BLACK women are still the face of poverty in Mzansi 30 years after democracy.
This is according to GOOD party leader Patricia De Lille.
She was speaking at the party manifesto launch in Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, north of Joburg on Saturday, 16 March.
De Lille said: "If she has a job besides raising children, which is not regarded as real work, she likely earns less than men do. If you look closely you may see the scars she bears of the plague of gender-based violence.”
She said 30 years ago, political parties said the injustice and suffering must stop and negotiated but nothing much has changed.
She said while some few lucky people live a good life, while millions of people continue to suffer.
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“The fruits of our democracy are yet to be tasted by them. One in six of us lives on R350 grant a month. Nearly one in two of our young people can’t find jobs,” said De Lille.
She said the fact that nearly nine million were living below poverty line and have to rely on the R350 SRD grant, showed that the economy was not doing well.
The tourism minister promised her party will fight for social justice, spatial justice, economic justice and environmental justice, among other priorities.
De Lille said to grow the economy, her party will end load shedding, get trains running again and making business easier to do.
“A properly functioning public transport system is the backbone of any society, and is a fundamental means of accessing the economy for middle- and lower-income earners,” she said.
She said GOOD’s vision is for a fairer and just South Africa, where nobody is excluded from the good that it has to offer.
“Nobody is homeless. Nobody lives in poverty or hunger. Nobody feels the lingering effects of apartheid as they wake up each morning for their daily struggle.
“If we achieve this and implement the proposals that we have outlined in this manifesto, then South Africa can start making progress. Then South Africa will be a safe and prosperous place for everyone,” said De Lille.
She said a GOOD government would, among other things, implement a Basic Income Grant of a minimum of R999 a month to all unemployed people, increase the supply of Social and Community Housing and urgently bring all school infrastructure up to standard, including the full eradication of pit toilets.
On international affairs, she said South Africa can’t look away when Palestinians are suffering and are calling for self-determination.
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