The St John the Divine Orphans and Outreach Centre came alive with a variety of colourful traditional outfits in celebration of Heritage Day and the Queens Seminar in Mohlakeng.
Women in all walks of life and from as far away as Pretoria and Limpopo attended the event. While it was a day to celebrate their heritage, the intention was to also focus on women and create a platform for them to share ideas about wellness, relationships, finance and education.
Tshegofatso Maimane, the event organiser, and Asnath Alaerts, one of the speakers, told their tragic stories about how they survived suicidal thoughts resulting from the toxic relationships and abuse they experienced in their marriages.
Asnath explained how great God was to her during this difficult time, helping her to believe that having lived with HIV for 24 years and being married three times is nothing to be ashamed of.
She told those in attendance that she experienced various illnesses, from TB and cancer to severe depression.
“I tried to take my own life before I met God. I then told myself that only He will decide when my life will end.”
Tshegofatso, now a social worker, revealed that she got divorced at the age of 26 after having married unwisely at the age of 19.
“When I got married, I didn’t know that I was entering a lion’s den. Today, I can testify that my marriage was nothing more than a test, which I survived. It really was a mistake to get married at 19.
“My spouse, who was a police officer, beat me up physically and emotionally. I also wanted to take my life, but came to believe that God would get me through this ordeal, and He did. My message to others is that it is up to you to decide whether to stay in a toxic relationship or get out and move on. I too am living testimony of the fact that God is alive.”
