Speak, No. 38

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Alternative title Speak

Author/Creator Speak Collective (Durban)

Publisher Speak Collective (Durban)

Date 1992-05

Resource type Journals (Periodicals)

Language Afrikaans, English

Subject

Coverage (spatial) South Africa

Coverage (temporal) 1992

Source Digital Imaging South Africa (DISA)

Rights By kind permission of the Speak Collective.

Format extent(length/size)

36 page(s)

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aalInside SPEAKLetters 3Great news from us at SPEAKJokes Aside 5 for 1992 From May this year. SPEAK will be amonthlyTransvaal Ruralmagazine.Women's Movement6but you'Not only that,ll be getting SPEAK at the sameTaxiTalk 9 price. We are keeping our price at 8150 for one co.Cover picture of a member of thepyDomesticWorkersTransvaal Rural Women's and at R12. for six issues forRights 10 Movement. Picture: Gill de Vliegsubscribers.And from early May, you'll findA Conversation with SPEAK more easily than ever Indres Naidoo 14before. In bookshops,Story - A Deadly Affair 17 cornershops, CNA's andQC] f.. ~. streetcorners in the cities. AskforSPEAK- and if your closestCOD ESA 18 shop doesn't have SPEAK, ask - them to get it for you.Women writers~~~~~~Now we all know that changewomen fighters 20 doesn't come easily - and notStory - A Deadly Affairwithoutsome sweat and tears.Nawal El Sadaawi 22 In order to bring SPEAK outmontly we at SPEAK have lotsClaiming childsupport...25 of organising to do. So ournext issue will be out in earlywoman youth leader...28 AMay Enjoy every bit ofthis .30 issue in your hand right now,PAC and womenand hold your breath until mayHealth - premenstrual , i 1992when we'll bring SPEAK right back to you again.syndrome 32 Writer Naual E~ -la-Send us ideas on what you'dlike toread and know about in SPEAK. Keep sending usActing Editor Libby Lloyd letters. Tell us your views - be CoordinatorShamim Meer angry, be happy, be sad, tell Subeditor/Writer Libby Lloyd us a story, tell it like it is. InDesign and layoutShamim Meer andDipuo Masetlha 1992 we'll be bringing youDistribution and promotions Pumla Baloyi morecompetitions, morearticles to get South AfricansWe welcome editor Karen Hurt back from long leave. talking. Not onlythat, but thisyear we celebrate SPEAK'sWe welcome Dipuo Mosetlha who has joined SPEAK staff. 1 Oth birthday.We'll keep youWe say goodbye to Gill Lincoln and wish her well in her new job.We miss Gill in the office, but arepleased to have her as a voluntary member. informed on how we're goingto do this.Voluntary Managing Committeemembers:Gill Lincoln, Nise Malange,Jacqueline Mathabe, Helen Rees and Vanessa Taylor. PreviouscompetitionSPEAK Offices: Office 7,17 Floor Conlyn House, 156 President winners are: Elsie SithebeStreet,Johannesburg 2001 South Africa. Telephone: 296166. and Isaac Makhosi2LettersREADERS SPEAK OUTTraditionalor war weapons Dear SPEAKAs long as the government and the police don't want to differentiate between traditionalweapons and war weapons they are far from bringing about peace. Assegais were used as war weapons in thosedays when our forefathers were involved in wars before I was born. I am sixty six years old and I never saw ourgrandfathers going to cultural events with assegais. They carried sticks and knobkeries, not assegaais and shields.Igrew up in Mahlake, a small village in Mount Flekhos. Our community was of Hlubi origin. I got part of my education inNatal. I know a bit about their culture.When the Inkatha started visiting Jabulani Amphitheatre they did not carry theseassegais. Apparently they had forgotten this culture until suddenly in 1990. When the liberation movements wereunbanned they then thought they should bring these weapons when visiting the Vaal. That is when violence becamerife in the Transvaal. There is no truth in saying these are traditional weapons. Why are they carrying them around? Isthere any war? Who declared it and why? Inkatha is not ready to talk peace because they are notThanks to all ourmoulding? Let us startreaders who have demilitarizing our youth by notwritten in. Share your selling and buying toyguns.views with SPEAK Let us sell and buy educationalreaders. Write to us at toys. Toy guns are a menaceP.O.Box45213 Mayfair and a waste of hard earned2108 Johannesburg money. A comment from yourreaders will be highly yettelling the truth. I am older appreciated.than Mangosuthu himself. I Yours in the strugglenever saw war where theseMary Mkhwanaziweapons were not used. Christian Womens' MovementWhen all nations are moving police killed mysoninto civilization, Inkatha is Dear SPEAKretreating into the dark ages. My son has been shot dead byWorriedTransvaal a policeman and he admits toThis letter has been shortened. doing so. The case has beenhandedover to the LegalNo to war toys Resources Centre inDear SPEAK Grahamstown. The claim isChristian Women'sMovement being processed. My questionis appealing to all toy shops is why is this policeman notand to parents of allraces to suspended? Why does hestop selling and buying toy continue to serve theguns. Harmless asthetoy gunscommunity before the caseare, they leave a mark in the has been cleared?child's mind that a gun is a Yoursfaithfullykilling weapon which can be William Nquloowned and used to kill other Barkly-East people.How manychildren have died We want you and your family toafter playing with their parents' know we are thinking of you.guns?If you watch a child We have spoken to theplaying with a toy gun you will independent Board of Inquiry intonotice hecries if the one who Informal Repression (IBIIR). Theyis being shot at does not fake say with the present law adeath.Other children watching policeman is only suspended if the police force decides to investigatethe game will all shout: "Die a case. This is not covered by the so and so die". If so and so Peace Accord. We at SPEAK say "Dies" then theyall laugh and this law must change. Whenever clap hands. So why toy guns? someone is killed by a policeman, Whatfuture generation are we it should be investigated.3 SPEAKSpeak uplifts! are fighting for freedom. articles onwomen's Dear SPEAK SPEAK people, I have a oppression, women's fight for Kindly send me your problem. I am 24years old and liberation, the struggle - I had magazine. We want to learn I want to organise women in some thoughts.I think we about the issues concerning Bophutatswana. women are doing enough our rights as women. My problem ishow and where apart from all the above. Who We have searched for a long because these women don't are weasking for our time in vain to find someone want to understand anything liberation?...the men? who can teach us andwho about women's rights. Women I think it's up to us to liberate can uplift the suffering of must organise before it istoo the men! Enough of us being black women, then we late. the victims, it undermines us stumbled on your address.SPEAK people I hope you'll and gives no credit to all the We all know you will support take my problem into work wedo anyway. I think our needs. consideration. Please help me we can turn this jargon around Please also give us withyour advice. Women and liberatethe mento a more information on how we can should be encouraged to take fuller lifein being human. As get issues of SPEAK on a up leadership positions. said in Nguni, "Ubuntu" - the regular basis.Yours in the struggle very thing so many men have Faithfully yours Maria Motaung lost touch with, within ES Makhado

