THE EFF’s gogo Maria Nana says women are still oppressed and need to continue fighting to end gender-based violence.
The 76-year-old said young people needed to pick up where the women of 1956 left off.
Gogo Maria was speaking during a Women’s Day celebration at Tsunami Park in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, on Tuesday, 9 August.
“Back in 1956, thousands of women stood together and today, we are liberated. They played a huge role in giving us a better life as women, but we are currently fighting a monster called GBV where women and children are killed like flies,” she said.
Gogo Maria said the rate at which women were being killed and raped was an endless headache.
“This is currently our struggle and we can only defeat it if we ask God to give us the power to fight it. Our heroes paved the way for us and we must not lose hope. We should think about the next generation,” she said.
Gogo said elderly women needed to fight against high service rates. She said until that issue was resolved, she would feel oppressed.
Acting Tshwane EFF secretary Tshegofatso Mashabela said they chose to celebrate the day in Atteridgeville ward 68, as the branch was led by women.
“We want to witness characters like mama Winnie Mandela and others who fought during the struggle to ensure women are represented in all sectors of organisations,” said Mashabela.