The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) salutes all women on International Womens’ Day for their courage and their contribution to the struggle for freedom and equal rights. There are generations of women, including here in South Africa who have fought painful battels for basic rights such as, the right to equality; education; right to vote and to participate in politics; the right to work and to receive equal pay for work of equal value; right to access healthcare just to name a few. We must never forget the brave women who led the struggle to end the brutal Apartheid system in South Africa. In every society where oppression dominates, women organize and fight back. It is important to reflect on these important milestones, especially because fascism, sexism and racism are on the increase.
The struggle for gender quality has taken on an even greater importance because of the rise of fascism and right-wing ideology. At the recent NEC which took place from the 12th to 15th of February, President Andrew Chirwa spoke about the reason behind the rise of fascism. He used the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States to America, as an example. Capitalism is failing to improve the lives of the majority of people. Instead the wealthiest people are a tiny group of billionaires. In order to justify this failure of capitalism, and to distract the masses, the billionaire class is trying to separate us. They scapegoat certain communities by blaming them and this includes, women, black people, foreign nationals, and the LBTQIA community, for the social problems that we have. They have demonized them so that we turn on each other and blame these groups of people, instead of uniting, and fighting against the capitalist system for exploiting us.
The wealthiest 1% of the global population own roughly half of the world’s total wealth, In South Africa, the wealthiest 10% of the population own roughly 85% of the country’s total wealth, while the top 1% controls just under 55% of the total wealth. This is the real crisis facing the global working class – most of the wealth that we generate, is owned by a few people. But we are not focussed on ending this unfair system. We spend a lot of time focusing on each other and the differences amongst us as the working class. Our wages and salaries have reduced over the decades, whilst they make mega profits at our expense. The goal is to misdirect and confuse us.
This is why it is important for the union to intensify its gender work. In the build up to International Womens’ Day the Eastern Cape region working with the Education department held a two-day workshop from the 6-7thof March. The Local Office Bearers also participated. The workshop was an organisational and capacity building workshop. The aim was to revive the gender structure in the Eastern Cape. Members also received training on the legislative framework that deals with gender equity in the workplace. They also donated toiletries and sanitary towels and toiletries to a local home for children in Mdantsane, called “God’s Heart Desire Village”. This is the kind of work that the union must intensify in the near future. We commend the Eastern Cape region for taking the initiative. In every meeting they held, they encouraged shopstewards to bring at least one pack of sanitary towels or toiletries. And they donated those items to the home. We are grateful to them and the leadership for their generosity. It is important for unions and all progressive formations to put gender and the equality of the sexes at the centre. It should never just be a box ticking exercise.
We also cannot forget the struggle of the Palestinian people and the suffering which they are forced to endure every single day. On this day we must also salute Palestinian women for remaining resolute in the face of a genocide led by Israel and funded by the United States. More children have been massacred in this genocide than in any other modern conflict. According to media reports nearly 70% of those killed in the genocide are women and children. We cannot allow them to suffer alone and we cannot be silent. We have to do what is necessary to promote their struggle, particularly now, when it is very clear there is an attempt to silence them.
We are entering a time where all that we have fought for, to promote the rights of the most marginalized people, especially women, is being threatened. This is why unity is of utmost importance. We must not make the mistake of allowing the capitalist class to succeed in lying to us, by dividing us.
This is the time to consolidate and to strengthen our ranks. Educating ourselves and also mobilizing the masses around these issues, is one of our most important weapons against oppression.
Ends
Issued by Puleng Phaka
NUMSA 2nd Deputy President
For more information, please contact:
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola
NUMSA National Spokesperson
0833767725
NUMSA Head Office number: 0116891700
NUMSA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NumsaSocial
NUMSA Twitter account: @Numsa_Media
NUMSA Website: https://numsa.org.za/