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Mabopane Block B themselves.Louis Trichardt We need men's participationIt is not easy to organise women. withinthe family, interest inIf you subscribe to SPEAK you But don't give up hope. We suggest their children, communicacanbe sure of gettingeveryissue. that one way forward is for you toIf there is anything you would like get in touch withorganisations in tion. Consideration has to know more about, please write your area to discuss the problem. nothing todo with 'not being a and tell us. If you send us your full address we man' and most o f allwill send you moreinformation. acknowledging the person inForward Mzabalazo women.Dear SPEAK Straight to the heart Viva RoseNgwenya! VivaI am very pleased with this Dear SPEAK socialism!magazine. I say forward with Keep up the goodwork, a great Holly BarkerMzabalazo, forward! I am a magazine, straight to the point Durban girl who wants to call alland heart.women to join women who While I was reading your Forward to men's participation!I T'S A STRANGEWORLD, 15NYT IT .Daniel-I havebnnd,osert I DIDN'T knowto aI be the- wa kshop wd~S that JREwin we must choosea w~u you look a bee. I;hetddele children?wo Lone- shoes dn gate bo akbend ~~':~'''~, y Sui bs were part ofthe --,hpM .`= r ~a A seadertshl skills . , ,j' '" our ---on/u Yj { ' %~Fa- , +' \ ~~ ddWlllll r ;~.*tw~ ~\+Y . i- 1 qA~ yNhu do asks ,N..1i ' ? S d L, ~ r. ~~You know b 5rto II think '"y..3 'k i \ our t radition for i d !mssP-fa ., r {; Mer< Eo cock afterShould o"'''; ` chi ldrCn ! f JAll ' ################################################################# # # ## #*Two recently returned *At the SACP eighth congress in *Commenting on the rapeexiles were briefly arrestedDecember Cosatu General of a 15 year old hitch-hiker, i n Durban last year. They Secretary Jay Naidoo was CaptainEugene Opper were thrown into the police introduced as a "stallion" of our man warned children andvan andteargassed before struggle. That was bad enough women not to hitch-hike being taken to the police seeing asstallions can only be alone at night. Maybe the .station. Police claimed they men. But he made it worse by newspaperquoting him were arrested for "sexual answering, "I think you made a didn't use his full statement, harrassment of awoman in mistake. All of us here are stallions or maybe he just forgot the street". They were galloping towards thefuture." again to warn men not to released when no woman Couldn't he see the women rape.He makes itfeelappeared to charge them. delegates sitting in front of him? women are the criminals ; Since when have police * * ** * not the rapists. worried about sexual harrassment? They're *At the New Nation's Writers # normally the ones doingthe Conference after speeches about * * * * * harrassment. Wasn't this problems women face, a man #* rather a caseof exile stood up to say it isn't only men It's been written about h arrassment? who are a problem. "Women go before,but it's worth writing;into the rural areas these days," about again. ANC NEChe said "drinking, smoking and memberSteve Tshwete * * * * * talking bad." recently spoke in Natal about people's courts. He "But men have been doing thatsaid they would continue *A member of the ANC's for years," said one of the women , #national executive com-speakers. "And no-one ever but would deal with "minoroffences - like wife mittee said on radio that complains aboutthat." # the ANC organises people bashing. " regardless of his race, his * * * * * class,his gender, his *We have heardthat in Australia * * * * * creed..." the men working in the streets # Does that " his" mean have stopped whistling or*"After sewing, laundry, regardless, as long as he's harrassing women passing by. cleaning and cooking, Ia man?Come on, the ANC Why? The bosses have decided have no breath left to sing" is a non-sexist organi- to pay themmore if they keep A woman worker in a US # more ,and people must be quiet. Men shouldn't be rewarded garmentfactory quoted in more careful about their for not being sexist, they should a paper by Miriam Ching ; l anguage. bepunished for sexual Louie. * * * * * harrassment. ###################################################################Rural Women's VoicesRing OutInNovember last year 120 women from rural areas in the Transvaal and Northern Orange Free State gathered to launchthe Transvaal Rural Women'sMovement. They came together to make sure rural women's voices ring out in the newSouth Africa. Libby Lloyd was there.Photos by Gill de Vlieg.They came from Huhudi, from create forums for ruralwomenMarapong, from Oukasie, to unite against oppression".Driefontein, Ga-Maphopha - "Malibongwe," theysang,from 26 rural communities all "malibongwe."over the Transvaal and The new constitution of theNorthern OrangeFree State. Transvaal Rural WomensThe 120 women gathered at Movement says thethe Lobethal Mission inorganisation is "open to allLebowa late last year to make oppressed rural women whosure rural women's voices arewish to join our struggle forheard in the new South Africa. women's rights". They cameThey came to launch thetogether, it says, "because ofTransvaal Rural Women's a shared history of sufferingMovement. because of apartheid,landSome of the women came policies, forced removals andwith babies, some without. incorporation".Some of themwore traditional But these women don't onlydress, others ANC t-shirts or share a history of suffering.ZCC badges.Some of the They also share a history ofwomen spoke Tswana, others fighting hard to end thatZulu or Sotho. Butthey all suffering. They have foughtcame with a common aim - "to hard for the right to live ontheir ancestors' land andto share our difficulties," she talked about the need to unitelook after that land. They are says. and build a strongorganisationstill fighting for access to water, for rural women.for health clinics, for education, The idea to form amovement By the time of the launch, thefor the right to have a say in for rural women in the Transvaal RuralWomenstheir own communities... Transvaal was first thought of Movement was already ain May 1990. Women fromstrong, vibrant organisationBeauty Mkhize from communities in the Western with its roots dug deep in theDriefonteinis the president of and South Eastern Transvaal rural communities.the movement. Her story is met and decided tolaunch anlike that of many of the other organisation to push for rural The women are determinedwomen in theorganisation. women's rights. their organisation won't be justHer husband Saul was shot The Transvaal Rural Action atalk-shop. Even at the launchdead by a policeman nearly Committee (TRAC) helped they organised workshopssonine years ago. She refused organise meetings in other they could teach each otherto give up, and continued hiscommunities, and slowly the skills. One group learned howfight against forced removal. movement grew. to dig trenchgardens, theShe says women have learnt At the meetings before the womenfrom Braklaagtetaughtfrom being active

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in these launch the women began to others to make grass baskets,struggles. They have learnt discuss problems theyall face. the women from Huhudithey have a role to play in their They talked about battles shared their dresscuttingcommunities. against forced removal. They skills, the women from"The threat of forced removal talked aboutthe problems Daggakraal showed how tochanged things. We started women face in their own make pots..sthinking ofeach other and of communities where men are After the morning of makingways to come together and still treated likekings. They and learning, Thoko Mzi from Zimbabwe held a workshop on women's groups."It is very important notonly to see these groups as a way of making money," she said. "InZimbabwe very few women'sprojects ever makemoney.There are other reasons formeeting together - to build upwomen's strength, and todiscuss problemswomenface, like child-care and wifebeating."On the second day the women talked about what they wanted theirorganisation to do. "We must demand that women have equal rights to land,"they said. "Women should have a say inpolitical matters in our communities." This is a burning issue. Many of these women are not allowed to go to thedecisionThe women don't want their organisation to be a talkshop. Here they teach each other to makebaskets.7SPEAKRural Women's Voices Ring Out,,..., FThe womenr-- want to have asay in political matters in theirr'~communities.tmaking body in their communities, the kgotla. Their husbands, fathers or brothers are expected to speakfor them. The women are determined to fight for their right to have a say."We are living in new times," said a womanat one of the meetings early last year. "In the past, women weren't even allowed to sit on chairs in the presence ofmen. Women take care of the most important things in life - health, education and the family - and should berepresented at all levels in the society, from the kgotla to the parliament."The women also decided it was important to"bring rural and urban women closer, and promote respect of rural women by their urban sisters". "Urban women mustspeak our language when they come to visit us," said the women fromthe Western Transvaal. "They usually comeand speak English and we can't join in." The women also decided the organisation must fight for the end of childlabour and for the right of their children to attend school. It must fight for better child support from fathers and for theirright to decide when they want to have children. Rural women must be able to learn to read and write and get aneducation.The women also felt strongly the organisation must give rural women a voice in the new South Africa. "Theexecutive must make sure our voices are heard or we will be left out," the women said. "They must be the eyes andears for us about discussions on women's issues around the country."At the end of the second day the meeting cameto an end."It has been a wonderful meeting," said one woman. "We have learnt skills and worked out the road aheadfor our organisation." "We should start earlier so we can discuss things more," said another delegate. "We could startour meetings at six or seven in the morning!" "We should stop tea breaks and all the eating that goes on," said awoman from Driefontein. "People can afford to eat less and be as thin as me!""I have learnt something here," saidThoko from Zimbabwe. "I also think you can learn from us. It is most important to remember that these problems don'tend with independence. "Phambili the Transvaal Rural Women's Movement! Forward to a national rural women'smovement so all the women from the rural areas in South Africa have a voice."TAXI TALKWill you or won't you takeyourhusband's surname?What do you thinkabout women changingtheir surnames when they get married? Thatwasthe question Florence Mosala asked people. In terms of the law a married woman CAN choose to keepher ownname.Nana Gumede"I will keep my own surname when I get married. I don't know who came up with this idea ofchanging surnames. To me, taking on your husband's surname is a form of oppression. My name is a thread to mypersonality and I don't want to lose that. Male domination is something I can't tolerate. If he loves me he'll have tounderstand this."'SDineo Mogapi"I have been involved with my boyfriend for 11 years and we have a six year old boy.It's been a long time, and I can't wait to be called Mrs... I don't think there's any woman who doesn't want that. To tellthe honest truth it's a gift."to. It signifies the link between the two families. "Shirley Yssel"I changed my surnamebecause it was done. I got married immediately after studying. I didn't bother to find out about it or think about why. Ithink it depends on an individual and how strongly she feels about herself. I don't think whether one changes orwhether one does not is really that important. What is important is to know the purpose of the marriage."Duki Mathibeand Rose Ratshefola"Changing surnames is part of culture. Even before documents were introduced and certificateswere used women used to change their name to that of their husbands clan. Nowadays though people are rethinkingthis. Some people have good reasons not to change surnames. Some women, like professional women, have a statusand a change of surname could ruin their status. Other women have been recently divorced and don't want to changeagain."Mahadi Miya"Right now I am happy withwho I am. If I got married and changed my surname, I wouldhave tochange all my Lloyd Mdakane documents. And then what "Surnames are the identihappens with divorce? I'd havefication of the clan. When a to rechange them. And what woman is married her new happens if I get married fivesurname will link her to the times?" clan which she now belongsThe workers hiddenKw, CALCA PI lALASS T, C"IsAMr ` Last year the government finally agreed to include domesticworkers in the labour laws. It has been a long fightfor the unions to win this right, but the battle is not over. Domestic workers still face many problems. Libby Lloydvisited the South AfricanDomestic Workers Union's officesto find out more about their -~~ battles, struggles andvictories..The domestic worker's marches were not in vain Picture:Karen HurtIt is Thursday - the day SADWU'smembers crowd into the union's offices to get advice and hold meetings. When SPEAK arrives first thing in themorning, the offices are already filling up. This is the only day off for many of these workers - the only time they canmake it into the offices of their union.Some of the workers sitting in the office aren't yet SADWU members. It isn't easyto organise domestic workers. There is no factory floor to visit, only thousands of individual households. The unionoften has to rely on workers hearing about them from friends or neighbours. According to the government there aremore than 860 000 domestic workers in the country. The government says only about 23 000 of theseinhomes10SPEAKworkers are paid up union Violet says firing of workers is have been fighting hard for members of

