Activists accuse govt of excluding women from G20 Summit preparations

JOHANNESBURG - Some activists in Soweto have accused the government of excluding women from preparations in the lead-up to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

The summit, where the world’s biggest economies will meet under the theme: Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, is being hosted in Africa for the first time.

South Africa marked Women’s Month at the beginning of August with unemployment among women still higher compared to men.

Residents gathered at Diepkloof Community Hall on Thursday to raise their concerns with the Gauteng government during a G20 awareness program.

ALSO READ: G20 Summit awareness programme: GP govt vows to address Soweto residents’ qualms

Activists say that while infrastructure repairs are underway to impress world leaders, ordinary people, particularly women, have been left in the lurch.

Community leader Moseme Mosikare argued that women cannot continue to shoulder the burden of poverty and joblessness without real support from the government.

“We need help. We need to be resourced as women. We’ve got nothing. We’re raising families out of nothing. R520 is nothing. We need lots and lots of help.”

Mosikare added that lasting change must extend beyond the summit and translate into job creation and equal opportunities for women.