Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) Executive Mayor Gladys Khoza concluded her Women’s Month celebrations on a high note by hosting 170 women from across the municipality at a breakfast networking session on Wednesday, August 24.
The grand occasion held at the Westonaria Banquet Hall was in the spirit of the Women’s Month festivities aligned to the Government National Calendar which foster recognition and commemoration of women especially during the month of August.
Speaking at the event, Khoza said, “It was a token of appreciation and a little gesture to women whom I view as the flowers of the nation and daughters of the soil”, adding that women have become a force in the different positions they occupy.
“This event has great significance as we build on efforts of excellence and the triumph of the collective spirit of women. Women’s Month goes a long way to inspire and empower South Africa’s women to identify the role they can play in addressing the economic and social challenges facing the population in general, such as unemployment, disease and economic freedom.
We know that over the years, women have taken small and also large steps towards advancing the rights of women. Today, South African women have achieved a level of gender equality that has only been accomplished in other countries after many decades of democracy.
“Our cabinet and legislatures are among the top 10 most representative of women in the world; and in schools girls have equal access to education and are performing at improved levels in many subjects.
“In higher education women number more than half of the student body,” said Khoza who added that women have taken great strides in self-development and have occupied big positions not only in government, but in academics and in the corporate space.
She went on to recognise 12 outstanding women pioneers from across the municipality for their excellence in various disciplines they operate within.
These women have also displayed leadership in those disciplines and had a positive influence within the communities they live in.
Three women were celebrated in each of the following four categories that were identified and they received trophies:
1. Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
2. Business
3. Community development
4. Academic achievers
Member of the Mayor Committee Amanda Sityebi also took to the stage and said that as a woman in local government, she was happy to be led by a female mayor.
Women no longer belong in the kitchen. They are a force to be reckoned with and are occupying big spaces in leadership,” said Sityebi
