What about young women from poverty stricken families, are they supposed to miss classes, stay indoors and never participate in sports because they are from poor families? So in south Africa we believe sex is that important that we give away free condoms, we believe education is that important that we give away free text books of course except in Limpopo because somehow the minister always forgets to deliver in that part of the country.
This is a conversation I wanted to keep away from; hoping one woman will make a call to mobilize all women and men in South Africa to meet in Tshwane at the Union buildings and remind the president that many young women are still victims of poverty. Remind him while he is busy blessing the few, many others are denied a very basic right, the right for dignity. It breaks my heart that not even mothers (ANCWL) or their president or their delegate in the form of minister of basic education have taken upon their shoulders the responsibility to make sure every challenge that hinders the learning of a young black women is addressed.
Even if fees fall, I won’t celebrate until all young women are afforded the right to dignity, until young women can attend the whole academic calendar without being absent because they cannot afford sanitary towels. Until such a time they are given for free to all like a packet of condoms I maintain there is nothing to celebrate. Sex is a choice but menstruation is natural get that fact straight, sanitary towels are a basic basic need.
This is because education is the key out of poverty but if my black sisters miss classes then that education is sexist, then that education is not meant for the poor young women growing in Limpopo or Eastern Cape.
FREE QUALITY sanitary towels for all.
