South Africa’s pursuit of equity in male-dominated spaces require women leaders who are unapologetically women instead of women leaders who mimic their male counterparts, according to Wits Convocation president Kgomotso Mufamadi.
Womens Appreciation Event Panel: Wits University Masters student,Karabo Damane,Ayanda Ntanda, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Head of risk management,and Ms Baleka Mbete, former speaker of parliament,and Kgomotso Mufamadi Wits Convocation President. Photo: Milton Makgothoma
- Wits students, and alumni gathered at Solomon Mahlangu House to discuss the importance of representation across all disciplines
- The event encouraged of a reimagining of representation, and what that looks like for women in leadership
- The event encouraged young woman to occupy spaces as their whole selves, instead of compartmentalizing and code-switching per environment requirement
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In recognition of Women’s month, the Wits Post-Graduate Association (PGA) office, in collaboration with Wits Alumni Relations, and Wits Doctoral Academy hosted a women’s month appreciation event aimed at celebrating women leaders on August 29th at the Film and TV cinema at Solomon Mahlangu House to unpack the importance of meaningful representation across disciplines and sectors.
Among the panel was Ayanda Ntanda, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Head of risk management, Kgomotso Mufamadi Wits Convocation President, and Ms Baleka Mbete, former speaker of parliament.
Karabo Damane opened the evening with a powerful chant “Igama lamakhosikazi malibongwe”, translated to ‘May the name of women be appreciated, and thanked’, aimed at giving meaning to the Women’s Appreciation event.
Damane then shared that while representation politics continue to form part of an integral part of breaking down barriers, South Africa still grapples with an impactful reimagining of women in leadership positions.
Honourable Mbete argues that representation is but a consequence of people not being left alone to exist as they were, “I would have wanted to continue with what I came across when I was five years old… my father playing the piano, teaching me songs”, she said.
“Even with what you are referring to as representation politics… we have been grappling with racism, sexism, and you had feminism to grapple with sexism. All of that was in aim of something that was an agenda coming from elsewhere”, she continued.
Damane then segued into a discussion of what this activism could look like for women in a patriarchal society, where they are constantly pushed to be activists. Mufamadi believes it is quite simple. “One of the things we need to think about is reimagining work because we have imported what work should look like…and we have compartmentalized ourselves in this way, and its restrictive because at some point there appears to be some choice we have to make between our families and our careers”, said Mufamadi.
She shared an anecdote about her boss at one of her first jobs allowing her to leave earlier at work because she made use of a taxi, and often her working hours were quite long. She shared that this often came across as special treatment to her colleagues who had cars, not acknowledging that that provision allowed her to continue working from home. This is an indication of what reimagining work for women to simply exists as all their roles could look like.
The evening ended in a series of storytelling from their audience of how they continue to exist as young ladies in their professions in a way that does not mimic their male counterparts.
As storytelling continued to emerge from the audience, the central message to young women is clear: lead as women unapologetically, because impactful leadership requires authenticity.
FEATURED IMAGE: Womens appreciation panel. Photo: Milton Makgothoma
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