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either SADWU or the biggest problem for the many years for domestic the Black Domestic Workers' union these days.workers to be included in Union (a NACTU affiliate). "Most of the people who ask labour laws. There have beenforhelp these days have been marches, petitions andIt's difficult to speak toSADWU dismissed," she says. protests to tryto get domesticpresident Violet Mothlasedi. "Employers sometimes say workers protected by the law.The office isbusy and the they can't afford to pay Last year they began to winphone rings all the time. She anymore. Sometimesthey their battle.asks us to wait a while. She is give no reason at all. They just The government's Nationaltrying tophone one of the say the domestic worker was Manpower Commission set upmembers but the "madam" stupid. acommittee in 1991 to look atwon't let Violet speak to her. "We're dealing with one case the problem. Late last yearthe"Everytime I say I want to now where a worker was fired committee published itsspeak to her, the boss justbecause she didn't eat rye recommendations. It was clearputs down the phone. She bread and she wanted ordinarythe unions had won a majorsays her worker is not allowed bread." victory.to take phone calls. How am I Butfiringisn'tthe only problem. The report says domesticsupposed to deal with our Some live-in workers say they workersshould be included inmembers if I can't speak to have no freedom. They can't the Labour Relations Act. Itthem? Andwhat if a family have visitors in their rooms, says workers should also havemember phones to give bad and theirfamilies aren't set working conditions laid outnews? This is unacceptable!" allowed to stay over. Others in the BasicConditions oftalk about being locked in by Employment Act.security systems -their bosses If this becomes law itmeansdon't "trust" them to have keys, bosses will be forced by theso they are prisoners behind law to treat workersfairly. Itthe high walls. means workers will be able toViolet says white bosses aren't take bosses to court for nottheonly problem. treating them fairly."Black and Indian bosses The report isn't law yet thoughsometimes treat theirworkers and it could take time to getworst. In townships workers made into law.often don't have rooms. They TheCommission is waiting for1,have to sleep in the kitchen or comment on the recommendthe children's rooms. Theyations and some of the detailsDomestic don't get even one hour off. of the report are still beingworkers They are oncall 24 hours a worked out.gather day, every day of the week." Only when this is done will itoffices to go to parliamentto be voteddiscuss At the moment there is little into law. It is hard to knowlow the union can do about this. whetherCosatu's demand forwages, Domestic workers aren't laws to be passed in July thislong included in labour laws. Theyyear will be won. Some people days andthe fight have almost no rights - no say it could take over a yearfor betterprotection from unfair before it gets passed byworking dismissal, no right to leave, parliament.conditions. sick leave,overtime pay, or The battle is not yet overPicture:Dynamic time off. though. Unions say theImages But this ischanging. Unions recommendations are not11 SPEAKThe workers hidden in homesperfect. The Commission hasturned down one of the major union demands.The unions insist a minimum wage for domestic workers should be putinto law, but the Commission decided the law should only give wage guidelines. This means bosses could continue topay peanuts."We will be looking at campaigns on this at our February congress" says Violet. "We must win this fight,`Fotherwise it will be pointless."The union says domestic workers should get at least R450 a month. Bosses claimthey can't afford this, and say a set minimum wage will mean more workers get retrenched."If they can't afford it,"says SADWU President Violet Mothlasedi : "Bosses who can't Violet, "they shouldn't employ afford a living wageshouldn't employ someone full-time." someone full-time. Then theworkers can do piece-work." Picture: DynamicImages While we talk she looks at the membership forms in front of -AV her."Look at this one," she says. "She's onlygetting R50 a month!"We have to have this in law, otherwise people pay what they want."Violet looks at her watch. It'stime to go. More and more workers are arriving to ask for help.Before we leave, we speak to Johanna Nkonyane, oneof the women sitting in the offices. "I was fired just like that," she says. "I came in to work after my day off to findthey'd hired someone else. She was already working in the kitchen.1 79rA f .YIiI got a month's wages, and nothingelse. I wish I could retire now, but I can't afford it. I hope the union can dosomething for me."At the moment there islittle the union can do to help Johanna or the hundreds of other workers who crowd into the offices. Until laws arepassed, domestic workers can only hope their bosses are kind. Even when there are laws on domestic workers it willbe difficult for the unions to challenge every boss in every home. But still, there is no doubt, this is a victory for SouthAfrican domestic workers and unions.'~ ant decent `rccumodatiur~We ntutit be aIll", ed , i,itor..Domestic workers aresometimes prisoners behind high securitygates Picture : Karen Hurt12SPEAKThanks to Co-operative for Researchand Education (CORE) for information in this articleNational Manpower Commissionsrecommendations for domesticworkersIn September last year the should fall under the UIF Act. A They say she should be paidNational ManpowerCommission certain amount would be paid double time. This means the(NMC) published recommend- into UIF by theemployer and the worker who earns R15 an hourationson the working conditions worker. If the worker lost her jobwould get R30 an hour forfor domestic workers. These or stopped work she could go to Sundaywork.recommendations are not yet U l F to collect money for a certainlaw. Details still ha veto be worked period. UIFalso pays money for *Leaveout. The final recommendations maternity leave. It was agreed workers shouldwill betaken to parliament to be have at least 14 days paid leavemade into law. It's not clear when Basic Conditions of everyyear. Workers should alsothis will happen. Some people Employment Act have paid sick leave. Peoplesay laws willonly be made next The NMC recommends this Act working five days a week shouldyear. Cosatuisdemandingthereincludes domestic workers. This have 10 days sick leave, thosebe laws before July this year. Act lays down workingconditions. working six days a week shouldHere are the most important Here are some of the get 12 days sick leave ayear.points of the recommendations. recommendations for working The NMC also agreed workersconditions fordomestic workers. should get three monthsmaternity leave (one month offThe Labour Relations Act *Hours of Workbefore the birth and two months(LRA) The NMC says domestic workers off after the birth). This wouldbeTheNMCsays domestic workers whoworkfivedaysaweekshould paid out of UIF. Workers will beshould be included

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in the LRA. not work more than 9 hours and guaranteed their jobs back if theyThis has been a major campaign 15minutes each day. Iftheworker give written notice before theyby the unions. It means domestic works a six day weekshe should go on maternity leave.workers' unions would get work an eight hour day. Workersrecognition. Workerscould use should get at least a half hour off *Noticethis act to protect their rights. A for lunch. They cannot be askedThe Basic Conditions ofspecial code is being drawn up to to do any work during this time. Employment Act says ifworkersspell out rights for domestic are paid weekly they should beworkers and for employers. This *Overtime givenone weeks notice. Twowill also spell out an unfair labour No worker can be forced to do weeks notice is needed iftheypractice law for domestic overtime. Overtime should not are paid monthly.workers. If workers felt their be morethan three hours eachbosses had not been fair to them day and no more than 20 hours *Wagesthey would be able totake it up. a week. This overtime work must The recommendations say thereThe NMC suggests the worker be paid atone and a third of the should only be guidelines forand the boss should first try to ordinary wage. This means awages- not a set minimum wage.sort out problems through an worker getting R15 per hour The unions are fightingthis.outside person or group (this is would be paid that R15 plus a Unions are demanding a legalcalled conciliation).They are third of R15 for overtime work. minimum wage be decided onworking out a simple conciliation This meansshe would get R15 after consultation with allprocedure. If this doesn't work, plus R5 - R20 altogether. No interestedparties.the matter could go to a Small worker can be forced to work onLabour Court or to the Industrial Sundays. Ifshe agrees to work *GuidelinesCourt. on a Sunday, this work must be It was also agreed guidelinestreated asovertime. The should be set out for pensions,Unemployment Insurance recommendations saytheworker meals,transport, protectiveFund (UIF) should be paid more for Sunday clothing etc.It was agreed domestic workers workthan for other overtime work.13 SPEAKA ConversationSACP withRALLS" MIRA"Indresa, ~Former Robben IslanderIndres Naidoo spent three years in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) as deputy chief ANC representative.SPEAK's Karen Hurt had a conversation with him about women in the GDR, life in a socialist countryand sexism inSoutht Africa.IH Picture -by Lloydd t1IKAREN : What would you say INDRES : To lead. We need more magazinesthat is the role of women in the raise women's issues and we struggle against sexism and KAREN: No. There are a lotof should fight for these issues to what is the role of men? men I know who will raise be covered in the bignewsworkers' demands, the class papers.INDRES : Women must struggle and racism, butspearhead this struggle.Men sexism is not on their agenda. KAREN : Let's talk about themust be part and parcel of it, It disturbs me. I havedone GDR. As a socialist countrynot just helping or standing on interviews with women who did it do anything tofightthe side. I don't know if you are married to progressive women's exploitation?agree with that. men who beat themup. Thatis very hard to understand. INDRES : Early in 19901 read KAREN: My position is women a survey whichshowed Cuba will spearhead, but I am very INDRES : What we must do is had the highest number of disappointedwith so-called start educating people. We women in top positions, then progressive men on this issue. must educateour women so Sweden and Norway and then Very few men I know protest they will start taking leadership EastGermany. In East about sexism. They wait for positions. I am very pleased Germany, about 35% of all top you as awoman to protest. SPEAK is strong about sexism. positions were held by women.J MRtNq VV1 0--^ ~_~ #__ $c.-. $Axx .t tThere is no doubt the GDR be discriminated against, but created a problem. The latestwent out of its way topromote men get the jobs anyway. figures say almost a millionwomen's rights. There was people are nowunemployed.equal pay for equal work. You INDRES : In the GDR I don't Before unification there waswould findwomen working in think there was any job no problem of unemployment.all fields, from bricklayers to discrimination.But in the This figure is rising and mosttaxi-drivers to office workers home, the wife would go into of those unemployedpeopleto doctors. There was a law the kitchen and cook while the are women.banning sexism in the husband had abeer. This was Now there are manyworkplace. particularly among the older prostitutes - when there wasThere wasmaternity leave. generation. no prostitution before. If youAfter the baby was born, there The younger generation doesask the young girls why theywas one year's fully paid show a trend towards change have taken to the streets,theyparental leave. The mother and sharing the housework, say they need the money.could remain at home for thebut it is not widespread. It is also more expensive tofirst six months, and the next live now- before we had cheapfewmonths the father could KAREN : Now we are reading housing for example, but rentsstay. I must admit in practicestories about racism in the have risen enormously.parental leave didn't work. In united Germany - was theremostcases men carried on racism in the GDR before? KAREN : So in fact when the working while the mother took crunchcomes, it is back to the a full year's leave. On the INDRES : There was none at old ways - women fired first. child'sfirst birthday, the child all. I travelled the whole of the But how does that sexist automatically went into a free GDR andI never found any thinking suddenly come back creche. racism. if it has not been there?Recently the right winghasKAREN: What struggles were sprung up very quickly in East I NDRES : Today it is no longerwomen fighting?Often in the Germany. The unemployment the GDR. Today it is thebooks it says women must not has shot up andthat has also Federal Republic of Germany. The country falls under the laws of Germany and these laws actuallydiscriminate against women.KAREN : So any laws for women in the GDR have all gone since unification?INDRES :An example isabortion. Abortion was free and available everywhere inBerlin, Germany: Protestors demonstrateagainst racism in the new united Germany. Indres Naidoo says women have also been losers since East and WestGermany reunited in 1990. Picture : SPARE RIBGDR. I n the West it was illegal. During the talks on the unification ofGermany one of the sore points was the question of abortion. Finally they agreed they would allow abortion in theEast, but not in the West. Now the conserv15SPEAKA conversation with Indres Naidooatives are complaining that inthe liberation struggle and went to work. When they came women from the West are they must continue to buildhome, the wife started going over to the East to have the country. preparing the meal while the abortions. I think very

