R2K Women’s Day Statement: Womaning during a pandemic!

Women of Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain started a feeding scheme in response to COVID-19. Photo: Supplied

This year has been a very challenging year for womxn across the world, particularly working class womxn and womxn in rural areas due to the COVD-19 outbreak. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 crisis affects men and womxn in different ways. This pandemic has deepened pre-existing inequalities forcing womxn to deal with a double pandemic. 

Today, as we commemorate national womxn’s day, we urge the South African government to prioritise womxn and children in their post-COVID-19 recovery efforts. Womxn bear most of the responsibility for holding societies together. We have witnessed the work that was undertaken by womxn in our communities responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Many started soup kitchens without any funding assistance from the government or any other humanitarian agencies to feed children since they are no longer in schools and can no longer benefit from the school feeding schemes. 

Community Health care workers, mostly womxn, continue to volunteer their time and services to assist in local health care centres and communities by distributing free masks, sanitisers and other educational materials that will assist communities in understanding and managing the COVID-19 virus without receiving any stipend.  

Those working in an informal sector are bearing the brunt of the economic fallout since many had to close business due to lockdown regulations. As the campaign, we note with grave concern how these businesswomxn were ignored while big businesses benefited from the Solidarity Fund.  

We also note that the scourge of violence against womxn and children is skyrocketing in this country and most womxn and children are finding themselves lockdown with their abusers. The lockdown regulations aimed at minimising COVID-19 infection rate have resulted in increased instances of domestic violence. 

Generally we have witnessed a lack of political will to tackle gender-based violence from the government but we hope that the three bills aimed at curbing gender-based violence that were approved by Parliament on Wednesday will finally yield positive results. 

We also call on the justice system to desist from secondary victimisation and failing people who come forward to report GBV related cases. We also call on the department of women and children to do more in raising awareness and empowering children, womxn and LGBTIQA+. We must not wait for womxn’s day or the 16 days of activism in order to see our government’s commitment in fighting against this scourge.   

We salute the strength and zeal of womxn and young girls who have put their own health at risk in order to serve the downtrodden and neglected members of the society during this current crisis. Like the women of 1956, we continue to strive for the same freedoms and rights. 

We call for: 

• An end to patriarchy, misogyny and sexism in all activism space and work space 
• Womxn voices should be heard at all times
• An end to femicide 
• Popular education around GBV in communities and schools especially in rural communities 
• Informal work done by womxn to be paid
• Womxn to be respected in all spheres

For more information contact:

Sinenhlanhla Manqele, R2K Feminist Team Convener: 074 483 4697

Ntombiyebongo Tshabalala, R2K Gauteng Organiser: 082 710 3138

Nomacebo Mbayo, R2K Western Cape Organiser: 078 762 6013