Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

05 September 2024

In line with the Women’s Month of August 2024, the Gert Sibande District Municipality’s (GSDM) Council approved Women in Business Workshops which were held during the month of August 2024 across the Gert Sibande District.

In South Africa, the 9th of August is a National Women’s Day, where women are celebrated and honoured. The Women’s Month was celebrated as a tribute to the more than 20000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of pass laws to women.

GSDM recognised the important role of rural women in the transformation to a democratic South Africa and as such, took an initiative to empower women in the rural communities to start and grow successful businesses by providing a network opportunity, mentorship and training programs.

The GSDM hosted “Women in Business Workshop” as part of the affirmative program or activities to ameliorate the conditions of individuals and groups who have been previously disadvantaged on the grounds of gender.

The objective for the GSDM “Women in Business Workshop 2024” was aligned to the country’s theme and the International Women’s Day, “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress”.

The workshops were held in partnership with the GS House of Traditional Leaders aimed at encouraging and empowering women to utilize the skills they already have and learn more on projects and programs that will improve their lives, such as income generating projects, to give the women a platform where they will discuss and voice out their challenges and ask questions on issues that affect their wellbeing and how best they can bring together their communities to work on projects that will benefit them and contribute to the mainstream economy of the country, and lastly, to share business prospects and guidance on how to be their own bosses.

The workshops were held on 7 August 2024 at Emfumbeni Traditional Council in Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, 16 August 2024 at Kwa-Madabukela Traditional Council in Mkhondo Local Municipality and on 23 August 2024 at Lekgotla Traditional Council under the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality.

As we celebrate 30 years of democracy, GSDM remains committed to promotion of gender eqality and women empowerment.