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soon Then we have to provide the husband went to have a beer. this law will be scrapped. essentials for thecommunity - After a few beers the husband Another thing is sexist housing is one of the most would come back to eat.advertising. Using women in important things. Once we On the very first night, the adverts to try to sell products haveprovided proper housing cadre cleared the table. The was not allowed in East and employment for our husband askedwhat he was Germany - but now we see people and full medical care doing. Then he started adverts for cars withwomen's we will defintely move away washing the dishes and the legs all over them. from the sexism we havehusband objected, saying thistoday. was the woman's work. The KAREN: Everything you have cadre said: "No, not inour said up until now in a way says KAREN: But how is that going society. In our society we share the re-unification ofGermany to change anything? You the housework". The following has not been in the interests haven't said anythingabout day when the family came of women. what is going to happen in the home they found the househome wherewomen work sparkling clean. The MK cadre INDRES : Women are the another shift. had cleaned it. In this way, losers- absolute losers. little by little, he showed thatINDRES : Education. the husband and wife could KAREN: If you cameto power share the household work. in South Africa tomorrow, how KAREN : Are you saying the This was througheducation. would you try to stop the answer is for men and womenexploitation of women? to share that work?KAREN: But you can't employmillions of cadres to try to teachINDRES : The first position every household.Seriouswould be equal salaryfor equal I NDRES : Absolutely. I will give work has to be done.work. We must also bringout you one simple example. Anvery clearly that the women's MK cadre came to South Africa INDRES : Education -role is not in the kitchen. and was living underground in television, radio, periodicals. Women are part and parcel ofSoweto with a young couple. Education is what we have to society. They have contributed Both the husband and wifegive our people.~O ~ Get your set of Send in the form below with payment to:SPEAK cards today! SPEAK P.O.Box45213 Mayfair 2108 Johannesburg4 VN1T For six cards send R3.00For twelve cards send R6.00" We have theseand many other designs V, r r- In Please send me cardsNameA Address.W~MENL opY M~ I /~ r7 i l . ,SP AK 16;~~IYl~ r.YlA Deadly AffairA warning to men not to roam...A short story by Shepi Mati...The time is eleven forty- storyridiculous. One five at night. The streets of the brothers even are deserted as the last " 1 ' p t Q I offers to takeLet-Himtaxi makes its way home. Go to the graveyard Let-Him-Go, the taxi 1~ 1 to seeThandi'sgrave, driver, cutsthrough a red This upsets Let-Himtraffic light. He turns into `, Go even more. Slowly NY1 and picks up speed. r , ')~i//P he regains control of Let-Him-Go has been in himself. Shaking his this business for ten head at thisunbelievyears now. He slows able tale he asks to be down as his hand 1 allowed to leave. His reaches for a piece ofhosts are even more paper. ~~ disturbed.This is Thandi's address. ~/ r'A k-,NY 21 No 297. He must The night wasfind it. His wife has gone out of house. Let-Him-Go gets out sleepless for Let-Him-Go. He town for three weeks so heof the car and walks to the may have slept with a dead could take Thandi out for gate. He opens the gate and woman.This frightens him another night. goes to knock at the door which more. He even forgets aboutis opened by a big oldlady. how sweet she was thatHe remembers how he met The old lady looks disturbed Thursday night.her thumbing alift last week. when Let-Him-Go asks for Early in the morning he goesHe gave her a lift and they Thandi. She asks himsome back to Thandi's place. Heended up at his place. That personal details. Nodding her takes the offer to go tothenight they really had a nice head approvingly, she listens graveyard.time together. She even put to him patiently.Thandi's brother takes himon his wife's nightgown before Then she begins to explain. there. Now he is gettingmoregoing to bed. Such a nice time She is Thandi's mother. worried.with her. Thandi died five years ago. At the NY5graveyard they findThe indicator flickers and he "No," says Let-Him-Go. He Thandi's grave. She died onturns into NY21. This is where gave her a lift last Thursday. 28 January 1986. Five yearshe dropped her off that freezing He evengave her his jacket to ago. Next to the grave lay themorning. She left with his wear in the morning. jacket he gaveThandi to wearjacket on. He should have Impossible. This is Thandi's that Friday morning.asked her for a telephonehome. She can't be dead. Let-Him-Go bellows and wailsnumber at home or at the Impossible. He dropped heruncontrollably. He descendsneighbours. Sometimes it is off last Friday morning. into madness.betterto make anappointment Thandi's two brothers and an Today, he walks the streets offor these things. elder sister are all up now.Cape Town babblingAt last he finds the damned They all find this strange man's nonsense to himself.17SPEAKworking groups which havebeen set up. There are fiveworking groups and each_ party participating canchoosetwo representatives for every working group. Several leading ANC women wrote a letter to a weeklynewspaper complaining about these double standards. They said this makes them doubt the participants are seriousabout non-sexism."The African National Congress, Democratic Party, Inkatha Freedom Party,National Party and theSouth African government are among the all-male delegations... Is the anthem of the "new" South Africa to be sungby an all-male choir?" And what has the Management Committee done about the resolution? SPEAK asked MurphyMorobe."We have taken the women question further,"In the women's debate, women from the ANC, he said. "Womencan't be separatelythe Democratic Party, the Nationalist Party, represented because they are not a politicalthe SACPand the IFP spoke with one voice, party. We also cannot dictate to the partiesThey all complained about how fewwomen that they must have more women in theirwere at the meeting and they all demanded delegations. The womenin the differentwomen be drawn into the process. organisations must fight for that.The convention passed a resolutiontelling the "We have therefore allowed interest groups tomanagement committee of Codesa to make submissions toCodesa. This includesinvestigate "mechanisms to ensure adequate women. These groups would have tomakerepresentation of women in all the structures their submissions to the office and we wouldof Codesa". take it upwith the relevant working group." SPEAK tried to find out whathad been done about thisresolution.No-one at the firstmeetingobjected to this resolution, butmany of them seem to have"forgotten" they passed thisresolution. Only a few ofthe . parties and organisations atCODESA 1 have chosenwomen to represent them in the SA GVT ., -The first

