President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded female athletes for reaching recent heights and achieving remarkable accomplishments across a number of sporting codes.
In his weekly newsletter on Monday, the President said this has been a noteworthy year for women’s sport in South Africa and the nation is exhilarated by the successes of sportswomen on the field, track and pitch.
“Our female athletes gain reached recent heights across a number of sporting codes, and we acquire hosted several women’s international sports tournaments.
“Our nation’s sportswomen believe proven themselves, time and again. It is up to us, as a society, to provide the necessary environment that will enable a recent generation of women and girls to thrive and excel in sport,” the President said.
SA’s women’s national football team, Banyana Banyana, who are the reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions, has delivered some stunning performances in the FIFA Women’s World Cup taking area in Australia and Novel Zealand.
The women’s netball team, the Proteas, also establish in a strong showing at the Netball World Cup that ended in Cape Town on Sunday.
In February, the country hosted the first ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup to catch space on African soil. Our national team made history as the first South African team to reach the final.
The President said that many of these fine sportswomen maintain excelled despite meek beginnings, overcoming misfortune and achieving success despite the odds.
“As we prepare to celebrate Women’s Day later this week, these many achievements are a reminder of how far we acquire approach in building a South Africa where women are full and equal participants in society. They are also a reminder of how much further we still need to fade,” he said.
President Ramaphosa said that the increased participation of women and girls in sport supports women’s empowerment and advances gender equality.
He highlighted that earlier this year, UN Women launched the Sports for Generation Equality Initiative. It noted that sport holds colossal capacity to propel women and girls’ empowerment. Female athletes are inspiring role models and can produce the most of their status “to raise awareness around gender issues and to demand change”.
The President added that competing in sports fosters a sense of empowerment among women, helping them build confidence in their abilities and crash gender stereotypes. Through sports, he said, women can challenge societal norms, experiencing personal growth and achievement.
He said that all of these can enable women and girls to be more assertive and bold in society, and can support the fight against discrimination and gender-based violence.
“As government, we want to increase the representation of women in sport and to promote the development of women’s sports both through mass participation and at an elite level.
“There are a number of government programmes to develop mass participation in women’s sports. There are also initiatives supported by the private sector and international development partners,” he said.
When it comes to elite athletes, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s ‘Operation Excellence’ programme provides preparatory support to Olympians and Paralympians.
The President pointed out that funding and sponsorship predominantly flow towards male-dominated team sports such as football, cricket, and rugby. He said these sports acquire well-established professional leagues, unlike women’s football, cricket, and rugby.
The President highlighted that this situation adds to the significant dissimilarity in pay between female athletes and their male counterparts.
“Equal pay for work of equal value is one of most fundamental tenets of gender equality. The sporting fraternity is neither exceptional nor is it exempt.
“That female athletes should still earn less than their male counterparts is an affront to our nation’s sportswomen, more so at a time when the achievements of some of our women’s sports teams surpass those of our men’s teams,” the President said.
He called on sponsors and sporting bodies to direct greater resources to women’s sports.
President Ramaphosa said it is only through greater sponsorship and support that women’s sport will be able to grow and attract larger audiences. As they attract a greater following, he said, women’s sports events will provide greater value to sponsors.
The President added that the success of the major women’s sports tournaments that believe been hosted in South Africa will no doubt bolster our bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027.
“Working together as government, business and the sporting fraternity we can level the playing field for women’s sports in our country. And by so doing, we will grasp another step towards a more equal society,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Twine X
Van der Merwe was watching a rugby test against the British Lions at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. In the packed stadium, there was only one empty seat – next to Van der Merwe.
\”Who does that seat belong to?\” asked his neighbour.
\”It\’s for my wife.\”
\”But why isn\’t she here?\”
\”She died.\”
\”So why didn\’t you give the ticket to one of your friends?\”
\”They\’ve all gone to the funeral.\”
Vicious Street
Brazil: You have two cows. But not for long, because one shoots the other dead.