taken in 2014, of running this case for the whole year, for 365 days of the year.

We appeal to every citizen and everyone living in South Africa. Let us build a society where women and children are safe, and feel safe.

All of us must play a role to achieve that goal.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my honour and pleasure to officially launch the campaign of 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children.

We wish the country well in ensuring the success of this very important campaign, and urge everyone to participate in every community.

I thank you!

The Presidency

ANC

Address by ANC President Jacob Zuma at January 8th Gala Dinner

8 January 2016, Sun City, Rustenburg

Comrades and friends,

Good evening to you all.

It is a great pleasure to be with you on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the formation of the African National Congress.

As the oldest liberation movement on the continent, the ANC continues to carry the hopes and aspirations of the people of this country.

The movement was founded on this day in 1912 by men and women who sought to banish the divisions and jealousies among the people of this country and uproot the demon of racialism and tribalism.

They dreamed of a better society, one in which all would be equal, not only in law, but also in wealth and opportunity.

Today, more than a century later we continue to pursue that vision.

After a long and heroic struggle by the people of this country, we have realised the cherished goal of a democratic nation founded on the principles of non-racialism, non-sexism and equality.

We have declared, in the words of our beloved Madiba, that:

We have adopted a democratic Constitution with a Bill of Rights that recognises the equal worth of every person.

We have built democratic institutions through which our people can exercise their right to determine their own destiny.

We have reduced poverty and created opportunities for millions of our people.

And yet, despite this significant progress, there is much more we need to do to fully realise the vision of the founders of our movement.

There is much more we need to do to lift all of our people out of poverty, to ensure that all have education and skills, that all have work, and that all may live safe, secure and comfortable lives.

We have yet to correct the historical injustice of dispossession, economic disempowerment and exploitation.

We have yet to achieve a society in which the land is shared among those who work it.

It is for this reason that we have entered a new phase in our struggle, in which we have placed the achievement of radical economic transformation at the centre of all our efforts.

It is for this reason that we are all here tonight.

It is because you share this vision, because you also seek a South Africa in which all are equal, that you have joined us this evening to demonstrate your support.

We are grateful for your attendance this evening, for the contribution you have made, and for your continued confidence in this movement as the true representative of the aspirations of the people.

Earlier today, I met with traditional leaders to celebrate the anniversary. We did this correctly because traditional leaders played a key roel in the establishment of the ANC, and many were honorary Presidents.

Tomorrow, we will be gathering at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium to present the annual January 8th Statement of the National Executive Committee.

It will identify the central challenges, responsibilities and tasks of the movement for the year ahead.

As in previous years, it will provide a clear line of march for our structures, members and supporters.

At the centre of our work this year must be achievement of tangible progress in fundamentally transforming our economy to meet the needs of all our people.

We must do so in the face of difficult economic conditions.

We do not accept the notion that we must make a choice between growth and redistribution.

They must be pursued simultaneously and in concert.

An economy in which more people have skills, in which more people have access to capital, in which more people have access to health care, in which more people are lifted out of absolute poverty, in which more people have jobs, is an economy that has a greater capacity to grow.

Redistribution is a moral imperative.

It is also an economic imperative.

By excluding the majority of our people from ownership of the economy, by excluding them from the management of companies and from many professions, we are starving our economy of the human capital it needs to develop.

Faster growth is a necessary condition for redistribution. But it is not sufficient.

If we pursue growth for its own sake, without any meaningful transformation, we will simply be reproducing decades of inequality and entrenching racial divisions.

Therefore, in 2016, we will pursue with greater focus and intensity the measures that constitute the core of our economic development strategy.

Education and skills development will remain at the centre of this strategy.

We will build on the progress we have made in basic education, ensuring that the provision of adequate school infrastructure is matched by further improvements in the quality of teaching and learning.

We will continue to expand and improve post-school education.

This year, we mark the 40th anniversary of the Soweto student uprisings, in which the youth of this country confronted the injustices of apartheid.

We remember their struggle and their sacrifices.

The spirit of 1976 lives on in the youth of this country.

