Hon Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
1) notes that as South Africans commemorate Women's Month during this month of August, under the theme "Working together to enhance women's opportunities to economic empowerment", we remain mindful of Women's Day on 9 August 1956, when women from all walks of life marched to the Union Buildings in protest against oppressive apartheid laws;
2) acknowledges that this historic march was the turning point in the role of women in the struggle for freedom and that since that eventful day, women became equal partners in the struggle for a nonracial and nonsexist South Africa;
3) acknowledges further that since 1994, and mindful of the historical inequalities and inequities that have disadvantaged women, limiting their development opportunities and representation in decision- making positions, the focus of the government of South Africa, under the leadership of the ANC, was and still is to facilitate the empowerment of women to become equal participants in the economic, social and political spheres;
4) recognises that much still needs to be done to further empower and improve the living conditions of women and to address social challenges facing women, particularly the scourge of gender-based violence; and
5) commends the ANC government on its achievements to empower women and for its decisive and leading role in accelerating the enhancement of women's opportunities to economic empowerment.
6) When women have a chance to succeed, everybody wins!
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.