Gift Ngobeni
@nyikogifted
Every year we are in August South Africans celebrate
women as the month is dubbed women’s month with the 9th of August
set aside as an extra special public holiday for these celebrations. Women have
definitely come far and sitting at the helm of the African Union now is Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who is the first woman to head the body. She has served in
South Africa’s government as a minister in the portfolios of health, foreign
affairs and home affairs.
Another noticeable name would be that of our public
protector Thuli Madonsela. Madonsela is
also a Human Rights Lawyer and Equality Expert. She was also one of the eleven
technical experts who helped the Constitutional Assembly draft the final
constitution in 1994 and 1995.
While a lot of strides
have been made in South Africa and the above mentioned women have been an
inspiration to many in our new democracy, there are many others there still
continue to live the life of struggle. While I was listening to
radio some time in August I hear a story done by senior specialist reporter,
Mahlatse Gallens. The story was about 45-year-old
Ruby Marais who, after 20 years in an abusive marriage, is now serving 25 year
prison term for the murder of her abusive husband. The mother of one from
Stillbaai in the Western Cape was convicted for paying hit men ten thousand Rand
to kill her husband. She says it was her only way out of an abusive marriage.
