Hon Deputy Speaker, I stand here today, representative not only of the lnkatha Freedom Party, but also as a very proud woman of South Africa. I say to you and this House, without any evasion, reservation or mental equivocation whatsoever, that we are failing the women of this country.
Gender equality, although constitutionally enshrined and supported in terms of chapter 9 of our Constitution, remains largely untransformed. This is clear evidence to me of the deep-seated social ills and underlying prejudices towards women that remain in the workplace and in general.
Behind closed doors, we remain, for all intents and purposes, second-rate citizens. This must change, because it is not only hurting women, but also our country in general. Existing skills shortages in the workplace could be rapidly diminished if gender equality was the norm instead of the exception. Sadly, this is yet to be.
Gender activism in South Africa has always been supported by the lnkatha Freedom Party and, in particular, by our leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who recently said:
Long before gender activism was born in South Africa, I recognised that women have a vital role in society that cannot be limited to the home and the family. Women were the backbone of our liberation struggle. They are the backbone of political mobilisation and must become the backbone of moral regeneration. Women have an invaluable contribution to make to science, the economy, business, politics, medicine, the arts, industry and every sphere of life.
I have always acted on these convictions. During apartheid, as soon as we had limited legislative powers in KwaZulu, I tackled the Code of Zulu Law and removed provisions that discriminated against women and considered them minors. Thus, for the first time, black women were granted property rights. I also expunged the barbaric provision that gave a husband the right to administer corporal punishment to his wife. Abuse of women is not a cultural thing. It is pure evil.
Prince Buthelezi embodies the forward thinking that must begin to take hold in the minds of all South African men if we are ever to change the current gender landscape in South Africa.
To conclude, the upcoming Gender Equality Bill must also be supported because it will further promote and ensure gender compliance in the workplace and will create the necessary enabling environment for all South Africans in which to work and prosper.
The IFP supports all women in South Africa and will relentlessly continue with its efforts to ensure gender equality. [Applause.]