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meeting of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA 1) is still a hot topic - and it isn't just because itwas the beginning of talks about the "new South Africa". People are still discussing the way Nelson Mandelachallenged FW De Klerk, and they are still talking about the debate on women.1018SPEAKTheresa ReleasedCe Cs;:Z'Three of the Sharpville Six who were released. The three in the centre Reid Mofokeng, Theresa Ramashamela andOupa Diniso enjoy a warm welcome home. Picture: City PressWomen publishers from AfricaWomen publishers fromeight African countries attended a month long course organised by the Centre for Foreign Journalists in the UnitedStates. From left to right: Fleur Ngweno (Kenya), Rebecca Musoke (Uganda), Karen Hurt (SPEAK, South Africa),Regina Chigwedere (Zimbabwe), Gwendoline Konie (Zambia), Poppy Khoza (Swaziland), Estelle Coetzee (Namibia),Janet Karim (Malawi)19SPEAKWWomen Writers omen FightersOne day of the New Nation's Writers Conference inDecemberlast year focused on women and writing. Women writers from all over the world talked about what madethem defy tradition and begin to write."My grandmother told me - don't grow up and wash any man's underpants - noteven out of kindness".These were the words of one of the women speaking at the New Nation Writers Conference.Dionne Brand comes from Trinidad in the Caribbean. She was one of many writers who came from all over the worldto attend the conference.One day of the conference focused on women and literature. Women writers from Trinidad,Egypt, Japan, India and of course from South Africa, spoke about problems they face in their countries.Writers NadineGordimer and Nawal El Sadaawiat the New Nation Writers Conference.Picture: Dynamic ImagesThey spoke aboutsexism and how difficult it is for women to write. They spoke about how people don't take women's writing seriously.They spoke about how important it is for all books, including children's books, to promote non-sexism.During the teabreaks the women talked excitedly and laughed, but some of the men complained they were under attack. "We aretalking about pushing for a society where all people are free," said one of the women. "The men are part of thatfreedom too." Almost all the people speaking on the platform talked about how women were oppressed intheirsocieties and in liberation movements around the world."We only seem to exist as mothers of the warriors of therevolution," said Dionne, "but we are not all mothers, and we want to contribute to that revolution in other ways thanjust producing the warriors." South African writer Loretta Ngcobo said sexism "rips apart all the solidarity structures wehave built in our years of struggle". "How many of our leaders begin their speeches talking about non-racism andnon-sexism and-~--"' then ignore the issue of sexism?" askedAfrikaans writer Welma Odendaal. "They beginwith howthey want a non-racist, non-sexistsociety, then carry on talking about what they see as the real political issues. Theyignore sexism till they finish their speeches." But it wasn't only women who spoke out. South African writer, WillieKgositsile, talked on one ofBelow: Njabulo Ndebele and Bongi Dhlomo at the the panels.opening of the conference."Yes, men oppress women," he said.Picture: Dynamic Images He said too often only men writers from South Africawere asked to speak at international conferences. "People outside will think we only have men writers, when we haveso many good women writers in our country. Often people see women as a last resort. It is an insult to see women,whether as writers, cadres, organisers,whatever, as a last resort."And everyone spoke about what had made themdare to be different and to begin writing."My grandmother was the first one that encouraged me," said Dionne fromTrinidad. "She also used;~ to warn us when we missed school that wewould end up washing men's pants. Iknewthere was no way I wanted to end up washingany man's drawers."Above:Sankie Nkondo addressing theconference.Picture: Dynamic Imagesa21SPEAKNawal El Sadaawi is awriter from Egypt. She is not a woman whokeepsquiet about anything -and because of speaking out, she has been jailed, her books have beenbanned, and shewas fired from her job in theEgyptian government. Libby Lloyd interviewed her when she was in SouthAfrica for theNew Nation's Writers conference. Nawal El Sadaawi addresses the opening session of the conference. Picture:Dynamic ImagesThe woman who won'tkeep quiet for anyoneNawal El SadaawiNawal El Sadawi is a woman whobelieves in their husbands, fathers, religious leaders,saying"no". governments, everyone. We must startShe believesin saying "no" to sexism, "no" to expressing our anger."repression, "no" to governments, to religious She leansforward while she speaks. All herleaders - to anyone or anything she thinks is feelings show in her face. You can seeshe is awrong. woman who lives what she believes. She is aAnd she never whispers that "no". She shouts it womanwho won't keep quiet when she seesout. She writes about it and she fights for other something wrong.people's right tosay "no" to injustice anddiscrimination. She tells the story of the first time she said "no". This she believes is what hasmade her able to "I was still very young," she says. "I was reading be creative, to write books which are read not abook and the girl in the book had the same only in her own country, but throughout the name as me, Nawal. The boyin the book was world. called Achmat."Every one of us is creative, but often we are too "The book said: 'Achmatwrites, Nawal sleeps.polite. In order to create we need to learn to Achmat plays, Nawal cooks.'disobey," she says."People, particularly women, "This upset me. Achmat was doing all the thingsmust stop being polite and must start todisobey I wanted to do. I wanted to write and play,Nawal El Sadaawi and husband Sherif Hetata.Picture: NewNationinstead of to cook and sleep. But I also wanted She has spoken out against US interference into still be Nawal."other countries. She has fought hard for healthAnd El Sadaawi said "no" to cooking and sleeping care for all thepeople - not only the rich. Sheand grew up to be a doctor, a writer, a feminist, lives in a Muslim country and she isprobablya socialist and a fighter. most famous for fighting hard against people"Other things also shaped me," shesays. "I who say Muslim women must be silent andremember boys throwing stones at me. I cover themselves up withveils.remember men touching me in the buses. I "Nowhere in the Koran (the bible of Islam) doesremember the angerat being treated like a it say women must cover themselves with veilspiece of meat. or be silent. If you look at theprophet"I also learnt from my grandmother - my father's Mohammed's wives, two of them were verymother. She waspoor, she couldn't read and strong women, fighting women. They werewrite, but she never let a man feed her afterher revolutionaries."husband died." She has written books about things it wasforbidden to even whisper about in her

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country.El Sadaawi doesn't only say "no" to sexism. She She has written about how religion often believes women'sissues aren't separate from suppresses women, about sex and women, politics. and how men sexually abuse womenand youngNawal El Sadaawigirls. obedient, and should stay at home and lookShe has paid the price for speaking out.She after the children. Nowadays some job advertswas fired from her job in the Egyptian Health even say 'no womenmust apply'." Ministry in 1973 and she was put in jail in 1981for alleged "crimes against the state". But she El Sadaawibelieves it is important for women to doesn't regret her stand. study history to discover the role women have "You paya high price to disobey. I lost the played.approval of my parents after losing faith in a god "When I started to write Ineeded to find other outside me. But I discovered a god inside of me. women who had written. I looked back into "Ilost my job, I was jailed, all my books were history and I found out the first person who banned under the previouspresident of Egypt. created an alphabet was a woman. I found out Even though my books aren't banned anymore,one of the goddesses, Isis, was not a goddess I am almost silenced in my country. I can't of the home, but of thehead, of the intellect. speak in the media, the papers don't write about "We all need to delve into our history - the mybooks. I was on a deathlist of religious history of women fighters, the history of womenfanatics. The Egyptiangovernment put guards writers."in front of my house 24 hours a day for two years She also believes women must bepart of- claiming they were protecting me. It causes organisations to fight for their rights.me a lot of pain to work likethis. "I believe in movements, organisations. We"But then my books are in almost every home in cannot liberateourselves alone.the Arab world. They are distributed from person "In these movements we have to liberate alltoperson. People ask 'have you read this one women - whether they are educated or not.have you read that one'.People sometimes Educated women must not stop other womenstop me in the street and say my books changedfrom having a chance by speaking on behalf oftheir lives." them. Rural women, for example, must representLast yearan organisation she helped found, the themselves. We have to give all women aArab Women's Solidarity Association(AWSA), chance to speak."was banned in Egypt. She is fighting this andhas taken the government to court. The ElSadaawi's husband, Sherif Hetata, sat besidegovernment says the organisation was too her all the time SPEAKtalked to her.political. "We are a team," she said."Our organisation spoke up against the Gulf He is also a writer, andhe translates her booksWar. Half a million people were killed in this war into English. And he is also a fighter. Hespentso the US could control the oil. This affects us 13 years in jail for being a socialist. We askedas women. WhatUS president George Bush him what being married to someone like Eldecides in the White House affects my aunt inSadaawi has meant for him.my village. We can't separate international and "Sometimes it has been difficult, and Ihave hadnational issues from women's issues. I can't to change. But through her I have beenunderstand why peopletry to separate things. introduced to the feminist movement. A whole"People often ask me why I am so political. Mennew world has opened up - the world of women.ask me why I don't write about love. I tell them This has been veryimportant to me." love is politics."She says the Gulf War has affected women in It isn't only her husband's life ElSadaawi has Egypt and the Arab world. changed. Her books, her writings, her political "The Gulf War was a defeat forwomen. The battles have changed the lives of many women economy in my country has got worse and inside andoutside the Arab world. She hasn't women are the ones losing their jobs. More only said "no" for herself, but for manymany women are forced to wear veils now. More women, and she has given many women the people are pushingthat women should be courage to say "no" for themselves.ADVICEChild SupportHow to claim this from thefatherMany women don't know they have a right to claim support from the father oftheir child, even if they are notmarried. Even when women know they havethis right, they don't know how to go about claiming the money. HereSPEAKlooks at how to claim maintenance.Mary is one of the many women who didn't not his child so the courtordered Jabu, Mary know about her right to claim support for her and their child Them bato go to have blood testschild. or tissue tests (where they test the skin of theparents). These tests can prove almost 100She has a four yearold child, Themba. She is percent whether someone is the father of a not married to Themba's father, Jabu, and, likechild or not.many men, Jabu refused to take responsibilityfor his child. Mary asked him to give support The testsshowed there was a 99.9 percent towards Themba, but Jabu always refused. He chance of Jabu being the father.These tests claimed he was not the father. are done at the South African Blood TransfusionService and cost R220 forthe blood test andOne day someone Mary worked with told her R700 for the tissue test. Jabu was ordered byshe hada right to get financial support from the court to pay the money for the test. Jabu. This type of support is calledmaintenance.Mary found out she did not need to pay for a Jabu was also ordered to pay a certain amount lawyer todemand this money. She could go to of money for Themba every month. This was the maintenance officer at the localmagistrate's worked out from the amount of money he court. The officer takes up this case for free. earned eachmonth. Jabu was ordered to pay Mary went to the maintenance officer and he the money to the court before the 7th ofevery took down her story in a sworn statement. The month. Mary could then collect the money. officer sent Jabu asummons ordering him toappear in court on a certain day. He was told to What Are Your Rightsbring his pay slip andother papers to prove how Many of us have been through what Mary wentmuch he earned. If he did not go to court,he through or know of friends who struggle to getcould be charged with contempt of court and be money from thefathers of their children. Manygiven a fine or even sent to jail. women don't know abouttheir rights orwhatthelaw saysabout getting maintenance fromIn the court Jabu again claimed Themba was fathers. Even when women know theyhave aAdvice - Child Supportright to claim money for support, they think it then give another maintenance ordersaying hewould be too expensive to take the fathers to can pay less each month.court. What rights do mothers have?A woman can go to the court to have the amountof maintenance increased from time to time.The only time a mothercannot claim She can go because of the higher costs of livingmaintenance is if the child or children live with or if therehave been changes in the situation.the father and not with her. She is then not If the father is earning more money, for

