Deputy Minister Letsike slams slow progress on women’s issues

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike says it is unacceptable that decades later since women marched against oppression – there are still women in the country who are facing abuse, unemployment and poverty.

The Deputy Minister was speaking on the sidelines of the National Women’s Day commemorations at the Dennis Nel Stadium in Pofadder, Northern Cape on Friday.

The event is meant to honour the twenty thousand women who took to the streets to stand up against the oppressive pass laws some 68 years ago.

Women’s Day | “Advancing Women’s Development” – Challenges during 30 years of democracy:

Letsike says fighting the violation of women and holding perpetrators accountable remains their key priority.

“We need to act fast to ensure that prevention agenda is what we win. For those who get violated, we need to act fast to make sure that they get redress, we still know that every 36 seconds women get violated in our country, which we cannot accept.

“We need to fast-track the education aspect. We have to fast-track where people unlearn certain behaviors. But also hold perpetrators accountable and that is why the president passed those bills that ensure that perpetrators are held to account and face the might of the law.”