Farm working women are among the most vulnerable and marginalised members of society. They endure a unique set of challenges due to their geographic and social isolation, including heightened levels of domestic violence, femicide, and substance abuse. Of particular concern is the ongoing impact of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on their children, a lasting consequence of the historically entrenched “dop system”, which, though outlawed, reportedly persists in some rural areas of South Africa.
These often overlooked struggles of women working in agricultural communities were placed in the spotlight when Kraaifontein-based In Christ United (ICU) Church, in partnership with the TWM Foundation, hosted a Women’s Day breakfast on Saturday at De Waalshof farm, nestled on the outskirts of Stellenbosch.
This year’s event was made even more meaningful through the collaboration of Kraaifontein police’s Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum (SCPF), Jabez Faith House Church, Purple Crown Women Ministries, and Kyrios Transformation Centre.
Close to 100 women attended the event, some visitors being from the Congo and Eastern Cape.
“The event’s theme, ‘Rescue’, represented a call to hope, deliverance, and restoration for women navigating hardship and injustice,” says Pastor Clint Dixon from the foundation.
We stand with women
The Reverend Tanelle Welff-Dixon, senior pastor of ICU Church and founder of the TWM Foundation, served as host, while the keynote address was delivered by Pastor Denise Atkins, who spoke on faith and resilience in the face of adversity. Other voices of encouragement included Pastor Margaret Brinkhuis, Pastor Elleanor Settie, Jean Nell, Johanna Albertus and Siena Smith.
Speaking at the event Welff-Dixon said all women deserve to be seen, heard, and valued.
“Today, we stand with the women in our farming communities, not only to celebrate their strength but to commit to rescuing them from cycles of abuse, neglect, and inequality,” she said.
As a representative of the Kraaifontein SCPF, Welff-Dixon also took the opportunity to promote the establishment of crime prevention support desks, encouraging faith leaders to take up this mantle in their own communities.
“This is one way for us as faith leaders to unite against crime and create platforms to address moral decay in our communities. Although the 9 August 1956 is annually commemorated it is now 69 years later and time for another 20 000 women to unite against current societal ills and march to Parliament to demand for crisis intervention justice and accountability,” she said.
