By Tshifhiwa Muifha
HOD Mpho Mashamba expresses her heartfelt appreciation to women who continue to take up leadership roles and contribute towards steering the Department in the right direction.
The HOD for the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), Me Mpho Mashamba has on 24-25 August 2026, led a two-day Public Service Women Management Week (PSWMW) meeting at Nandoni Waterfront in Vhembe District. The PSWMW meetings are held annually during the week designated by the Department of Public Service and Administration to assess the progress on gender equality and evaluate the advancement of women into Senior Management Service roles across the government departments.
The two-day session was centred around the HOD’s 8-Principle Action Plan that advocates for women’s empowerment and gender equality in the public service workplace. It brought together women in leadership positions within the Department to deliberate on challenges affecting women in the workplace and strengthen support mechanisms that promote an inclusive and empowering working environment.
During her address, Me Mashamba called on officials involved in the filling of advertised posts to prioritise the recruitment of persons with disabilities and 50% female representation at the Senior Management Service level, in line with the Department’s numerical goals to improving compliance with employment equity targets and promoting disability inclusion.
“Women are working in a strenuous environment; hence, we need to be protective of one another and support each other,” said Me Mashamba.
Mrs Christine Moremi from the Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) branch of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) explained that the PSWMW programme seeks to promote growth and development on issues affecting women in the workplace, strengthen women’s leadership capacity.
The second day of the programme featured a range of motivational and developmental sessions aimed at supporting women leaders in both their professional and personal lives.
Topics included financial well-being, the Black Rehabilitation Programme, Ergonomics Exercises, and Health and Wellness. The sessions were delivered by amongst others Mr Nicholas Motau of Motau Health Services and Dr Ntsakie Gwala of Acaso Medicare, who also delivered a hybrid life-coaching session.
Ms Busisiwe Mdletshe, CEO of Net Vest Group through her virtual presentation encouraged women leaders to recognise their role in driving transformation within the public service.
Me Mashamba expressed her heartfelt appreciation to women who continue to take up leadership roles and contribute towards steering the Department in the right direction.
"As women in the Senior Management Service, we occupy positions of enormous responsibility. We are not here simply because government must meet gender-representation targets. We are here because we possess the competence, intellectual capacity, resilience, and professional leadership capability required to move the public service forward. Our presence at the decision-making table must therefore translate into impact," continued Me Mashamba.
The Department remains committed to strengthening gender equality, promoting disability inclusion, and ensuring that women’s leadership translates into tangible impact for the organisation and the communities it serves.
