There was some astonishment here at the Mahogany Ridge as we learnt of the ANC Youth League's continued intentions to make the Western Cape "ungovernable" with protest actions rolled out on the 27th day of each month.

The league's defiance was, obviously, aimed at the provincial government after Premier Helen Zille laid criminal charges against them in terms of the Intimidation Act. But, we wondered, could it really be that, on the eve of Women's Day, the troubled youth were threatening Zille with the monthlies?

And of course it was all silly posturing. On July 27, you'll remember, the ANCYL had marched from Salt River to the provincial legislature in Wale St where they handed over a list of demands, threatening the usual loutish, attention-seeking behaviour should Zille not respond to said demands within a week.

Here are some of those demands: privately owned land must be set aside for housing and "creation of better communities where black people and white live together"; more resources for the police as "Mananberg (sic) and Hanover Park children swim in drugs and guns yet [safety and security MEC Dan Plato] and Zille smile, say that it is normal"; the Work and Skills Programme for youth must "be discarded with immediate effect"; and -- a personal favourite -- the Bus Rapid Transport system must be scrapped because "54 taxis had to stop operating due to this system that robbed families of their household income".

The list was long, and some demands, such as all hostels "built during the apartheid era...be demolished and that people get decent houses where they will live happily in their new democratic government" seemed a bit tall-orderish. Still, a week is a week.

But the seventh day, as they say, came and went and lo, there was a press briefing in which Mfuzo Zenzile, the regional secretary of the league's Dullah Omar branch, now promised all manner of mayhem, protests and sit-ins which, perhaps as a reassuring sop to the employees of Golden Arrow, their friends and relatives, would definitely be "legal and non-violent".

Zenzile then added: "We can't give you details on when and where the activities will take place." 

Which, considering he had just announced that activities would take place on the 27th of each month, was perhaps unfortunate.

But on to a fuller, if I may, empty gesture - Women's Day.

The holiday is pointless and stupid. But don't listen to me, take it from Helen Moffett, the feminist scholar and activist. In a seething, furious blog this week, she had what we may politely refer to as a cathartic moment. In fact, Moffett doesn't just want the day scrapped, but "women's month" as well -- and a lot more besides.

"Trash that ridiculous, pointless, bloated Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities (how's that for neatly categorising us little ladies -- not only does possession of a vagina constitute a disability, but vagina-owners are as powerless and lacking in agency as children)," she wrote. "It's no more than a particularly sanctimonious event-planning agency.

"The departmental mission? ‘Ooh, women and children are getting raped and abused, they bear the brunt of criminally lousy education and brutal poverty: LET THEM EAT CUPCAKES! Plus we'll throw in some glossy leaflets, and send someone in a designer suit to pat heads and make a speech full of platitudes before we jet off for another shopping trip . . . er, international conference.'

"So ditch the pointless sodding public holiday (estimated cost to the economy: SEVEN BILLION). Stop bleating about the month of women. It's PATHETIC, considering it's open season on South African women 24/7, year in, year out."

Moffett pointed out -- not for the first time -- that our rape statistics are the worst in the world for a country not at war, and that rural women and children are doomed to a life of relentless, grinding misery and poverty largely exacerbated by patriarchal strictures "which are of course absolutely sacred".

It was, she added, a further "bloody disgrace" that something as monstrously regressive as the Traditional Courts Bill -- which would further oppress rural women -- was even considered for tabling before Parliament.

Oddly enough, President Jacob Zuma, patriarch number one, made no mention of the bill in his Women's Day address.

Neither did he have very much to say about what he referred to as "some serious difficulties in education delivery in provinces such as Limpopo and the Eastern Cape" other than that government has "intervened to assist in restoring quality learning and teaching".

Maybe he wanted to spare Angie Motshekga's feelings. The Basic Education Minister has not had a good time of it lately. But as the president will tell you, we must be nice to the ladies.

This article first appeared in the Weekend Argus.

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