The protests by university students last year demonstrated the determination of the youth of this country to be engaged in all matters that affect their lives.

Through their actions, they brought onto the national agenda the critical issue of funding for higher education.

They highlighted the plight of poor students who struggle to access education. They drew attention to the central role that higher education plays in the development of the economy and society.

These protests took place in the wake of massive increases in state support to needy students through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS.

Even with the increases over the last few years, we were still not able to meet the needs of all students from poor backgrounds. That underlines the extent of the challenge we face.

Working together with universities and other stakeholders, we have managed to mobilise the resources needed to fund a zero percent increase in fees in 2016.

Now we need to work together in a similar spirit of cooperation to find lasting solutions to this challenge. We will soon be announcing a commission to look at promoting access to higher education.

During the course of the year, we will continue our massive investment in economic and social infrastructure.

Through more effective coordination and focus we are managing to ensure that our expenditure on infrastructure is used more efficiently and has greater impact on jobs, localisation and the development of our industrial capacity.

This investment not only stimulates economic activity. It also provides the physical infrastructure that will enable us to grow our economy and meet our social needs.

Government will continue to support the process of industrialisation through, among other things, support to mineral beneficiation, the establishment of special economic zones, and sector-specific support programmes.

We will continue with initiatives like the Automotive Production and Development Programme, which has attracted private sector investment of over twenty five billion rand over the last five years.

Several large vehicle makers announced new investments in manufacturing capacity in the last year. We welcome these investments warmly.

As we start the year we are also reflecting on other areas that we must focus on. We will continue our efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector.

We are making progress in our work to strengthen state owned entities.

We have taken steps to stabilise those that have been experiencing difficulties and to assist them towards the achievement of financial sustainability.

We will continue to transform this sector to ensure that these entities are able to meet their economic and developmental mandates.

We will continue to manage public funds responsibly.

We will ensure that we spend within our means and that we keep public debt within manageable limits.

We will continue to direct public resources towards the poor and in pursuit of productive economic activity.

Through initiatives like the establishment of the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer we will reduce wastage, increase efficiency, benefit from economies of scale and reduce the scope for corruption.

Comrades and friends,

We also have a clear and unequivocal mandate from the South African people to implement the National Development Plan.

We are encouraged by the engagements that have taken place among all role-players in the mining sector to address the severe challenges facing the sector. We will continue this year to strengthen the implementation of the measures that have been agreed upon.

During the course of 2016, we will continue to use the Operation Phakisa methodology to bring together key stakeholders to develop groundbreaking strategies for growth and development.

Comrades and friends,

As we celebrate our one hundred and fourth anniversary, we will focus on the challenges and tasks of the movement.

We will continue this year to build the ANC and the Alliance.

We will emphasise the responsibility of ANC members and leaders to promote activism in society.

We expect our cadres to earn the respect of their peers and society at large through their exemplary conduct.

They must be informed by values of honesty, hard work, humility, service to the people and respect for the laws of the land.

We must work together to defeat patronage, the arrogance of power, bureaucratic indifference and corruption.

We must serve the people selflessly and tirelessly.

Comrades and Friends,

This evening we celebrate the achievements of the South African people.

We celebrate a glorious movement that has overcome the greatest challenges to lead the construction of a new society.

As we do so, we are aware that much hard work lies ahead.

We have much to do to achieve a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it, black and white.

We have much to do to overcome poverty, unemployment and inequality.

With your help, and with the support of all South Africans, we will continue to struggle, and we will not rest, until we have achieved a better life for all our people.

Happy birthday to the ANC!

I thank you.

ANC

Address by ANC President Jacob Zuma to the ANC January 8 2016 Anniversary Celebration with Traditional Leaders

8 January 2016, Rustenburg

The Provincial Chairperson, Comrade Supra Mahumapelo,
Members of the National Executive Committee of the ANC,
Chairperson of Contralesa,
Her Royal Highness the Queen Mother, Queen Molotlegi,
Distinguished Guests,
Comrades and friends,

Good day to you all.

