Women in leadership
According to the United Nations, the theme for 2021 is “women in leadership”, and this event displayed various female leaders.
In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, The Bishopz Foundation recently hosted a virtual women empowerment seminar. According to the United Nations, the theme for 2021 is “women in leadership”, and this event displayed various female leaders.
The co-founder of the foundation, Prince Rulashe, spoke more about the event. “We chose female speakers who are pioneers in their respective fields and are occupying strategic positions that can bring about change.”
One of the speakers was Teliswa Mgweba, a member of parliament who spoke about the economic recovery plan. She said South Africa will be setting aside 40 per cent of all public procurement for women-owned enterprises, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Government is doing well; however, they need to do more to fight challenges such unemployment, poverty and inequality by giving people access to economic opportunities so they can get involved in government programmes and projects,” she said.
MMC Nomadlozi Nkosi from the Health and Social Development spoke about women leadership and the vaccine rollout. Palesa Tsita, HOD City Planning City of Ekurhuleni spoke on women in governance.
Dentist in Ekurhuleni Dr Bongiwe Mtetwa spoke about the challenges women face in the medical and dental sector. Rulashe added that women empowerment is important because if you empower a woman, you empower a nation.
“If we empower women we will decrease poverty and dismantle gender inequality in our society,” he said. The co-founder said one of the most important lessons learnt was they must create a network for women so it can be easier to access opportunities. “The response from the webinar is that women feel there is too much red tape for them to access opportunities.”
ALSO READ: CGA reflects on 2020
He explained that their foundation seeks to dismantle patriarchy and fight against gender-based violence and femicide. “One of the ways we identified was the empowerment of women so that they can be economically independent.”
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
