KZN Public Works Southern Region held a mother of all Women’s Day Celebration

Written by Bheki Khawula.

Photos by Neliswa Nhlabathi.

                                     

On Wednesday, 31 August 2022, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Public Works Southern Region concluded August (the women’s month) with a mother of all Women’s Days celebration. This very special event was held at hired event venue in Pietermaritzburg 65 Victoria Road called Candles & Décor. Even though the warm sunny weather day was suitable for an out-door gathering, this special event was held indoors. Inside this top-class event venue was a neat decoration, lights on the ceiling and walls, tables set in an attractive classy style on both sides of speakers’ centred table. All women who came to attend this were nicely dressed, most in colourful dresses and beautiful shoes.

In welcoming all the attendees on behalf of Miss Nokwanda Dube, Mrs Cebile Buthelezi (uMgungundlovu District Officer) narrated that in 1956, women came together to fight against the oppression of the apartheid system. She said that this gathering is all about women reminding each other about their importance in the society. “The need for women to gather together was born from the need for them all to benefit from one another and also to share personal experiences with each other.” Continued Cebile. She referred to the story of Adam and Eve from the bible where Eve convinced Adam to eat the fruit in the Garden of Eden. She said that women have that power to convince and deceive their men.

Ms Nomathemba Dindi from SANLAM Financial Management encouraged women to convers on how to better manage their finances. “If this is correctly done, women will be living a happy lifestyle and their families will be happy and financial stress free as well.” Emphasized Nomathemba. She advised women to always budget. “By so doing, women will be living beyond their means. She warned fellow women against the danger of taking multiple funeral covers without budgeting some money for investments. She pointed this out as one of downfall basis for many women who find themselves in financial difficulties.

Nomathemba discouraged women from being financially dependent on their male partners. She said that this is most times a reason that exposes women to gender-based violence perpetrated by their male partners. She advised women against taking unnecessary loans. “Some women find themselves submitting to the temptation of taking a new loan in order to use that money for paying the older loan. There is no financial sense in so doing. Instead of decreasing the financial burden from your shoulders, it adds even further but this time, an additionally heavier load and this further exacerbates the problem by putting you in deeper financial problems.” She said that this is mostly a cause for financially related stress.

Dr Yvonne Mncube from Mar;-eh Aesthetic; Mental and Skin Health said that events like this are not supposed to take part just once a year but more often, instead. She said that women juggle so many hats. In the process, they put their needs last. This further disadvantage woman. She advised women that too much of anything is lethal and she discouraged them against unreasonably overloading themselves. Mzilankatha pointed out that sometimes some women do not look the way they like. Her advice was that a proper control can be affected by correct diet. She was referring to the physical and facial structure, appearance and arrangement. “You are what you eat!” Said Dr Mncube.

                                     

She uttered advisory words for young women born after year 2000. She told them to live a healthy lifestyle. She advised them to take their age period as the most appropriate time to start thinking about family planning. She also reminded all sexually active women to always go for their annual peps Meer. She said that cancer grows very fast in one’s body and that one-year period may not be sufficient enough but it is recommended rather than a period longer than a year or even not testing at all. She advised all women to always do their Brest lump examination every month. “The advantage of examining breast every month is that strange formations or lamps in the breasts can be detected or observed very early in the stage.” Advised the doctor.

Dr Mncube further advised women to only use skin products that which is suitable for their skin. She said that regular basic exercising habits may delay the definite aging characteristics.  Dr Mncube educated women about blood testing, the importance of testing blood sugar levels, the importance of checking blood pressure and the importance of testing for cholesterol.  She also advised ladies in the 40s upwards to start preparing for menopause.

Miss Thandeka Msomi (Acting Deputy Director Assets “Fleet Management“) started by praising the women for their beautiful look. She chanted the chorus Ngizolibonga elakho igama and recognised, thanking all the speakers who came before her. She said that the women are a complete creature and there is no reason for any woman to feel belittled. She said that women do often find themselves in pressurising situations as a result of difficult situations that which women find themselves in. Thandeka said that women are more often forced to give more than they have. “Be it as it may, they remain the best in everything they do.” Said Thandeka.

Miss Msomi advised women to exercise togetherness and support one another during trying times. She advised them to set aside special time for crying, that is when the circumstances necessitate. She said that this is the best therapy, helping one to deal with among other things, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Progressively, Miss Msomi warned women against crying and doing nothing in terms of facing their problems and fears. When speaking about the expectation of women to be resilient, she advised women to trust in God for all solutions to their problems, no matter how big or small it may seem.

“Women are solutions based, dependable and they do not give up.” Said Miss Msomi, giving praises to well-deserving women. Furthermore, she advised women to learn to forgive unconditionally because packing grudges does not help. In conclusion, she pleaded with them to avoid staying in toxic relationships.

Miss A. Mngadi (Group Executive Corporate Affairs) from Hulamin Women Empowerment began by defining the concept “empowerment” as that which grows us from day to day. “Empowerment is a journey that one walks as an individual and not as a group.” Continuing Miss Mngadi. She quoted the bible saying that God knows the destiny of each and every one of us as individuals. “Goodness and wisdom that which is revealed to us as individuals is empowerment.” Remarked Miss Mngadi. She said that empowerment is not automatically linked to success. She asked women to live their lives consciously and be at the present tense and moment, not in the past.

                                     

Mrs Zamachunu Ndebele thanked all speakers for their positive participation. She reminded all women to please exercise authority granted by God to them. She reminded them the purpose of them coming to work on daily bases. She asked women to always be productive and multiply whatever given to them. She told them that they need each other no matter the level they occupy at work. She requested all women to take very good care of themselves.

                                      

In conclusion, Mrs Ndebele led Southern Region women in reciting their Pledge. They pledged to stand up to injustice, to support diversity and equal opportunities for all women, to challenge prejudice, to empower women to unite in the face of equity, to stand up against hate, to empower women to elevate themselves and others to be courageous, to empower other women to live their lives as they choose and to challenge favouritism.

Message from the MEC


 

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