By Levy Masiteng
The City of Johannesburg is marking Women’s Month with a packed August line-up of sporting events, leadership dialogues, business seminars and wellness activities in various parts of the city.
The programme will run under this year’s national theme, “Empowered Women Empower the Nation”, with a focus on celebrating women’s achievements and expanding opportunities for women and girls.
According to the city, the activities are intended to celebrate women’s achievements, promote healthy lifestyles, advance economic participation and strengthen social cohesion.
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“Women’s Month is an opportunity for us to celebrate the resilience, achievements and leadership of women while renewing our commitment to building a city where every woman and girl has access to opportunities that enable them to succeed,” said the city’s member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Thapelo Amad.
The programme officially started on Thursday, with the Community Sport Engagement Day at No. 3 Square in Alexandra, which is aimed at promoting wellness, teamwork and community participation through sport.
On 7 August, the city’s Transport Department will host a virtual Women in Transport celebration, bringing together women professionals and leaders to share their experiences and inspire the next generation of women entering the sector.
Sport will feature prominently throughout the celebrations.
On 8 August, 32 schools will participate in the Girls Football Tournament at Rabie Ridge Stadium. The city said the initiative was designed to promote girls’ participation in sport while restoring dignity through mentorship initiatives and the distribution of sanitary towels.
The tournament is being presented in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
Also on 8 August, women from across Johannesburg will participate in the Women’s Fun Walk and Dialogue at Westbank Park in Region E. The event will encourage healthy living while providing a platform for discussions about issues affecting women.
Women’s Day activities on 9 August will include a Women’s Netball and Cricket Event at Elkah Sport Stadium and the Provincial Women’s Celebration at the Field and Study Recreation Centre.
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The provincial celebration will be held under the theme “Empowered Women, Thriving Communities: Together We Build a Brighter Future”.
Community celebrations will also be held in Ennerdale to recognise the contribution of women to Johannesburg’s development.
The programme includes the Gauteng Women’s Tennis Championship from 8 to 9 August, a Women’s Day Netball Tournament on 10 August and the launch of the Waterfall City Half Marathon on 12 August.
A Women’s Empowerment Seminar for women entrepreneurs will take place on 13 August, followed by the Totalsports Women’s Race on 16 August.
Economic empowerment will also form a central part of the programme.
The city’s Department of Economic Development, through the Isiqalo Opportunity Centre and its partners, will host the Women’s Empowerment Seminar to support women entrepreneurs through networking, knowledge sharing and business development opportunities.
Residents will also have opportunities to participate in leadership dialogues, mentorship initiatives and wellness programmes, including Perfecting Her Game, Women Talk, the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo Women’s Day Dialogue and City Power’s Women’s Month Celebration.
The Empowa Women Leadership Summit will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and investors to advance women in leadership, innovation and enterprise development.
Other community-focused initiatives include a Women’s Day Tea Party, Healthy Lifestyle Aerobics, an athletics development stakeholder workshop and a literary celebration showcasing Johannesburg’s published women authors and aspiring writers.
South Africa commemorates Women’s Month every August in tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956 to protest against the extension of apartheid pass laws to women.
The historic march became a defining moment in the struggle against apartheid and for women’s rights.
“Through sport, entrepreneurship, leadership development, health and community engagement, we are investing in a more inclusive Johannesburg where women continue to shape our city’s future,” Amad said.
The city has encouraged residents to participate in the activities.
