By Asanda Magadla

Women from the Eastern Cape province celebrated the end of Women’s Month by gathering to discuss the challenges and solutions affecting women.

Dressed in their traditional attire for the day, they shared their lived experiences as they continue to face challenges such as climate change, xenophobia, anti-Black racism, poverty and hunger, as well as land and water challenges.

Organised by the Rural Women Assembly in the province, the event was also attended by other stakeholders, including SAPS, the Human Rights Commission and the Thuthuzela Care Centre.

Nceba Mrhwebo of the Commission for Gender Equality said, “Women in rural areas continue to face challenges that infringe on their rights, such as access to land and the right to clean water.” He added that most rural areas do not receive information about dementia, so many women are being killed in rural areas, accused of practising witchcraft.

According to Mrhwebo, the incident in Engcobo earlier this year, in which an elderly woman was accused of witchcraft.

According to Mrhwebo, young girls in rural areas are still victims of forced marriages. He added that the Rural Women’s Assembly needs to reach out more to women and young girls in rural communities to educate them.

The speaker from the Thuthuzela Care Centre spoke about how the centre assists with cases involving rape victims and how it is working with other departments to support victims.

Bomkazi Manciya said, “When we assist rape victims, we don’t transfer them from one place to another. Instead, we ensure that all the necessary departments, such as Health, are available to support victims.”

This, according to Manciya, helps victims feel safe when opening rape cases. She also mentioned how climate change, the water crisis and xenophobia affect women, and how these issues are interlinked.

Women are the most affected by these changes, as most women are the ones who support their families.