When I saw that the theme for this year’s Women’s Month is ‘Celebrating 30 years of Freedom Towards Women’s Development,’ I was struck by how painfully slow our journey to equality in South Africa has been. But we must not lose heart. Let us keep striving for equality, and may our efforts be acknowledged and rewarded.

It’s time for us to move beyond surface-level assumptions. Women contribute significantly to every aspect of life, from the economy to the education of our future generations. Those who belittle women have no place in leadership, especially in our community. Their actions harm our community’s well-being and should be met with the same disdain that they show towards us. We must not turn a blind eye to injustice; standing up to it is a fundamental part of our nurturing state, ensuring our survival and the prosperity of our communities.

I want to express my gratitude to all the women in our team who support each other in countless ways, and to the men who understand the importance of equality. Let’s pay homage to all the mothers, sisters, and daughters, and treat them with the respect and kindness they deserve.

Thank you to the ladies who comprise 59% of our diverse, smart, intelligent Creation team. Happy Women’s Month! Let’s take all the opportunities we can to improve our situation.