Women – grab your opportunities with both hands
'I’m a product of the struggle and I’m proud of it'
August is Women’s Month, in which we celebrate the historic march of 1956 were it was a turning point in the role of women in the struggle for freedom and society at large.
Years later women are still fighting for freedom in the boardroom, office and society.
The EXPRESS had an opportunity to speak with Mrs Mkhabela in Jeppestown, an elderly woman who has seen the struggle and understands its roots.
“I’m a product of the struggle and I’m proud of it. The struggle pushed us into wanting a better life for ourselves and working hard for what we want,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
The mother of one said she had to make sacrifices in her life in order to give her daughter the life she deserved.
“It was not easy sending your only child away to boarding school to get an education but I knew this was the best thing I could give her for a better life. I sacrificed having the opportunity to see her every day. I had to make a living and even to get the money to get her to school was through the effort of friends supporting me to get her the education,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
She remembers how difficult life was then, being a single parent and having to get her daughter to school.
“It takes a village to raise a child – that saying had great meaning then because people supported each other when a child needed to escape because their lives were in danger. There were people in the community who would risk their lives to help,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
She said she is saddened by what she sees now with leaders losing their way.
“There are mothers who have wounds that will never heal because they do not know where their children went because they were fighting for freedom. But those women are being side lined and are suffering, while others are eating the fruits of their children’s labour.
“I’m not taking away from the heroes we celebrate but the work was not by two or three people. It was a joint movement of thousands, including women – we should honour and acknowledge them,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
She shared her views on Women’s Month and what it means to her as a woman.
“Women have always been tested in their strength. It has always been women who would support the youth in what they do and still keep the home together. We carry the world on our shoulders but yet still find time to give love and nurture others. Times have changed but the struggles of a woman are still the same. But now women are offered the opportunity to fight for their right to be women in a world that is still ruled by men.
“We have so much to offer the world but because we are emotional beings we are perceived as weak,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
She said she has seen many women losing their worth because they compromised who they are.
“When you want something believe in yourself and stay focused. As a woman you are strong and if you set your mind to it, you will achieve your goals,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
She said she is proud to see he only daughter achieving success and is happy to be able to witness it.
“The beauty of life is to witness something which took hard work and to see it unfold and blossom into a beautiful flower. That is my daughter. As a mother I made a sacrifice to send her away for a better education. I hoped for nothing but the best for her and now she is the better version of her herself. To be a woman living in these times means more opportunities and I encourage young women to grab it with both hands,” said Mrs Mkhabela.
