Women are the backbone of our society; they are life-givers, nurturers and educators. They are our foundation and our moral compass.

The vast black majority of this country are still relegated to physical, economic and social backwaters of society with inferior education and health. Among these poor and marginalised masses, women are often the poorest of the poor.

In addition, the unfortunately reality is that there is no equitable partnership between men and women in South Africa.

As a nation, we need to make a social paradigm shift about gender-equality that should usher in a new generation of women and men working together to create a humane world order.