Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussan Dantjie
By REGINALD KANYANE
9 March 2026- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie said women should be given recognition and claim equal participation in the creation of a non-sexist, non-racist democratic society. Dantjie echoes her sentiments as the United Nations celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, under the theme: ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.
She further said the observance of this day is a clarion call to action for accelerating gender equality, dismantling harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls. Dantjie added that her department has recorded great milestones in hiring women in senior management positions.
“Currently the ratio of women in the top echelon of management is higher than men in her department – a move she described as meaningful in addressing historic subordination and women oppression.
“Without basking in the glories at our disposal, we are doing sterling work in empowering women. On a yearly basis we provide funding to qualifying NPOs which include old age homes, residential facilities, treatment centres and many other facilities that provide social services to our communities,” she said.
Dantjie said most of these NPOs are largely owned by women. She said that through her departmental policy on women empowerment they have provided a basket of interventions in the form of equipment and stock to women owned entities and small businesses in rural areas.
“In an effort to promote and restore the dignity of the victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), our department has established White Doors as immediate contact centres that give victims access to counselling, a temporary safe haven from an abuser.
“The centres make provision for rooms with beds, chairs, food as well as a dignity packs for women who have experienced abuse. The centres are directly linked to the local police station and serve as referral points for victims and survivors of GBV,” said Dantjie.
She said they also have shelters that provide psycho-social services such as referrals, trauma counselling, skills development, court preparation, long term accommodation including prevention and aftercare services for the victims of GBV.
The Guardian 