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example,paying any money for bringing up the children. he would have to pay more support. Many men try, like Jabu,to say the child is nottheirs. They also try to claim the mother has had Finally, this all costs nothing. You do notneedsex with many men. This doesn't matter. The to pay to see a maintenance officer. law says the father must provea child is not his.If he admits he has had sex with the woman, thecourt presumes the child is his. He has to proveProblems With Getting Maintenanceto the court it is physically impossible for him to But the law is one thing, andactually getting thehave fathered the child (by producing a doctor's support is another. Women face manyproblemscertificate saying he is not abletofather children). with getting maintenance. The fact that the woman hasslept with othermen is not an issue to the court. These days Women often have to spend hours in a queue courtssend people for blood tests or tissue waiting to receive the payments. Many women tests to prove whether the man isthe father or then find the father has not paid the money. It is not. a crime not to pay maintenance, but it couldtake along time take this up. The motherThe amount of maintenance the man will have meanwhile has to struggle to supporther child.to pay depends on his wages. The law says When the case finally does get to court theboth parents have aduty to pay support for father might argue he hasn't been working sochildren according to how much money they hehasn't been able to pay. have. The court will find out how much moneyboth the mother and father earn. The court willMany women also have to travel long distances then decide how much needs to be paid each to get to a maintenanceofficer. Although the month. This is called the maintenance order. mother does not pay the court costs it couldcost hera lot of time and money to travel to the It is a criminal offence for a man to stop making court,payments if the court hasordered him to pay.There is no excuse he can make. He cannot get There is talk that the Department of Justice isaway with saying he doesn't have to pay discussing ways to make this easier. Men, for anymore because he has gotmarried to example, might be forced to pay the money someone else or because he has other children. directly intothe mother's bank account. Shewould not have to stand in long queues anymoreThe father also cannot give lessmoney than the if this happened. The father could also be court has ordered him to give. Even if the child forced bythe court to have a stop order on his is visiting him for some time, the father cannot account. The bank would thenautomatically pay less or stop payment. If he says he is not take the money out of his account every month, able topay the amount anymore, he has to go and put it in the mother's account. He couldn't to court again and explain why.The court might then decide not to pay one month. This wouldWomen in Johanesburg queue to get their money formaintenance.A better method of collecting this money must be worked out. Picture: Guy Adamssolve some of theproblems.Many men try to find ways not to give over money to help support their children, and it can be a long andoften tiring procedure trying to force them. This is something which needs to be looked at by all of us so we can comeup with the best way to make it easier to claim maintenance. We also need to make sure the amount of money fathershave to pay is enough to cover the costs of the child.In some areas women have organised themselves to take upproblems of maintenance. If you are in such a group or know of any groups please write to us about yourexperiences.Main Points of Maintenance Laws1. Even if you are not married, the father of the child still has to givesupport; 2. You can prove that someone is the father of your child by blood tests or tissue tests; 3. Even if the fatherhas children by another woman, he still has to pay maintenance for your children;4. You can get the amount ofmaintenance increased if the father is earning more money or because of higher costs of living;5. If you have anyproblems, go to the Maintenance Officer at the local magistrate's court.Politics isn't for men onlyA woman youthleaderspeaks outThis is the true storyofa woman in the leadership of one oftheANC Youth League Branches. She isone of the few women to be in branch leadership in youth organisations. She says young women must joinorganisations and not leave politics to the men. She didn't want her name used in the story because she is scared ofbeing a target of hit squads - like so many other leaders in our country.I am 18 years old and am in Standard Ten. Ilive in Diepkloof Soweto with my mother and my sister. I have been involved in the Diepkloof branch of the ANC YouthLeague since the branch was launched in February last year. I am now the vice-chair of this branch.The first politicalorganisation I joined was the South African Youth Congress in 1989. I was interested in politics so I decided I had tobe part of organisation. As a female I feel I have to contribute like anyone else. It was not easy to do this. There weremainly men in the organisation and very few females. I was afraid to talk in meetings. If decisions were being taken, Itried to tell myself we are equal - I must be free to talk as men are free to talk. In SAYCO there was a women'ssection and this helped me because only women were in these meetings and during discussions there I wasdeveloping. When we went to general meetings it was easier for me to contribute.When the ANC Youth Leaguebranch was launched I was elected treasurer. There were two female comrades on the executive at thetime, but theother female did not attend meetings. She said she had family problems because her parents did not want her tointerfere in politics.I am proud to be the only female on the executive. It is my only chance to show other women thereis nothing we as women cannot do.Many females think it is only men who are in politics. Women in organisations cando many things - you can be a women organiser or be involved in education. In such a way you can show your viewand how you see things.In our branch presently there is no seperate women's section. We as women want toparticipate equally with men. If the female is over 18 years she has a right to join the Women's League.We do haveeducation around women in our branch, for example we look at the role women can play in our struggle. Women alsocome with their programmes when there is a campaign e.g. when looking at the crime in the township we can look athow this crime is affecting women.There is a problem in the branch because at the moment there are only two activefemales in the branch. This is a big problem because it means they are expecting men to do things for them. I thinkyouth females are scared to join the organisation because they are afraid of detention or being killed.Earlier this yearwe saw there was a problem in the executive about portfolios. We decided to reshuffle positions and I was asked tobecomeYouth at a SACP rally in 1990."Many females who are card carrying members do not want to come to

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meetings".Picture: Dynamic Imagesthe vice-chairperson. The reason I was asked to be in this position was because Iwas seen as being abletofightforthe constituency generally. The male comrades also felt if I was vicechairperson itwould push up my profile and maybe other women would join the organisation. Other women are now joining in thesubstructures.I do not feel happy because many females who are card-carrying members do not want to come to themeetings. This makes me feel bad because I don't think there is anything wrong with the organisation. It's just likestudents in the classroom where there are a lot of men but women must try to take part in discussion and askquestions.Women and men in organisations can do thesame things. I feel the men listen to me when I talk and when Ichair a meeting. In the Youth League we believe everyone is equal and you can't just listen to the male.In my branchwe are trying to increase the amount of women by having women's netball clubs and there is a traditional group wherewe have singing and do drama. If this does not bring the women into the organisation, we will try other methods likehaving dancing. Education is also very important. With new members we always have a workshop where we deliver apaper where we discuss things like women's triple oppression. My message to other women is they must join theorganisation and participate because noone will fight for us as women.The PACand WomenEllen Mothopeng isthepublicity secretary ofthe African Women'sOrganisation - thewomen's section of thePAC. She talked toShamimMeer ofSPEAK about the PACand women.SPEAK: How did you get African Women's Organisation We wouldn'tconsider takinginvolved in politics? aims to rally African women part till this is changed. Weunder the banner of Africanalso say talks should be heldELLEN: My political involve- nationalism and to educate the in a neutral venue withament was mainly influenced women socially, politically, neutral chair.by the Soweto uprising in morally and toconscientise About armed struggle, we say1976. As a student I was very them. this has to be increased untilactive. Iwas 16 years old and The PAC's objectives are: to we have total liberation.at high school. I was lucky to rally Africansunder the banner This is a very tricky period andescape arrest. Some of our of African Nationalism; to we must alwaysbe on guard.colleagues were shot right overthrow white domination;next to our school premises. to establish aAfricanist SPEAK: When was AWOOn June 16 I remember Socialist Democracy; to unify formed?passing UncleZeph's (late all African states intotheUnitedpresident of the PAC) house States of Africa. ELLEN: On 6 April 1986. Atwith other students on the way the time political organisations to Orlando West where the SPEAK: What do you meanby were banned. Most of the actual protests took place. He African women? women were left behind by was standingoutside waving their men who were behind to us, giving us moral support ELLEN: This includes bars. UrbaniaMothopeng, the and encouraging us to go indigenous African people, the wife of the late president of the forward infighting for our rights so-called coloureds, the so- PAC, and many women as students. Afew weeks later calledindians and anyone who around the country decided to we saw police pick him up. owes their loyalty to Africa. form awomen's organisation Later many of my friends and to lift up the spirit of women, I visited his son John for SPEAK:The PAC refused to bring them together, educate political briefings. I fell in love attend the Conference for a andmotivate them and build with him and we married in Democratic South Africa the spirit of Pan Africanism1981.(CODESA). The PAC also says amongst the women.the armed struggle should not It was launched in Katlehong.SPEAK:WhatdoestheAfrican be suspended. Could you About 500 women attended Women's Organisation explainwhy? the launch. Women from all (AWO) of the PAC stand for? over the country came.ELLEN: We say CODESA isWomen in the Cape came out ELLEN: The African Women's an undemocratic structure. De strongly in themembership Organisation and the PAC Klerk and the Nationalist Party drive. The Cape is still our have the sameobjectives. The have too much representation. stronghold, together with theEllen Mothopeng : "The success of anystruggledepends on the participation and support of women".Picture : Shamim MeerTransvaal.SPEAK: Has AWOtaken up issues with the PAC on women?ELLEN: We have dealt with things like sexual harassment. Personally Ialways give my PAC menfolk a strong tongue lashing for repeatedly leaving their wives or girlfriends, and thewomenfolk in general, behind when attending rallies and meetings. AWO says the success of any struggle dependson effective participation and support by women.SPEAK: Do you think different organisations are getting on betterthese days?ELLEN: With women this isdeveloping. I attended ameeting called by the ANCELLEN: AWO seesnational women on women's rights. oppression and sexual Fourty-two organisations were SPEAK: What have womenin oppression as two sides of the there. Since this meeting, the PAC organised around? same coin. We are committedwomen are working together.to fighting colonial oppression AWO is committed to building ELLEN: We have had manyalongside our male comrades greater understanding among programmes, such as calls for as well as fighting againstmale women across organisations. the release of the Sharpeville domination and chauvinism asSix. We focused onTheresa sisters in the feminist cause. SPEAK: What are the tasks Ramashamola and camp- Our slogan is "Educate afacing South African women? aigned for her release. We are woman and you shall havedelighted our word carriededucated the nation." ELLEN: We need to educate some weight because she is each other about what is finally free.We celebrated SPEAK: Are there many happening - about the Women's Day in 1991 with a women in PACleadership? constituent assembly, about talk on AIDS. It is one of our elections. Elections are national campaigns. Wehave important because the realised the youth of today are ELLEN: Women make up a Africans in this country havegoing to be targets of AIDS. dismal 18 or 20 percent of the no experience of these. We These are our future leaders.national leadership. AWO will need to draw up constitutionalcampaign to ensure women clauses which will protectSPEAK: What does AWO say make up no less than half of women and children from the about women's oppression?PAC leadership. injustices they face.Premenstrual SyndromeWhen you know it's nearly thattime of the monthIf youfeel depressed, or tired, or your tummy *Mood Changesis swollen and yourbreasts sore before you get This isprobably the most common symptom of a period, you could be suffering from PMS. Women feel irritable andbad-tempered. Premenstrual Syndrome, which is also called They find themselves shouting at people over PMS.

