Motsepe Foundation hosts summit to drive gender balance in Africa

The Motsepe Foundation hosted its third annual Women’s Summit in Sandton on International Women’s Day which focused on driving gender balance in Africa.

The summit hosted a wide range of speakers and discussions with business leaders and advocates for gender equality to share their experiences in their fields. The Motsepe Foundations Women’s Unit, which was created in 2012, strives toward empowering women as well as achieving the foundation’s core goal of alleviating poverty and improving the lives of the poor.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng highlighted the importance of lifting up women and working towards equality in all areas of life. Mogoeng said that he has spent much time discussing with others the sort of meaningful progress that needs to still be made in Africa.

One of the issues that the chief justice highlighted is using women as tokens, to display an image of gender equality without meaningful input being given. He said that it is equally important for women to reject this tokenism as it does not advance gender equality.

“We have to be businesslike in monitoring and evaluating our progress, let’s keep on checking whether people are doing what they ought to do or whether they need to be strengthened.”

He also added that attitudes toward gender equality need to be taught from a young age. He said that parents should be capacitated to raise children who have different attitudes and prejudices that people today.

“Dedicate some time, as a caring South African, and ask yourself some questions: What is it that can be done about our education system in SA, about changing lives of the women, etc. Find solutions, you have a voice to act, act,” concluded Mogoeng.

Details: Motsepe Foundation www.motsepefoundation.org

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