Cape Town - Women’s Day presents an ideal opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in addressing the barriers faced by women. It is also a time to renew collective efforts to ensure that the country remains on the path to creating a gender-equitable and safe society.
These were the words of Social Development MEC Sharna Fernandez who was joined by Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais, along with community members and key stakeholders at a ‘Celebration of Women’ event at the Fransie Pienaar Museum in Prince Albert on Tuesday.
The event served as an opportunity to create awareness to residents of Prince Albert and surrounding areas of the services offered by the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS).
Marais said: “Arts, culture and sport play important roles, not only in promoting mental and physical wellbeing, but also in creating safe spaces, especially for our young girls. When girls come together to practice their craft – either in the arts or practising sport, they can feel a sense of belonging and they are offered a safe space in which to equip themselves to reach success in the future.”
The officials said the department offers a basket of services and interventions for women and young girls in the Central Karoo region, that seek to remove barriers, including therapeutic and psychosocial support services; shelter services for women who have been victims of GBV and a CARES (Culture, Arts, Recreations, Education, Sport) complex in Beaufort West, which offers after school sporting activities such as softball and hockey.
In May this year, DCAS handed over funding of R560 000 to sport federations in the area, to assist them with administration and development of their various sporting codes.
“Let us join hands as women. Let us continue to uplift and empower one another, so that we can rise and ensure that a better and brighter future,” the MECs said in a statement.
For more information about other Western Cape government services, visit: