DEPT SET TO IGNITE THE ECONOMIC RENEWAL OF RURAL WOMEN THROUGH MASS MOBILISATION  

 

The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture and Land Reform will this Saturday, 07 October 2006 launch the provincial wing of Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) in an effort to fast-track the economic empowerment of women in agriculture and rural development.  The launch of WARD which will be held at Kimberley’s Flamingo Casino, 08h30, is to be attended by over 300 women drawn mainly from the countryside, women structures and emerging female farmers. The representatives will also be choosing their district based representatives that will represent them at a national level and at the forthcoming national launch of WARD.

 

Departmental MEC Tina Joemat-Pettersson, whose current tenure in office remains indistinguishable with the empowerment of women, will deliver the keynote address, highlighting the strides the department has made since its historic Women in Agriculture Conference of 2002. The MEC will also flag projects of this financial year aimed at the economic empowerment of women in agriculture and land reform. In penning the theme for the Provincial Launch of WARD, “Mobilising Rural Women Into A Powerful, United and Active Force For Socio-Economic Change,’’ MEC Joemat-Pettersson described WARD as an information base pushing rural women to the  battlefront of the rural economy in an agricultural province.         

 

The initiator and national Chairperson of WARD, Ms. Cynthia Moyo from the Eastern Cape, will deliver a paper on “sharing innovative ideas.” END

 

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi 083 255 8840 tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za

Source: Department of Agriculture and Land Reform.

 

Editor’s Notes & Provincial Launch Programme:

 

1.                              BACKROUND

 

The National Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs hosted a ‘Women in Agriculture and Rural Development’ Summit at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban from 26-27 August 2006. A delegation from Northern Cape Province consisting of women who are involved in Agriculture attended the summit.

 

The objectives of the summit were as follows

 

·                                 To create a platform for women to engage in dialogue on issues related to agriculture and land in the context of rural development;

·                                 To begin preparations for the Global Rural Women Conference to be held in South Africa, April 2007; and

·                                 To establish an organisation termed ‘Women in Agriculture and Rural Development’ (WARD)

 

Some of the challenges includes among others

 

·         Lack of access to land (women are still to a large extent not being allowed land ownership) – which makes it difficult to engage in farming

·         Lack of knowledge about land reform programmes, i.e. women do not know about policies, laws, their rights and administrative procedures used to implement policies and procedures – making it difficult for them to engage in government processes

 

WARD is intended to be a mass-based movement which aims to ensure the socio-economic development of women. It was established in the Eastern Cape by Ms. Cynthia Molo to address challenges faced by Women in the rural areas.  

 

 

2.1 OBJECTIVES OF WARD

 

•          To fight patriarchy and empower women especially in the area of agriculture and land reform within the context of rural development

•          WARD will be a mass-based movement which aims to ensure socio-economic development of women

 

2.2 RESOLUTIN OF THE SUMMIT

 

2.2.1 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

 

The Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) organisation was formed during the conference and an interim committee formed, which consisted of representatives from all the nine provinces as follows:

 

Eastern Cape     : Ms. Cynthia Molo (Chairpserson)

Limpopo                        : Ms. Ntshole Mabapa (Secretary)

Free State                     : Ms. Nomaindia Ocean

Gauteng                        : Ms. Della Masilela

Western Cape    : Ms. Zodwa Moyo

North West                    : Ms. Selebaleng Ratshikana

Mpumalanga      : Ms. Nomvula Maya

Northern Cape   : Ms. Mina Gill

Kwazulu Natal    : Ms. Thami Zimu

 

1.2.2        PROVINCIAL LAUNCHES

 

Following the resolution of summit the province developed an awareness campaign of WARD in all the Districts and Local Municipalities. The campaign started on the 13th September and it will continue till the 3rd October 2006. The Provincial launch will take place on the 7th October 2006, Flamingo Casino in Kimberley.

 

 

1.2.3        NATIONAL LAUNCH

 

The national launch will take place on the 14th - 15th October 2006 in the Eastern Cape Province.

 

1.2.4        GLOBAL  CONFERENCE

 

South Africa will host a Global Rural Women Conference in March 2007 and the Department of Agriculture will be the leading department for the conference.

 

8. CONTACT PERSONS

 

Ms K Mokgothu   (083 561 6160)

Ms Z Dlamini      (083 3528401)

·                Mr. T Mothibi           (083 255 8840)

 

 

               PROGRAMME PROVINCIAL LAUNCH

 

 

Programme Director                               :           Gail Parker

 

Opening Prayer                          :           Pastor Messelaar

08H30-08H35                                                     (NC NAFU President)

 

Welcoming by Sol Plaatjie Mayor :           Mayor Patrick Lenyibi

08H35-08H40

 

Opening Remarks and Introduction:         Head of Dept Mr. Viljoen Mothibi

08H40-09H00                                                    

 

Keynote Address                           :        Honourable MEC Tina Joemat-Pettersson

09H00-09H40                                                    

TEA BREAK

09H40-10H10

 

Departmental Programmes             :        Jacqui Maisela

10H10-10H45

 

Sharing innovative strategies                   :           Cynthia Molo

10H45-11H00

 

Report back on briefing sessions  :           Mina Gill

11H00-11H15

 

Nominations & elections of                      :           Mandisa Monakali

Provincial Steering Committee

11H15-12H00

 

Announcements                         :           Florence Diallo

12H00-12H05

 

Vote of thanks                                        :           Dr Rebone Moerane

                                                                        (Chief Director)

 

LUNCH  12H30