Women gather to plan Rural Women’s Platform

WILLOWMORE NEWS - Women in leadership positions gathered in Willowmore last Thursday, to reflect on the status quo in their communities and prepare for the upcoming Rural Women's Platform scheduled for 12 to 14 August.

The Rural Women's Platform is an annual event hosted by the Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC), bringing together rural women from different provinces to reflect on the current political context, share experiences, and identify issues and opportunities for networking and support.

It also serves as a space to promote women's leadership and agency. These events are women's only platforms focussing on challenges faced by women and strategies to address these challenges.

The communities of Graaff-Reinet, Willowmore, Haarlem and Avontuur in the Sarah Baartman District, as well as Merweville, Prince Albert, Leeu Gamka and Nelspoort in the Central Karoo District were represented in the meeting on 23 June.

Substance dependency and abuse were identified as the primary challenge faced by these communities.

The lack of support for affected families and inadequate state response despite the existing legal obligation to intervene were highlighted as key concerns.

Another challenge identified relates to service delivery.

"Civil society is fighting a constant battle against politicians who do not have the political will to serve communities," says Claudia van Staden, co-ordinator of the Nelspoort Advice and Development Office.

The importance of unity and a collective approach to addressing challenges and promoting development was emphasised.

"When people are selfish with development there will never be any progress. As leaders, we have to identify those who will be able to assume leadership when we are no longer able to lead and capacitate them to take the struggle forward."

Issues related to service delivery will be escalated to a national level and legal avenues will also be explored. Regarding the issue of substance dependency and abuse, it was agreed that the stories of those victims will be documented and presented to the Commission for Gender Equality (GCE) at the Rural Women's Platform.

Graaff-Reinet representatives Yvonne Fortuin, Kleinbegin farmers, Noyise Witbooi, Regina Ndleleni en Roshida Elias, Vrygronde leadership structure, and Leeu Gamka representative Annemarie Telles reflecting on the issues experienced by women in their respective communities.