Durban — The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said that inequality, capitalism and the high rate of unemployment of women in South Africa had made this country a war zone for women.
Numsa said it supports the demands for increased funding for shelters, community-based services, greater mental health interventions, and increased economic support for victims of abuse and sexual violence.
The second deputy president of Numsa, Puleng Phaka, said the last 28 years of democracy had not created the kind of free society which was envisioned in fighting apartheid.
“Under the leadership of the governing ANC, we are the most unequal society on earth, and stats found that wealth inequality has not decreased since the end of Apartheid,” said Phaka.
She added that, as a union, they would continue to fight the battle against inequality in workplaces all over the country, which also include income inequality. Furthermore, Phaka said they support the calls of increasing policing in communities so that ordinary women can feel safer.
“The reforms we are calling for are temporary and will offer only short-term relief. If we want a permanent end to the suffering of women, we must also fight for the destruction of the capitalist system,” she said.
Moreover, Phaka said the rate of unemployment among women was 36.8% in the 2nd quarter of 2021 compared to 32.4% among men. The unemployment rate among African women was 41% during this period compared to 8.2% among white women, 22.4% among Indian/Asian women and 29.9% among Coloured women.
She said the reforms that they are calling for are temporary and will offer only short-term relief, adding: “If we want to permanently end the suffering of women, we must also fight for the destruction of the capitalist system. We need to establish a society which places humanity first, ahead of profiteering. Numsa will continue to fight for the total emancipation of women and the establishment of a genuine socialist society where all of us, particularly women, can be free.”
Daily News