This, as Parliament’s virtual review sessions of the 1994 Women’s Charter moves to the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The consultative processes led by the former Northern Cape Premier and the now Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Sylvia Lucas, have last week highlighted the plight faced by communities in the Northern Cape. 

During her engagement with women in the Northern Cape’s five districts, it became clear that the lack of basic municipal services still poses a huge challenge to women and communities they live in. This is coupled with high unemployment rates, a lack of business opportunities, gender-based violence and other forms of crime. 

Following the NCOP’s engagement with communities in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape, the women in Free State communities will this afternoon also be afforded an opportunity to have their voices heard. 

Lucas, in an interview with OFM News, said they are aiming to engage women in at least 40 districts across the country and are hopeful the response they receive from women in the different provinces will not only help them develop the Women’s Charter, but draw closer collaborations between the public and the private sector.

OFM News