Nonhlanhla Khoza, KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Social Development, has vowed that government will not relent in its fight for women empowerment and said the department is determined to accelerate women and youth empowerment across the province.
MEC Khoza said that as the department focused on moving away from a welfare-type approach to a developmental one, women were the ones who needed to be prioritised. She encouraged women to use soil as their gold to better their lives.
“Government will not empower people who are folding their arms, waiting for hand-outs. We opted to come to the area of Sangcwaba village to close Women’s Month because we want these women to make an impact on the lives of people residing in rural areas,” she said.
MEC Khoza said that agriculture was the only solution to better the lives of the people in rural areas. She said that using land that had been availed by amakhosi would go a long way to ensure that the economy reaches rural areas.
“We want to see women contribute significantly to the economy of the country. We donated a water pump to ensure the empowerment of women who ventured into agriculture; to better their lives and that of their families. The commitment shown by these women is an indication that they started the agricultural project along Bhobhobho River bank to ensure that they better their lives. We know that the area is faced with high levels of unemployment, therefore, we want to discourage our youth on running to big cities, and create jobs for themselves with the land availed by amakhosi,” she said.
MEC Khoza also donated Social Relief of Distress vouchers to over 10 impoverished families as well as other goodies, including vanity packs, blankets and walking sticks for senior citizens in the area.
“We are not going to rest for as long as women bear the brunt of poverty and criminality – particularly that of gender-based violence. No one should claim that women are free while they are still plunged into poverty,” she said.
Chairperson of Songweni Women’s Club, Nombuyiselo Ngidi, said that they were elated that government responded to their needs. “We are happy to see that the MEC honoured her promise. We never thought that we will be recognised eventually. Moving forward, we will ensure that all our harvest does reach the markets. We have been selling to local communities, but we were unable to maximise our production,” said Ngidi.
Inkosi Mbuso Ngcobo of KwaNyuswa Traditional Authority said he was very pleased that the Department of Social Development chose his clan to close the Women’s Month celebrations. “We are grateful that MEC Khoza saw the struggle of the women carrying buckets of water on their heads to their gardens and she made a determination to help them. It means a lot to us as a rural community because using soil is the only thing that would better our lives. It is a fact that agriculture remains a solution for us in rural areas since we have no industries,” said Inkosi Ngcobo.
He said the project would be protected to ensure that the community thrives. “We are very happy that development is not considered only for those living in urban areas. As rural communities, agriculture is our gold and in the Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality, we always encourage women to stand on their feet and do everything to better their lives,” said Inkosi Ngcobo, who made a commitment that his council would ensure that the project was a success.
