By Matsobane Manaka
Mandisa Mawasha, Deputy Director from Employee Health and Wellness unpacks the Provincial Launch of Women’s Celebrations.
The fight for women’s rights continues beyond Women’s Month. The month of August was just to emphasise the highlight, contribution and progress made in advocating Women’s rights while addressing ongoing challenges of inequality, economic inclusivity and social ills such as Gender Based Violence, among others.
Women’s celebrations cut across all districts, with the latest at Marble Hall Agricultural District Office in Sekhukhune District.
Speaking with Temo News, Mandisa Mawasha, Deputy Director from Employee Health and Wellness has unpacked what the Provincial Launch on the 01 August 2025, by the Premier under the theme, “Building Resilient Economies for all”, was about.
Mawasha said, the theme is linked to the G20 priorities on women’s empowerment working group and emphasizes the importance of women's participation and representation in leadership and the economy.
“The month-long commemoration focused on financial inclusion, support for women-led enterprises, and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) prevention through education and community engagement. This focus recognises the potential of peace and security to create a conducive environment for women to thrive, strengthened by women’s key role in fostering social cohesion and building resilient communities”.
Asked what the key focus areas were, Mawasha indicated them as follows:
- Financial Inclusion:Bridging the credit gap for women and promoting access to digital finance. (Use of digital technologies to deliver financial services, encompassing a wide range of products, applications, processes, and business models).
- Women-Led Enterprises:Supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs.
- GBVF Prevention:Raising awareness, promoting healthy and respectful behaviour, and creating safe environments for women and girls. Addressing the root causes of GBVF: Recognizing that GBVF is a societal issue and requires a multi-faceted approach. (Femicide is the killing of a woman or girl, by a man and on account of her gender. A prayer to stop GBVF was made during all the district and Head Office seminars.
“Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) women were reminded to have a positive contribution on focal areas and align their roles within the theme and its focus areas, to stand up against GBVF, not keep quiet about it nor perpetuate it and be voices for the abused /victimised. Encouraged to further support women led enterprises, offer advice, share knowledge and expertise to uplift other women”, Mawasha concludes.
Women’s active participation demonstrates that unity indeed is the power.
