FEATURESPage 2 8 August 2008

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The eZasegagasini Metro isthe official eThekwiniMunicipality publicationthrough which ratepayersand residents are informedof news, entertainment andperspectives in the greaterDurban region.It is also a forum forreaders’ views. It hits the streets fortnightlyon a Friday, with 450 000copies distributedthroughout the region.To contact us:eZasegagasini Metro, POBox 5588, Durban, 4000 Newsroom: 311 2290/81/84 Fax: 306 4603Communications: 311 2279naidoothrusha@durban.gov.zaeThekwini Info Centre0800 331 011 (toll-free)sizakala@durban.gov.za

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Editor: Ntsiki MagwazaNews Editors:Thrusha Naidoo, MandlaNseleSub-editor: Matthew HattinghWriters: SiyabongaMaphumulo, Ken Mchunu,Sohana Singh, Alan Cooper,Derrick Dlamini, SamanthaMoodley, Gugu Blose, MackMakhathini, Sane Shandu,Themba Nyathikazi, ThembaKhumalo, EmmanuelKleinbooi, Khaya Sengani,Romita Hanuman Translations: Siyabonga Maphumulo,Themba Nyathikazi, KenMchunu, Derrick Dlamini,Mack Makhathini

THEMBA KHUMALO and SANE SHANDU

THEY sit on theCity’s secondhighest decision-making body,occupying three of

the ANC’s eight executivecommittee (Exco) posts. Butfor Fawzia Peer, ZandileGumede and NomvuzoShabalala, this is only thebeginning of their mission toempower more women.

As South Africans prepareto mark the anniversary ofthe 1956 protest march onthe Union Buildings and tocelebrate Women’s Daytomorrow (9 August), thethree shared their thoughtswith eZasegagasini Metro .

Peer, Gumede andShabalala agreed that thewomen who marched to theUnion Buildings on 9 August1956, in protest against thepass laws, remain a source ofgreat inspiration.

On that day, 20 000 womentook to the streets, passes inhand and made their way towhat used to be the seat ofgovernment, in Pretoria(now Tswane).

There they handed over apetition signed by thousandsof women, denouncing theproposed extensions of thepass laws to women. A passwas an identificationdocument which wascreated to restrict Africanpeople’s freedom ofmovement during theapartheid era.

CLLR NomvuzoShabalala stronglybelieves women would

have made a greater impactin society had they beengiven the platform to play amore prominent role inpolitics and business.

“I wish to pay tribute towomen such as Lilian Ngoyiand others, who were amongthe first to take part infighting for women’s rightsand to ensure there isequality,” she said.

Shabalala was born inBhizana, in the EasternCape. She grew up inClermont, near Durban,where she completed herprimary and high schooleducation.

She is a single mother andblessed with five children,four girls and one boy.

After matriculating, sheworked for a law companyand later joined trade unionswhere she said she acquiredthe experience and courageto get involved in politics.

Since then Shabalala hasbeen actively involved inpolitics and communitydevelopment.

Her hard work led to herbeing elected to serve as award councillor for Umlazi,from 1995 to 1996. From1996 to 2000 she served onthe South Central LocalCouncil as an Exco member.

In 2000 Nomvuzo was re-elected ward councillorand in 2003 she wasdeployed to serve on Exco.

“I really want to seewomen being empowered,especially in business,forming co-operatives andstarting their own businesseswhich will make them

independent,” she said. She said although women

have made progresspolitically and in climbingthe corporate ladder, muchstill needed to be done.“There are some gapsbetween men and women.Women need to be helped toincrease their capacity sothat they can take advantageof the opportunitiesavailable to them.”

Shabalala, a passionatepeople’s person, said sheloved to see progress inpeople’s lifves.

“As a woman in leadershipand a mother, I believewomen have the potential toturn things around. I wouldlike to see young womenempowered and able to grabopportunities available tothem, and not to depend onother people.”

COMING from a familyof 12 children, growingup was sometimes

tough for Cllr ZandileGumede, who was born inMaoti, Inanda, on 12 May1961.

“My parents could notafford a luxury lifestyle or togive us a good education,”she said. But she did manageto complete Standard 9(Grade 11).

Gumede was notdiscouraged by her family’shumble circumstances.

“I decided to engage incommunity developmentprojects, which is where mypolitical education began,”she said.

In the late 70s Gumede wasinvolved in civicorganisations in the area andin the early 90s she becamesecretary of the Amaoti CivicAssociation.

Her involvement in variouspolitical structures createdopportunities for her.

Gumede, who is marriedand blessed with fourchildren (a boy and threegirls), was elected deputysecretary of the InandaDevelopment Forum, whereshe gained exposure tocommunity developmentand politics.

Her intelligence andcommitment to work led herto being nominated to sit onthe executive committee ofthe North Durban Region ofthe ANC, and later she waselected to the party’seThekwini region, as atreasurer.

Gumede is not ashamed ofher background. “We all havethe potential to overcomepoverty or anycircumstances we face.

“I did not want to allowcircumstances to determinemy future; I had to use all theopportunities available toput me where I am today,”she said.

Gumede has a certificate incommunity developmentfrom the University ofKwaZulu-Natal. “I wasfortunate to be part of auniversity exchangeprogramme to Canada.”

Her vision is to form awomen’s forum in theCouncil where women’sissues can be addressed.

“There is a gap betweenofficials, politicians and thepublic. I strongly believe theforum will bridge that gap,”said Gumede.

She is now working on apilot project for a para-legalprogramme to helpdisadvantaged communities.

It will give people access tolegal services.

“If we can all work togetherto develop women,especially in disadvantagedcommunities, we canovercome poverty.

“There is lot of potential inrural women, the problem isthey lack skills and have littleaccess to services, comparedwith women in urban areas,”she said.

CLLR Fawzia Peer, whorepresents ward 24,believes it is critical to

affirm the role women play,“be it for their families, or thesacrifices that they havemade and continue to makefor society”.

A good example would be

the life of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

She endured 27 hard yearswhile her husband NelsonMandela was incarcerated.

She had to raise a familyalone and galvanise thepeople around her tocontinue the struggle againstapartheid.

“All this was done at greatpersonal cost, and she is justone example,” said Peer.

The KwaDukuza-bornmother of four girls holds anHonours Degree in SocialScience. Peer said genderinequality remained a majorchallenge for South Africa.

“To my mind, celebrationsshould be focussed on waysto uplift women and society.

“That we celebrateWomen’s Day, and Women’smonth, sends a powerfulsignal to society that thewalls of patriarchy arebreaking down,” she said.

Coming from atraditionally male-dominated society, Peer saidthat being where she is todayis proof that women canachieve great things.

“This affirms there are nobarriers to what you canachieve,” she said.

Peer said she was confidentthe ANC would achieve itstarget of 50% women in allspheres of government.

KhumaloTK@durban.gov.zaShanduSanelisiwe@durban.gov.za

It’s a woman’s worldHANDS ON:Cllr NovmuzoShabalala(right)inspects flooddamage inUmlazi’s MSection earlierthis year. ‘As awoman inleadership anda mother, Ibelieve womenhave potentialto turn thingsarround,’ saidShabalala

Pictures:THEMBA

KHUMALO

TOP OF HER GAME: Cllr Fawzia Peer, with City Manager MichaelSutcliffe and Mayor Obed Mlaba at the unveiling of eThekwini’s 2010host city logo. ‘There are no barriers to what you can achieve,” said Peer

MOTIVATED: Cllr Zandile Gumedehas not allowed circumstances todetermine her future