VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE TO UNIZULU PHENOMENAL LADIES

2022 THEME:  “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience”.

The Month of August has been set aside as the Women’s Month in celebration and recognition of the role women have played in the struggle against apartheid and patriarchy. During my tenure as Vice Chancellor, I have set a day to recognize this struggle.

On this day, female employees, regardless of rank and status are invited to be part of this annual celebration and recognition of women’s contribution to the betterment of mankind.

Women’s Month is a tribute not only to the thousands of women who marched on that day in 1956, but also a tribute to the pioneers of the women’s movement in this country, dating back to 1913, when women like Charlotte Maxeke led the way in encouraging women to engage in the struggle for freedom. Pioneers include Cissy, Jaynab and Amina Gool. They were amongst the leaders of the National Liberation League and the Non-European United Front of the 1930s.

This year’s Women Month is celebrated under the theme “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience”.  This theme fits well with a global campaign for the emancipation of women and links South Africa to global efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030. We join hands with spheres of government as part of a decade of Action towards gender equality. We are also of the firm view that gender equality will contribute immensely to the objective of eradicating poverty. Women bear the brunt of scourge of poverty.

Sadly, this year’s celebrations take place against the backdrop of a gender-based violence and femicide pandemic. We should however not see this as a women’s problem – kuyinkinga yamadoda, (a men’s problem) also. It calls for doubling of efforts by all of us.

We are committed to acknowledging the successes of the women in our community, using our collective voice and power to ensure that the deaths of thousands of women and children and marginalised people in our society is not in vain.

Against this backdrop we are pleased that we have made some strides as society. These include the following:

• Girls learn alongside boys in our primary and secondary schools and receive equal education.
• Last year, more females passed their matric exams and got more distinctions than their male counterparts.
• There are currently more female students enrolled at institutions of higher learning than males. This is also at UNIZULU.
• Graduates rate at UNIZULU consistently has been high for female students in the last past 5 years than it has been for males.
• The Vice-Chancellor and two Vice-Chancellors at UNIZULU are female professors
• Close to half of our Members of Parliament, judges and magistrates are women.
• More than 60 per cent of public servants are women.
• In South Africa today, women are champions. Recently our national team Banyana Banyana made us proud by bringing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

Just as the pioneers of the Women’s March of 1956 were role-models, the young women, and girls of today have no shortage of role models.

In conclusion as the country navigate its way back from the heavy COVID 19 restrictions, I encourage everyone to be involved and supportive.

Issued by: Vice-Chancellor & Principal: Professor X.A Mtose
17 August 2022