We’re spotlighting the moms, friends, leaders, sisters, entrepreneurs, communities, thinkers and everyday heroes who are paving the next, better chapter for women in South Africa this Women’s Day. Meet them:
South Africa (09 August, 2023) — As we honour National Women’s Day in South Africa, many of us tend to have a lot of conflicting feelings.
Are we inspired by the women who came before us and paved paths that were previously non-existent? Yes. Is there a big sense of empathy and hurt we feel for our sisters who aren’t as far along the proverbial path of progression as others? Yes. Is there joy we feel in celebrating our womanhood? Yes! Anger too? Yes!
Women’s Day can be a confusing day for many South African women, but we’re not going to unpack it all right now (otherwise this article would be a book). Instead, we’re acknowledging that Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating the women who stood against systemic and social injustice—it’s also about what we all do (no matter our gender) with the foundations that we now stand on.
In honour of this, we’re spotlighting the women who are not oblivious to the challenges many women still face. Because what seems 50 years in the past to one woman is the reality for another.
This Women’s Day, meet the moms, friends, leaders, sisters, entrepreneurs, communities, thinkers and everyday heroes who are paving the next, better chapter for women in South Africa:
Namritha Sivsanker and Sara Seth
Namritha Sivsanker is the CEO and resident powerhouse of NGO Hope SA. When Hope SA isn’t running food drives, providing assistance to old age homes or organising access to clean water (amid all the other community good led by Namritha), the focus is on uplifting women.
One of many ways Hope SA does this is by going back to the basics; providing shelters for abused women and children who are often in dire circumstances.
‘A Safe Space for Women’ was created by Hope SA’s Sara Seth and today supports over 10 000 women in a sisterhood of support and resources.
The Black Mambas
As the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit in SA, the Black Mambas aren’t just conservation heroes; they’re also icons for young women in South Africa who have never seen female heroes in uniform before.
Lesley Ann Van Selm
Lesley is the founder of Khulisa Social Solutions, an award-winning organisation of helpers changing communities all around South Africa for the better like clockwork. Her Sustainable Livelihood Programme is a force of good change to be reckoned with; focused on capacitating women-owned businesses in the areas of agriculture, civic education, peace-building and social cohesion.
Claire Blackenberg
Claire is the founder and CEO of Reel Gardening; the social enterprise that’s solution to food security is simple and brilliant enough to fit in a box. Designed to be handmade by previously unemployed mothers, Reel Gardening also has a hugely positive impact on women who in-turn are equipping more people with access to sustainable food solutions.
Yumna Alexander
Yumna Alexander began Hopeful Leaders Night School with a dream to help more people finish high school in Cape Town. Alongside an all-women team, their night school is the reason that students of all ages now have a second chance to better and brighten their futures.
Glynne Wolman and The Angel Network
Glynne Wolman is the founder of The Angel Network who are true to their name in every sense. The network are helpers, leaders, wives, aunts and change-makers who respond to the call for kindness wherever possible. The Angels are a shining example of what women in leadership and collaboration are capable of, and deserve their wings!
Deb Zed
Deb Zed is the CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project. The Santa Shoebox Project originated in Cape Town in 2006 with a humble 180 shoeboxes. In 17 years it has grown in leaps and bounds, with the number of Santa Shoeboxes donated reaching a total of 1 152 587. Deb and her team have been the force behind over a million children experiencing the joys of Christmas.
Candice Chirwa, ‘The Minister of Menstruation’
Candice Chirwa is more than just a bold voice on social media platforms. The South African-Malawian is the founder of an award-winning Non-Profit Qrate, a fearless author and dignity leader dubbed ‘The Minister of Menstruation’. She dedicates her time to educating people about menstruation; breaking barriers and questioning ‘taboos’ in the process.
Tracey Chambers and Tracey Gilmore
Tracey Chambers and Tracey Gilmore started Taking Care of Business over ten years ago to primarily serve unemployed mothers and close gaps in unsustainable fashion practices. TCB has gone on to change multiple lives by empowering budding female entrepreneurs; giving a life force to women through fashion.
Kele Boakgomo and Yolanda Nobanda
Kele and Yolanda teamed up to create a platform designed specifically for women in the workforce; helping them navigate their career growth journies. It’s the first of its kind in Africa and offers specific coaching for women to succeed across industries.
Sazini Mojapelo
Sazini is the CEO of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund where she advocates for corporates to introduce Gender-Based Violence Response Funds into their Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives. Part of the 5 year plan Sazini is leading are initiatives that address women’s unequal economic and social position, safer workplaces, strengthened child maintenance and policy interventions.
Aurora and Cleopatra Marcopoulous
Aurora and Cleopatra are the founders of The CORA Project where all systems are focused on ending period poverty. Their efforts include rallying products, facilitating workshops as well as initiatives to fund products like accessories where 100% of the profits go to their anti-period poverty work.
Mosaic
Mosaic are a team of counsellors and advocates (majority women) who help Gender-Based Violence victims get access to justice and support in the Western Cape. They’ve been doing the groundwork on one of SA’s toughest topics since 1995 and have no plans of slowing down!
Dimakatso Mbatha
Dimakatso Mbatha saw an opportunity to empower women in poverty through environmental goodness. After she expanded the company to include recycling operations, Dimakatso established a buy-back centre focused on employing women to be the change for the Earth and themselves.
Marlena van der Walt and the Women Behind Little Lambs
Marlena started giving back through a makeshift daycare where mothers could safely look after their children when their home lives were dangerous. Decades later and today (thanks to the help of multiple women in the community), the daycare is now one of the largest ECD centres in the Western Cape—Little Lambs.
Regine le Roux
Regine began Re.Bag.Re.Use during lockdown, using an old hobby to do something good for the planet and women. By turning plastic into wonderful accessories, Regine’s side quest has become a place where women can empower themselves financially while leading upcycling at its finest in SA.
Sue Barnes
Sue Barnes is the owner and founder Project Dignity, an organisation that’s tackling period poverty through education and practical packs. Project Dignity’s Subz packs are made up of re-usable underwear and sanitary pads that can last for up to 5 years! These are distributed to Project Dignity’s network of schools to curb absenteeism.
Koketso Moeti
Civic activist Koketso Moeti’s Amandla.mobi connects movements, particularly issues affecting low-income Black women. With experience as an advisor and consultant to global and governmental powers, her platform is a collective intersection of changemakers and active citizenship.
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