For immediate release: Sexist slurs skirt the issues

Gender Links deplores the use of sexist slurs by all political parties for cheap political point scoring. This detracts from the main issue which is that South African women remain under-represented in all areas of politics and the economy; are subjected to a dual legal system that discriminates against them, and are subject to among the highest levels of gender violence in the world.

• The Commission on Gender Equality, the obvious constitutional body that should be making its voice heard, to call all parties concerned to order; take up cases of discrimination and focus attention on the core issues.
• The new administration to strengthen all structures created for the promotion and protection of women’s rights, including the new Ministry of Women, Children, Youth and Disability around which there is considerable skepticism.
• President Jacob Zuma to invite his rape accuser, who lives in exile, back to the country and to guarantee her safety; encourage debate on such issues as whether or not polygamy is constitutional; and pledge his support for advancing women’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
• All South Africans to understand that while political representation is only a small part of the bigger challenges around achieving gender equality, it is an important beginning. Overall, there are 41% women in the new provincial cabinets, with over fifty percent women in three provinces led by women (Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and North West). These successes rest solely on the 50% quota adopted by the ANC. Gender equality is the responsibility of all political parties, not just of the ANC. Equally, the ANC as the ruling party must understand that its achievements in ensuring 43% women in parliament and 41% in provincial and national cabinets will ring hollow unless they are accompanied by real change in the lives of women.