Ms Thandi Nontenja
UDEMWO Secretary General
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) welcomes the announcement by the Finance Minister Tito Mboweni for sanitary pads to be zero-rated. This step in the right direction is long overdue however; to say it will only kick off next year is too far. It should be with immediate effect.
The struggle of young girls being unable to access pads has been an on-going tussle for a very long time.
If the government is able to provide condoms for free for all men while women are paying for the pads, the decision is the least the government can do.
We are calling upon government to expedite the rolling out of pads. Many girls are still forced to skip school due to the lack of this primary need.
We are however glad that there is someone who sees a need of the very poor in a government which otherwise seems to care only for itself.
Issued by:
Thandi Nontenja
UDEMWO Secretary General