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SPEAK looks at this problem that many small things. Sometimes women can even get women face, and at what canbe done about it. physically violent when they are not usuallyviolent at all. Some women feel anxious orMany SouthAfrican women may not have depressed. They cry more easily than usual. Aheard of Premenstrual Syndrome orPMS, but common problem is to feel very tired and drainedmany women are probably suffering from it. and wanting tosleep more than usual. PMS -is a mixture of emotional and physicalfeelings a number of women get before they *Headachesstart their period. It includes feeling depressed The most common headache of PMS is a stress or verytired, head-aches, sore breasts and headache. Women feel a pain like a band many other symptoms. around theirhead. Sometimes they feel a painat the back of their neck or at the top of the head.These feelings begin one to twoweeks beforethe period starts. After a woman starts bleeding *Breast problemsthis feeling goes away or starts to getbetter. Many women get swollen, sore breasts. Their Here is a list of the symptoms or feelings bras feel tight as theirbreasts get bigger. It feels women suffering from PMS get. Some women very uncomfortable if anyone or anythinghave only one symptom, while others have touches them and it can be uncomfortable to many. make love.At that timeof monthfeel irritated and bad tempered. I find myself shouting at people over small things*Feeling "blown up" womandoes not fall pregnant, the ovary stopsMany women notice their weight increases producing as many femalehormones as before.just before a period. Sometimes their tummies As soon as the hormone level drops, theget veryswollen and uncomfortable. women's period starts.Sometimes also their hands and feet swell Some health workersbelieve it is these twoup. hormones, oestrogen and progesterone whichlead to PMS. They say that PMS is caused*Achange in eating habits when these hormones are not properly A few women want to eat more food beforebalanced.their period. Some women crave sweet or Other health workers don't believe it is asalty things during thistime. hormone problem, but aren't sure what exactlycauses PMS.Who gets PMS?Two out of every 10 women haveserious How to treat PMSproblems with PMS, and some people say as Because doctors do not really understandPMS, many as five out of 10 women have some there isn't one single medicine which is problems with PMS. Anywoman can suffer guaranteed to help. Butthere are lots of different with this problem. Women can start havingmedicines women can try for PMS. Some PMS any time between the ages of 20 to 45 treatments work on onewoman but don't help years. They can suffer from it both before and another woman.after they have children. Theonly way to find the right medicine foryourself is to try them out. Some medicines canWhat causes PMS? be boughtfrom the chemist and others can onlyHealth care workers and researchers are still be got from a doctor or a clinic. notsure what causes PMS. Some say it is caused by hormones, others disagree with this.PMS happens in the secondpart of the women's menstrual cycle. At this time there are two female hormones in the blood called oestrogen andprogesterone. These hormones are made by the ovaries which also store a women's eggs.In the middle of the cyclethe ovaries release an egg. If the egg is not fertilised and the~, My0 s breasts get sorrHere is a list of some of thesemedicines: *Vitamin B6 tabletsThese help with the mood changes and tiredness. You take one 50mg tablet every dayfrom four days before the symptoms start until three days after the period starts. Some women find it easier to take aB6 tablet every day so they don't have to work out when to start. These tablets can be bought from the chemist. Theyare not too expensive.33SPEAK*Oil of Evening PrimroseThis works for the same symptoms as Vitamin B6. Take onecapsule every day. It can be bought from the chemist, but it is very expensive.v i-c*Other Vitamins (3 b ltablets usedare Vitamin E helpful. Magnesiumvitamin pills.You can buy these from a chemist. ~_00 a op o pO Q o a oSo w.oMeolicih~;s'-h t. r+noy "-tr Mri~h p.m.S.*Water TabletsIf you feel bloated or swollen, you can get watertablets fromyour doctor or clinic. Take oneevery morning on the days you feel very swollen.If bloating is a big problem you shouldtry to cutout or cut down on salt as this can make youretain water.These medicines must only be used under*Thecombined contraceptive pill (the Pill) the supervision of a doctor or a specialist This is the pill which is taken forcontraception nurse.or prevention. It usually makes PMS better.Sometimes though it makes it worse. You can*Ponstanget it from your doctor or clinic. Discuss the Pill A medicine called "Ponstan" may help with with your doctoror clinic sister. They will advise PMS. It is especially good though for period you on whether you can take the pill ornot. pains. You take this a few days before thesymptoms of the PMS start. You can get*Progesterone tablets thesefrom a doctor or a clinic. These are hormone tablets. They sometimescorrect the balance of hormones, but some*Dietdoctors say the side effects are worse than Some health workers also believe a change PMS. They are taken inthe second part of the in diet can help.They say women should try cycle. You can get these from your doctor or to eatmore regular meals around this time; clinic they should cut out salt; they should try notto eat junk food; and try not todrink tea,*Bromocriptine coffee, cocoa or coke. There is also a medicine called bromocriptinewhich helps breasttenderness. This is very If you do have symptoms of PMS get your expensive. It can only be got from a doctor or localdoctor or nurse to check you. There are clinic other illnesses that can give women similarsymptoms and you must bechecked for *Calming Tablets these.Some doctors prescribe medicines which calm One of the conditions isendometriosis which your nerves or stop depression. These are we will write about in the next issue of SPEAK. calledanti-depression tablets and can be useful Remember if you do go for a check up make on the days when you feelvery tense or sure you go for a pap smear (a test for cancer irritable. of the cervix) at the sametime.SubscribetoSPEAKMake sure you get every issue. Send in theform below today! Each new subscriberwillreceive a SPEAK Calendar for 1992. Don'tmiss this special offer!Subscription rate for six issues: Name SouthAfrica - individuals R12institutions R40 AddressSouthernAfrica -individuals R18institutions R45Overseas - individualsUS$40 I enclose R institutions US$80Look out for SPEAK at yourcorner shop, at your nearest CNA,and on streetcorners from May 92SPEAK7992 R7.50 No.38R50 A MONTH IS NOT ENOUGH! MORE RIGHTSFORDOMESTICWORKERS?CHILDSUPPORT' HOW TO CLAIMTHIS RIGHTA WOMAN NOT AFRAID TO SAY NOWRITER NAWALEL SADAAWI!4 1WQ4IEN FOk r_ X6.4. ~ 2I THE (rRA VAAL RURAL WOMEN` SM

