Council Speaker honours Joburg’s women of excellence

COUNCIL Speaker Vasco da Gama hosted an event at the Metro Centre to promote women of excellence in the City of Joburg on Women’s Day.

Johannesburg Student Council (JSC) Junior Councillor Thandolethu Gwebu, a 16-year-old from Parktown Girls High School, was the programme director.

She spoke with confidence and poise as she introduced the speakers.

The JSC Speaker, Junior Councillor Nitara Moodley, from St Stithian’s College, spoke on what Women’s Day meant to her as a teenager.

“The obstacles are different, but the struggles are the same”, Moodley said.

Nominations from various departments and entities were sought for front-line women employees in often overlooked positions.

A general worker from one of the city’s clinics, Daisy Grobler, was happy to be recognised as a woman of excellence.

She asked for a photograph with Da Gama and told him: “Speaker, I am about to retire, and I am so excited that I will share this photo with my grandchildren.”

She was referring to the certificate she was awarded to recognise her dedication to her work ever since she started working for the city.

The first guest speaker was Nikita Dellwaria, who spoke of women in leadership and the importance of the battle against gender-based violence.

She related the story of having met the last-surviving leader of the 1956 Women’s Day March, Sophie de Bruin. On meeting her, she said: “Miss Sophie de Bruin, I have a T-shirt with your face on it!”

The second guest speaker was Dr Prinitha Pillay, a medical doctor who has worked with Mèdicine Sans Frontièrs and now practises oncology. She spoke of the need for early screening of women’s sexual health.

She also highlighted the importance of access to healthcare, mentioning that the public and private sectors need to do better in assisting women screen for preventable diseases like cervical and breast cancer.

“Women’s Day is about power,” she said, “screening for cancer is a gift. It is a gift you can give to yourself and to your loved ones.”

The event ended with woman attendees receiving a certificate of excellence and a gift in honour of this important day on the calendar. |