3 September 2003

Despite bitterly cold weather, women from across South Africa came to Mogale City to attend the Women in Local Government National Conference.

Mogale City Local Municipality and the Department of Provincial and Local Government jointly hosted the conference with the backing of SALGA and the Women Development Foundation.

The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Buyelwa Sonjica, said in her opening remarks that she was happy her departments' festivals were being replicated across South Africa.

"The Mogale City Arts and Culture Festival is a case in point," Sonjica said. "The local people should benefit from these festivals."

She said festivals such as the Mogale City Arts and Culture Festival should be used to create opportunities for economic growth. "Funds should be sourced to nurture and market culture so that we can express our diversity as a nation."

Sonjica said women were at the coalface of fighting poverty and had demonstrated that they could triumph against adversity. "Arts and crafts can enhance the decorative fabric of our society. We need to restore the moral fabric of our society by giving expression to our culture."

Women came in their droves to attend the conference and festival. Sonjica challenged delegates to build a South African culture based on shared values and identity.

It was acknowledged at the conference that women should be empowered, specifically taking note of the knowledge that they possess.

It was noted that the monitoring of women empowerment programmes was not effective in local government. The benefits of women empowerment should trickle down to communities. Legislation that hampered the empowerment of women should be identified and reviewed.

Women delegates agreed there should be partnership beyond political parties and ideologies. The Integrated Development Programmes should engender and capture gender equity.

Delegates were upbeat that they could face challenges when they returned to their municipalities.

- Dikgang Tsa Mogale, September 2003