Page 3 - Ongoye Online, Aug/Sept edition

2022 THEME: “Women’s Socio- Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience”
The Month Month of August has been set aside as as as the the Women’s Month Month in in celebration and recognition of the the the the role women have played in in in the the the struggle against apartheid and patriarchy During my tenure as Vice-Chancellor I have set a a a a day to recognise 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 a a a a tribute not only to the thousands of of women who marched on on on on that day in in in 1956 but but also a a a a a a a tribute to the the pioneers of of the the women’s movement in in in this country dating back to to 1913 when women women women like Charlotte Maxeke led the the way in in in encouraging women women to to engage in in in in in the the struggle for freedom Pioneers include Cissy Jaynab and Amina Gool They were amongst the the the leaders of the the the National Liberation League and the the the the Non-European United Front of the 1930s This year’s Women’s Women’s Month is is celebrated under the the theme “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for for Women’s Improved Resilience”
This theme fits well with a a a a a a a global campaign for for the the emancipation of women and links South Africa to to global efforts to to achieve gender equality by 2030 We join hands with spheres of of of of government as part of of of of a a a a a a a a a a decade of of of of Action towards gender gender equality equality We are also of of of of the firm view that gender gender equality equality will contribute immensely to the the the objective of of eradicating poverty poverty Women bear the the the brunt of of of the the the scourge of poverty poverty Sadly this year’s celebrations took place against the backdrop of a a a a a gender-based violence and femicide pandemic We should however not see this as a 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 the successes of the the women in in in our our community using our our collective voice and and and power to ensure that the deaths of of thousands of of women and and and and children and and and marginalised people in in in in our society is not in in vain Against this backdrop we we are pleased that we we have made some strides as as society These include the following:
• Girls learn alongside boys in our primary and and secondary schools and and receive equal education • Last year more more females passed their their matric exams and got more more distinctions than their their male counterparts • There are currently more female students enrolled at at institutions of higher learning than males This is is also at at UNIZULU • Graduates rate at at at UNIZULU consistently has has been been high for for female students in the last past 5 years than it has has been been for for males • The Vice-Chancellor and two Vice- Vice- Chancellors at UNIZULU are female professors
• Close to half of of our Members
of 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 Banyana Banyana made us proud by bringing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy Just as the the pioneers of the 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 3
| ONGOYE: AUG/SEPT 2022 ISSUE VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE TO UNIZULU’S PHENOMENAL LADIES