Many women’s voices and stories are told and heard in all corners of our country as we celebrate their month for their courage commemorating the 1956 march to the Union Buildings…
Many women’s voices and stories are told and heard in all corners of our country as we celebrate their month for their courage commemorating the 1956 march to the Union Buildings.
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) marked Women’s Day in grand style by letting the voices of three powerful women be heard at the Hotel School Conference Centre, Ritson Campus, on issues affecting them and the country today.
The well renowned academics were Dr Lungile Bhengu, a KwaZulu-Natal Developmental and Planning Commissioner and author of the book titled “African Midwife: Change beyond Form”, Dr Lubna Nadvi, an activist and lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the School of Politics, and the 80 year-old Dr Oshadi Mangena, a former lecturer at the University of Amsterdam while in exile in Holland, gender activist, and now executive Director at The Pitseng Women’s Trust Fund.
Dr Bhengu defied the popular notion of “no woman, no cry” by saying “no woman no life, no human race, no society, and no nothing”. She continued by saying that she is aware of the challenges our society is facing today including gender inequalities, conflicts, economic inequalities, and poverty but believes being African midwives to each other can help in solving these monumental problems.
“I dream of a world where we share our dreams, hopes, fears, and joys. The shortest way to get there is by taking a short journey inside you and be honest to yourself” said Dr Bhengu.
Dr Bhengu said one of the things that make her sad is to see lives being lost because of malnutrition in a country where there is a plenty, and what adds salt to her bleeding wounds is the feeling that students are waiting for someone to give them the permission to think.
Dr Mangena said she was present to celebrate women who said “enough is enough”, the women who brought the South African struggle to a climax. She mentioned a courageous event where approximately 600 women handed their passes to the Bloemfontein mayor during apartheid.
Dr Mangena said the way we as a country celebrates our historic days is questionable saying we feast, and dance,losing the significance of the day.
“It is even worse if it’s Youth Day. That’s why I say this day must be ‘Sheroes Day” said Dr Mangena.
Dr Mangena said it is important for us to look at the road we chose. She said the women’s voice must find a place in the new constitution as it was sent to plant Eurocentrism in Africa.
“We can’t reconstruct unless we deconstruct. Are we contributing to the reconstruction? We are still destructing, but the struggle is over,” she added.
She reminded the women that during apartheid a certain woman had to get her 14 year-old son to sign her passport to go to Europe. She continued challenging ideologies saying that gender equality is a Eurocentric concept, saying in Africa they were never housewives and mothers because they were cultivating land without male patronage.
Dr Nadvi said there has been transmission of the same ideas from the apartheid South Africa to the democratic one.
“Capitalist ideas are creating advantages and privileges to others, and people who face those privileges are mainly women” said Dr Nadvi.
Dr Nadvi said we must first do away with identities like class, race, and ethnicity. She explained belonging to a certain group means something; difference can be also used to create more differences. According to Dr Nadvi the lack of political literacy especially in rural areas is a cause for concern and there is a need to redefine knowledge and to rethink about politics in general.
The event was graced by the presence of Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa, and Chancellor Ela Gandhi, amongst other dignitaries.
The women, who were dressed to kill, went to the Hotel School Restaurant where they swung their hips and bodies with the African rhythm to the soothing sounds of Pinky Mtshali who brought the late Queen of African Pop, Brenda Fassie to life once more.
– Nqobizizwe Good-hope Zwane