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EMEArALSO:*SHORT STORY*TAXI TALK*HEALTH ADVICE*PAC ON WOMEN

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aalInside SPEAKLetters 3Great news from us at SPEAKJokes Aside 5 for 1992 From May this year. SPEAK will be amonthlyTransvaal Ruralmagazine.Women's Movement6but you'Not only that,ll be getting SPEAK at the sameTaxiTalk 9 price. We are keeping our price at 8150 for one co.Cover picture of a member of thepyDomesticWorkersTransvaal Rural Women's and at R12. for six issues forRights 10 Movement. Picture: Gill de Vliegsubscribers.And from early May, you'll findA Conversation with SPEAK more easily than ever Indres Naidoo 14before. In bookshops,Story - A Deadly Affair 17 cornershops, CNA's andQC] f.. ~. streetcorners in the cities. AskforSPEAK- and if your closestCOD ESA 18 shop doesn't have SPEAK, ask - them to get it for you.Women writers~~~~~~Now we all know that changewomen fighters 20 doesn't come easily - and notStory - A Deadly Affairwithoutsome sweat and tears.Nawal El Sadaawi 22 In order to bring SPEAK outmontly we at SPEAK have lotsClaiming childsupport...25 of organising to do. So ournext issue will be out in earlywoman youth leader...28 AMay Enjoy every bit ofthis .30 issue in your hand right now,PAC and womenand hold your breath until mayHealth - premenstrual , i 1992when we'll bring SPEAK right back to you again.syndrome 32 Writer Naual E~ -la-Send us ideas on what you'dlike toread and know about in SPEAK. Keep sending usActing Editor Libby Lloyd letters. Tell us your views - be CoordinatorShamim Meer angry, be happy, be sad, tell Subeditor/Writer Libby Lloyd us a story, tell it like it is. InDesign and layoutShamim Meer andDipuo Masetlha 1992 we'll be bringing youDistribution and promotions Pumla Baloyi morecompetitions, morearticles to get South AfricansWe welcome editor Karen Hurt back from long leave. talking. Not onlythat, but thisyear we celebrate SPEAK'sWe welcome Dipuo Mosetlha who has joined SPEAK staff. 1 Oth birthday.We'll keep youWe say goodbye to Gill Lincoln and wish her well in her new job.We miss Gill in the office, but arepleased to have her as a voluntary member. informed on how we're goingto do this.Voluntary Managing Committeemembers:Gill Lincoln, Nise Malange,Jacqueline Mathabe, Helen Rees and Vanessa Taylor. PreviouscompetitionSPEAK Offices: Office 7,17 Floor Conlyn House, 156 President winners are: Elsie SithebeStreet,Johannesburg 2001 South Africa. Telephone: 296166. and Isaac Makhosi2LettersREADERS SPEAK OUTTraditionalor war weapons Dear SPEAKAs long as the government and the police don't want to differentiate between traditionalweapons and war weapons they are far from bringing about peace. Assegais were used as war weapons in thosedays when our forefathers were involved in wars before I was born. I am sixty six years old and I never saw ourgrandfathers going to cultural events with assegais. They carried sticks and knobkeries, not assegaais and shields.Igrew up in Mahlake, a small village in Mount Flekhos. Our community was of Hlubi origin. I got part of my education inNatal. I know a bit about their culture.When the Inkatha started visiting Jabulani Amphitheatre they did not carry theseassegais. Apparently they had forgotten this culture until suddenly in 1990. When the liberation movements wereunbanned they then thought they should bring these weapons when visiting the Vaal. That is when violence becamerife in the Transvaal. There is no truth in saying these are traditional weapons. Why are they carrying them around? Isthere any war? Who declared it and why? Inkatha is not ready to talk peace because they are notThanks to all ourmoulding? Let us startreaders who have demilitarizing our youth by notwritten in. Share your selling and buying toyguns.views with SPEAK Let us sell and buy educationalreaders. Write to us at toys. Toy guns are a menaceP.O.Box45213 Mayfair and a waste of hard earned2108 Johannesburg money. A comment from yourreaders will be highly yettelling the truth. I am older appreciated.than Mangosuthu himself. I Yours in the strugglenever saw war where theseMary Mkhwanaziweapons were not used. Christian Womens' MovementWhen all nations are moving police killed mysoninto civilization, Inkatha is Dear SPEAKretreating into the dark ages. My son has been shot dead byWorriedTransvaal a policeman and he admits toThis letter has been shortened. doing so. The case has beenhandedover to the LegalNo to war toys Resources Centre inDear SPEAK Grahamstown. The claim isChristian Women'sMovement being processed. My questionis appealing to all toy shops is why is this policeman notand to parents of allraces to suspended? Why does hestop selling and buying toy continue to serve theguns. Harmless asthetoy gunscommunity before the caseare, they leave a mark in the has been cleared?child's mind that a gun is a Yoursfaithfullykilling weapon which can be William Nquloowned and used to kill other Barkly-East people.How manychildren have died We want you and your family toafter playing with their parents' know we are thinking of you.guns?If you watch a child We have spoken to theplaying with a toy gun you will independent Board of Inquiry intonotice hecries if the one who Informal Repression (IBIIR). Theyis being shot at does not fake say with the present law adeath.Other children watching policeman is only suspended if the police force decides to investigatethe game will all shout: "Die a case. This is not covered by the so and so die". If so and so Peace Accord. We at SPEAK say "Dies" then theyall laugh and this law must change. Whenever clap hands. So why toy guns? someone is killed by a policeman, Whatfuture generation are we it should be investigated.3 SPEAKSpeak uplifts! are fighting for freedom. articles onwomen's Dear SPEAK SPEAK people, I have a oppression, women's fight for Kindly send me your problem. I am 24years old and liberation, the struggle - I had magazine. We want to learn I want to organise women in some thoughts.I think we about the issues concerning Bophutatswana. women are doing enough our rights as women. My problem ishow and where apart from all the above. Who We have searched for a long because these women don't are weasking for our time in vain to find someone want to understand anything liberation?...the men? who can teach us andwho about women's rights. Women I think it's up to us to liberate can uplift the suffering of must organise before it istoo the men! Enough of us being black women, then we late. the victims, it undermines us stumbled on your address.SPEAK people I hope you'll and gives no credit to all the We all know you will support take my problem into work wedo anyway. I think our needs. consideration. Please help me we can turn this jargon around Please also give us withyour advice. Women and liberatethe mento a more information on how we can should be encouraged to take fuller lifein being human. As get issues of SPEAK on a up leadership positions. said in Nguni, "Ubuntu" - the regular basis.Yours in the struggle very thing so many men have Faithfully yours Maria Motaung lost touch with, within ES Makhado

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Mabopane Block B themselves.Louis Trichardt We need men's participationIt is not easy to organise women. withinthe family, interest inIf you subscribe to SPEAK you But don't give up hope. We suggest their children, communicacanbe sure of gettingeveryissue. that one way forward is for you toIf there is anything you would like get in touch withorganisations in tion. Consideration has to know more about, please write your area to discuss the problem. nothing todo with 'not being a and tell us. If you send us your full address we man' and most o f allwill send you moreinformation. acknowledging the person inForward Mzabalazo women.Dear SPEAK Straight to the heart Viva RoseNgwenya! VivaI am very pleased with this Dear SPEAK socialism!magazine. I say forward with Keep up the goodwork, a great Holly BarkerMzabalazo, forward! I am a magazine, straight to the point Durban girl who wants to call alland heart.women to join women who While I was reading your Forward to men's participation!I T'S A STRANGEWORLD, 15NYT IT .Daniel-I havebnnd,osert I DIDN'T knowto aI be the- wa kshop wd~S that JREwin we must choosea w~u you look a bee. I;hetddele children?wo Lone- shoes dn gate bo akbend ~~':~'''~, y Sui bs were part ofthe --,hpM .`= r ~a A seadertshl skills . , ,j' '" our ---on/u Yj { ' %~Fa- , +' \ ~~ ddWlllll r ;~.*tw~ ~\+Y . i- 1 qA~ yNhu do asks ,N..1i ' ? S d L, ~ r. ~~You know b 5rto II think '"y..3 'k i \ our t radition for i d !mssP-fa ., r {; Mer< Eo cock afterShould o"'''; ` chi ldrCn ! f JAll ' ################################################################# # # ## #*Two recently returned *At the SACP eighth congress in *Commenting on the rapeexiles were briefly arrestedDecember Cosatu General of a 15 year old hitch-hiker, i n Durban last year. They Secretary Jay Naidoo was CaptainEugene Opper were thrown into the police introduced as a "stallion" of our man warned children andvan andteargassed before struggle. That was bad enough women not to hitch-hike being taken to the police seeing asstallions can only be alone at night. Maybe the .station. Police claimed they men. But he made it worse by newspaperquoting him were arrested for "sexual answering, "I think you made a didn't use his full statement, harrassment of awoman in mistake. All of us here are stallions or maybe he just forgot the street". They were galloping towards thefuture." again to warn men not to released when no woman Couldn't he see the women rape.He makes itfeelappeared to charge them. delegates sitting in front of him? women are the criminals ; Since when have police * * ** * not the rapists. worried about sexual harrassment? They're *At the New Nation's Writers # normally the ones doingthe Conference after speeches about * * * * * harrassment. Wasn't this problems women face, a man #* rather a caseof exile stood up to say it isn't only men It's been written about h arrassment? who are a problem. "Women go before,but it's worth writing;into the rural areas these days," about again. ANC NEChe said "drinking, smoking and memberSteve Tshwete * * * * * talking bad." recently spoke in Natal about people's courts. He "But men have been doing thatsaid they would continue *A member of the ANC's for years," said one of the women , #national executive com-speakers. "And no-one ever but would deal with "minoroffences - like wife mittee said on radio that complains abouttha