My Dream is to be Bold

The Work to End Patriarchy

Feminist Alternatives

For everyone in South Africa the post-1994 period was one of hope. Women’s struggles and organising efforts within and outside the anti-apartheid liberation movement have meant that women now occupy positions of power but capitalist patriarchy is still intact and gross inequalities continue to divide and haunt women. From differing vantage points within struggle, Feminist Alternatives offer a critique of women’s position in South Africa today and give new leaning to women’s knowledge, analysis, vision and actions for change.

They suggest that rights and freedoms for women are the litmus test of meaningful change, and assert that any notion of sustainable transformation must insist on radical ruptures with capitalist patriarchy. Conceptualisation of democracy that ignores the economic and social disenfranchisement of the social majority must be rejected.

Contents

Introduction: My Dream is to be Bold

Nosipho Twala
Remmoho – a space that was needed and thus created for women in the Anti Privatisation Forum

Ntombolundi Zitha
Local Rural Development

Mary Tal Yuin
The Whole World Women’s Association – speaking for ourselves, demanding our rights as refugee and South African women

Mamy Tladi
The challenging of evictions and privatisation of basic health, education, water and electricity services through the Anti-Privatisation Forum

Shereen Essof
University of Cape Town Workers Support Committee – committed to workers’ rights to decent and dignified conditions

Wendy Pekeur
Sikhula Sonke – a women-led farmworkers’ trade union and social movement

Zanele Gladys Mokolo
Kganya Women’s Consortium and Itsoseng Women’s Project fighting HIV/AIDS and water cut offs at Orange Farm

Anna Davies-van Es
Feminist political education, Building Women’s Leadership for activists

Jean Beukes
Grassroots feminist activism, United Against Starvation, Women of Action

Dorathy Leyeulere Barry
Ogoni Solidarity Forum and Ogoni Women’s struggles in a refugee camp for Nigerians in Benin

Ronald Wesso
The Surplus People’s Project on The Agrarian Reform for Food Sovereignty Campaign

Davine Witbooi
Rural anti-GMO Reform and Food Sovereignty Campaign

Sipho Mthathi
Feminist Alternatives for change

Zandile Nsibande
Abahlali Base Mjondolo (Shackdwellers) Women’s league

Lorraine Heunis
Informal Settlements in Struggle

Koni Benson
Housing activism and feminist collaborations

Virginia Setshedi
Women and the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, water and the politics of funding

Promise Mthembu
Feminism, HIV/AIDS and women’s experiences – a decade of activism

Desiree Nolubabalo Higa
Lesbian women organising

Conclusion: Already bold, we must be even bolder
Out of the pages of this volume: Lessons learned and tools for next steps in our work to end patriarchy

About the Author

Feminist Alternatives is a group of feminist activists in South Africa seeking meaningful alternatives to leadership and power, and real social transformation where women, and all people, can be free to realise their full potential and humanity. The group has worked and organised nationally and globally against sexism and oppression and has committed to help unite the voices and actions of women in poor and working class communities across national boundaries and borders.