Women supporting women is a beautiful thing

Betz entered the competition because
it supported the platform to stop domestic
violence and abuse against women and
children.

“At the beginning of the year the Lord
planted a seed in my heart that He would
use me to change women’s lives and that is why I started the journey,” said Betz. She
has never entered a beauty pageant before
undertaking this journey.

On Saturday October 23 she was named
as one of the top seven finalists.

They were announced during a Mrs Universe South Africa workshop at the Protea Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.
It was hosted by Anel de Swardt, chief
executive officer (CEO) of Mrs Universe
SA.

To further her passion for giving back
and changing lives, Betz hosted a Women
of Worth Ladies High Tea for gender-based
violence tea.

This took place at the Liefdeskraal
Wedding Venue, outside Lydenburg on
Saturday November 27.

Guests were dressed up in beautiful
summer dresses and stylish hats. They were welcomed with a glass of non-alcoholic champagne, candy floss and gift bags.

A cheque of R10 000 was handed
over to Charmaine De Graeve, from the
Jethro Group, and Hester van Zijl, Step
Foundation.

Betz has been networking with businesses
over the past few weeks and asked for donations.

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“We help the victims of domestic
violence, gender-based violence, intimate
partner violence, female genital mutilation,
and human trafficking. Sometimes we
offer to counsel them and sometimes we
place them in safehouses. We never place
victims in the same province. Safehouse
locations are a closely guarded secret so
perpetrators cannot find their intended
target. We work with a task team from
Sun Security. Gawie Stols and his team
are amazing. I sometimes need protection
as some houses I go into are particularly
volatile. From there Hester van Zijl and the
Step Foundation assist us with clothing,
food, and sanitary products. Sometimes
drug tests are done. Victims must be sober nefore they will be allowed into safe
houses,” said De Graeve.

The Step Foundation feeds nearly 300
underprivileged people in Lydenburg every
day and has programmes to support and
rehabilitate them.

“Women are beautiful and more precious
than rubies. We are all survivors. We need
to say no to staying silent about violence
and abuse. We need to stand up for each
other. We need to believe in each other.
If you are being physically, mentally, or
emotionally abused or raped there is help.
There is always help. This tea is also to
support women and children who are
being abused or raped. Jethro and Step are there to help victims in Lydenburg and the surrounding areas. Women supporting and loving women are so powerful,” said Betz.

The grand finale for the Mrs Universe
SA will be in February 2022. Please keep
voting for Heidi Betz, SMS ‘Heidi Betz’ to
35223, SMS bundles do not apply.