This, as the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature is hosting the 2020 Women’s Parliament. The virtual sitting set to be addressed by various law enforcement bodies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is expected to draw attention to how the criminal justice system protects women and respond to GBV cases. 

The 2020 Women’s Parliament comes just weeks after OFM News reported on the 1994 Women’s Charter review sessions that took place in the province. During these review sessions the former Northern Cape Premier and the now Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Sylvia Lucas, confirmed that more needs to be done to ensure gender equality in the province and in the country at large.

Lucas said it remains crucial for the country to develop policies that will ensure that women from all walks of life are protected.

In an interview with OFM News, she outlined that women in the province and across the country are still hard-hit by the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

She confirmed issues pertaining to GBV, the lack of access to basic municipal services, and the lack of access to job opportunities in the Northern Cape are amongst some of the key challenges that have been sharply raised by the women in the province. 

Meanwhile, the South African Local Government Association’s Thandiwe Sintu is amongst guest speakers expected to outline the association’s perspective on women in local government, how their role could be enhanced, and how service delivery challenges faced on the ground could be addressed.

OFM News