Comrades let me start by conveying our deepest condolences on the tragic passing of Kgosi Keobusitse Moiloa III.

His untimely and tragic passing has robbed his people and the North West province of his contribution in the building of a better society.

May his soul rest in peace.

We meet on a very important day in our history, on the 104th anniversary of our glorious movement, the African National Congress (ANC).

We are celebrating that which brings us together as South Africans - the ANC and its undying commitment to this country and its people since 1912.

The ANC has worked hard to earn its special place in the hearts of South Africans.

Since 1912, this organisation has worked consistently to rid South Africa of colonialism, oppression, apartheid, racism, tribalism and sexism.

It has endeavoured to remain true to its nation-building task.

Pixley ka Isaka Seme aptly emphasised unity as the essence of the ANC in October 1911 when he spoke out about the need to eradicate the demon of racism and tribalism. The ANC stands for the unity of the South African people and the respect of the human rights and dignity of every South African, regardless of race, culture, or creed.

The ANC stands for humility, service to the people, hard work, selflessness and dedication to building a better life for all our people.

The ANC stands for non-racialism and totally rejects racism, racial discrimination and prejudice.

We owe these traditions, values and customs of this movement to its founding leaders whom we recall today as we celebrate the anniversary of the movement.

We salute the first executive committee, which consisted of Rev. John Langalibalele Dube, as President; Solomon T. Plaatje as Secretary; Pixley ka Isaka Seme as Treasurer; Thomas Mapikela of the then Orange Free State as Speaker and Kgosi Montsioa as the Recording Secretary.

The Rev. Mqoboli of the Wesleyan Church became Chaplain-in-Chief, assisted by the Rev. H.R. Ngcayiya. Walter Rubusana, Meshack Pelem, Sam Makgatho and Alfred Mangena were elected Vice-Presidents.

Today we also acknowledge the critical role played by Traditional Leaders in the founding of the ANC. Traditional Leaders who became Honorary Presidents in 1912 were: Dalindyebo of the abaThembu, Montsioa of the Barolong, Lewanika of Barotseland (a part of Zambia), Letsie 11 of Basutoland (Lesotho), Khama of Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and King Dinizulu of the amaZulu.

When we pay our respects to traditional leaders as the ANC, we are staying true to the history and traditions of our movement. When we visit places of worship, we are also remaining true to tradition, as this movement had a Chaplain in Chief at its inception in 1912.

You will also notice, if you visit ANC archives on our website and read our historical documents, that our policymaking also began in 1912. At the inaugural conference of the ANC in Bloemfontein, eleven papers were read and the topics ranged from schools and churches, African labour, segregation and the land question, amongst others.

We are therefore celebrating an organization that has always thought about the best policies and programmes to build a better life for the people of our country, since 1912.

This celebration of the ANC legacy since 1912 also provides an opportunity for us to acknowledge the contribution of women to the history of the ANC and our country.

While we correctly mark the 1956 Women's March on the Union Buildings, it should also be noted that women had started much earlier than that to make their presence felt in the struggle for liberation.

Our archives indicate that about 600 women marched to the Municipal offices in Bloemfontein in July 1913, and handed over their passes to the Deputy Mayor. We celebrate the pioneers from Charlotte Maxeke to Lillian Ngoyi and many other fearless and courageous women who stood for freedom, justice and equality for all.

We also celebrate the formation of the ANC Youth League, the preparatory school of our movement, which must rise and take its rightful place as the leader of all young people in South Africa.

We are also celebrating the fact that this organisation has since 1912 produced leaders who were always equal to the challenges and tasks of the time. We are also celebrating the generations of illustrious leaders produced by this movement over the years.

Comrades

We remain true to the vision and mission of the ANC in 1912, to build a better life for our people.

We love our country. We love its people.

We will continue to work tirelessly to build a better South Africa.

Comrades

The ANC is preparing for local government elections. We have done a lot to change the face of local government and to improve services.

We will be going to our people to hear what else they want us to do to further improve the performance of local government.

Amandla!

I thank you.