Safety and empowerment were the order of the day when the South African Council for Business Women (SACBW) Nelspruit held a networking session at The Bagdad Centre on May 10.

There were various speakers and each shared techniques on how to stay safe, and reminded the guests how to empower themselves.

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John Meintjes of ACS Spartan Security and the chairperson of the Nelspruit CPF, Luan Holtzhausen, an operational manager, Annelize Maré of Fire Control Security Services, and Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the award-winning spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Hawks, had something to share with the local businesswomen.

Meintjes spoke about what he saw and experienced in the streets and community in and around Mbombela. He said crime has escalated. According to him, in the past, if there were four hijackings in the entire Lowveld in a year, it would have been a lot.

He said these days it is about three or four a month. “We seldom hear of all the hard-working security officials and SAPS members who dedicate their lives. Most of them are divorced and estranged from their children because of the time they put in to fight crime.”

Maré showed the members techniques on how to extinguish a fire. “The first thing you do in an emergency is to keep calm. When killing a fire, start at the base.”

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Sekgotodi shared that it is important to remember that God can keep everyone safe. “I was once broken; in my brokenness I went to the Lord. We keep telling people to get empowered, but if you are broken, there is nothing you can achieve.”

If you would like to join the SACBW, email nelspruit@sacbw.org.