Chairperson, the ANC firmly believes that the emancipation of women is not an act of charity, nor is it the result of a humanitarian or compassionate attitude. The liberation of women is a fundamental necessity for the national democratic revolution, a guarantee of its continuity and a precondition for its victory.
The women of our country have conducted a struggle for the emancipation of women guided by the objective to defeat an unjust system that brought untold suffering to every African family. They have pursued the national liberation and gender struggles fully conscious of the fact that these are integral parts of the struggle to abolish all forms of oppression and exploitation.
In embracing the objective of the creation of a nonsexist society in our Constitution, the ANC ensured that in totality the people of our country commit themselves to the goal of gender equality. For this reason, we welcome the decision of the national executive committee to appoint Ruth Kgomotso Magau to be among its members. We congratulate her and wish her well in this new assignment. Thank you. [Applause.]