About Us
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Who we are:
RWM was initiated in 1998 and was officially launched in November 2000. RWM registered in September 2003 with the South African Department of Social Development in terms of the Non-Profit Act 1997 (Act 71 of 1997), to address gender inequalities present in land rights and ownership. OR – with respect to women being able to access, own, control, use and manage land and natural resources.
In South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu Natal, women’s independent access to land has not been realized. The way that the majority of women have gained security of tenure and access to land resources has been predominantly through their participation in patriarchal household structures. Their general participation in projects has been that of “interested observers”. Some members of RWM have been forcibly evicted from their marital and birth homes by their male relatives after the death of their male partners or fathers.
Where we are:
We are based in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. This is a province that is one of the poorest in South Africa, with more than 50% of the population living below the poverty line. Female-headed households are significantly worse off compared to male-headed households. It is predicted that by 2005, about 6 million South Africans (13.9% of the population) will be infected with HIV, of whom 1.5 million are orphaned children. Unfortunately, the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu Natal is considerably higher than the national average. For example, 37.5% of participants in antenatal care are infected.
Beneficiaries:
Our work is focused particularly on rural areas. RWM works with indigenous poor landless rural women. 500 women’s community based organizations (CBOs) are affiliated with RWM, with a total membership of about 40, 000 women. Their ages range from 16 to 79 years of age.
Recognition:
RWM is recognized as a significant institution by other actors working in the land reform movement. We are seen as a vibrant movement which has created an opportunity for OR has enabled rural women to speak our about the plight of women and children in South Africa and to influence policy making processes.
What we do:
RWM advocates for women’s independent land rights and use of natural resources. We address the issue of HIV/AIDS as an issue closely linked to women’s poverty due to lack of land rights.
Our accomplishments:
RWM has helped rural women to articulate their priorities, to demonstrate their ability to manage and control resources, and to participate in community decision making structures thereby affecting the management of their land resources required for sustainable rural livelihood. We are one of the 5 organizations who won the Nelson Mandela Graca Machel Innovation Award and the Sangonet Award (not sure if this was the right name for the award sponsored by Open Networks)
The story of Thandiwe Zondi: A victory for RWM
Thandiwe Zondi was married to a chief who died mysteriously in 1990. Her husband’s family refused to allow her access to his body, claiming that they did not know the chief was married.
A young male relative who was to inherit the chieftainship evicted Thandiwe and her five little daughters from their home. Thandiwe was heavily pregnant with her 6th daughter at the time when she was evicted. When she tried to resist the eviction, he sent a group of former KwaZulu Government police heavily armed with guns to intimidate her.
Thandiwe went back to her parent’s home. When her father died a year later, her brother tried to evict her, claiming that he was the sole heir.
The Director of RWM saw Thandiwe’s story in the local newspaper and went to look for her in a remote rural area. Thandiwe became a member of RWM, allowing her saga to be used as a living example. Thandiwe’s story was written up in submissions to parliament and in articles in the newspaper, was discussed on radio and TV shows, and was circulated to sister organizations at home and internationally.
In 2003 – thirteen years after the death of her husband – Thandiwe appeared on a South African TV show with the director of RWM to talk about her story. As a result, the chief who had evicted Thandiwe was confronted by other chiefs who demanded that he compensate her. Weeks later the chief approached Thandiwe and demanded her to give him a goat for a cleansing ceremony because Thandiwe had belittled the chief by going to the press and publishing the family matters. Thandiwe refused claiming that she the one who is a victim and who should be compensated. She lost her house which her deceased husband built for his family.
Thandiwe cannot seek compensation through the courts because she was evicted prior to the 1996 Interim Constitution that would have allowed her to take legal action. RWM has a number of similar cases that cannot go to court because the crimes were committed before 1996.
In South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu Natal, women’s independent access to land has not been realized. The way that the majority of women have gained security of tenure and access to land resources has been predominantly through their participation in patriarchal household structures. Their general participation in projects has been that of “interested observers”. Some members of RWM have been forcibly evicted from their marital and birth homes by their male relatives after the death of their male partners or fathers.
Where we are:
We are based in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. This is a province that is one of the poorest in South Africa, with more than 50% of the population living below the poverty line. Female-headed households are significantly worse off compared to male-headed households. It is predicted that by 2005, about 6 million South Africans (13.9% of the population) will be infected with HIV, of whom 1.5 million are orphaned children. Unfortunately, the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu Natal is considerably higher than the national average. For example, 37.5% of participants in antenatal care are infected.
Beneficiaries:
Our work is focused particularly on rural areas. RWM works with indigenous poor landless rural women. 500 women’s community based organizations (CBOs) are affiliated with RWM, with a total membership of about 40, 000 women. Their ages range from 16 to 79 years of age.
Recognition:
RWM is recognized as a significant institution by other actors working in the land reform movement. We are seen as a vibrant movement which has created an opportunity for OR has enabled rural women to speak our about the plight of women and children in South Africa and to influence policy making processes.
What we do:
RWM advocates for women’s independent land rights and use of natural resources. We address the issue of HIV/AIDS as an issue closely linked to women’s poverty due to lack of land rights.
Our accomplishments:
RWM has helped rural women to articulate their priorities, to demonstrate their ability to manage and control resources, and to participate in community decision making structures thereby affecting the management of their land resources required for sustainable rural livelihood. We are one of the 5 organizations who won the Nelson Mandela Graca Machel Innovation Award and the Sangonet Award (not sure if this was the right name for the award sponsored by Open Networks)
The story of Thandiwe Zondi: A victory for RWM
Thandiwe Zondi was married to a chief who died mysteriously in 1990. Her husband’s family refused to allow her access to his body, claiming that they did not know the chief was married.
A young male relative who was to inherit the chieftainship evicted Thandiwe and her five little daughters from their home. Thandiwe was heavily pregnant with her 6th daughter at the time when she was evicted. When she tried to resist the eviction, he sent a group of former KwaZulu Government police heavily armed with guns to intimidate her.
Thandiwe went back to her parent’s home. When her father died a year later, her brother tried to evict her, claiming that he was the sole heir.
The Director of RWM saw Thandiwe’s story in the local newspaper and went to look for her in a remote rural area. Thandiwe became a member of RWM, allowing her saga to be used as a living example. Thandiwe’s story was written up in submissions to parliament and in articles in the newspaper, was discussed on radio and TV shows, and was circulated to sister organizations at home and internationally.
In 2003 – thirteen years after the death of her husband – Thandiwe appeared on a South African TV show with the director of RWM to talk about her story. As a result, the chief who had evicted Thandiwe was confronted by other chiefs who demanded that he compensate her. Weeks later the chief approached Thandiwe and demanded her to give him a goat for a cleansing ceremony because Thandiwe had belittled the chief by going to the press and publishing the family matters. Thandiwe refused claiming that she the one who is a victim and who should be compensated. She lost her house which her deceased husband built for his family.
Thandiwe cannot seek compensation through the courts because she was evicted prior to the 1996 Interim Constitution that would have allowed her to take legal action. RWM has a number of similar cases that cannot go to court because the crimes were committed before 1996.