SAPS celebrate women month
She urged the female members not to look down on themselves just because they are women.
LYDENBURG – The Mpumalanga SAPS commemorated Women’s Month with an informative event at Maartenshoop SAPS (Shaga) on Friday.
This year’s Women’s Month is dedicated to Charlotte Maxeke under the theme: “Generational equality: realising women’s rights for an equal future”.
Among the attendees were local pastors, the community policing forum (CPF), members from Lydenburg SAPS, representatives of the Mpumalanga Department of Safety and Security, award-winning gospel artist Dr Winnie Mashaba and the provincial traffic department.
As early as 06:00, the SAPS conducted roadblocks and stop-and-searches on the Sekhukhune Road.
They distributed pamphlets on crime prevention tips and abuse, and also encouraged female motorists to celebrate Women’s Month.
The event was informative and uplifting, as a variety of speakers shared their stories about gender-based violence (GBV), abuse at workplaces, successful marriages and tips on how to juggle parenthood and work.
Charity Dlamini of the Mpumalanga’s Department of Safety and Security urged women to be bold, smart and not let circumstances derail them from their God-given purpose.
She urged the female members not to look down on themselves just because they are women.
“Although you are in the field that was previously meant for men, it does not mean you cannot perform equally, if not better, than men. We are more capable of leading and bringing change in law enforcement. Let us believe in one another, and most importantly, in ourselves,”she said.
Mashaba said South African women have enough to deal with – patriarchy and GBV, and lack of access to business funding and education.
“It’s never too late to go back to school. You can still achieve some of your dreams. Let’s build our businesses and empower ourselves.”
Every August, South Africa commemorates the 1956 Women’s March during which over 20 000 women from various backgrounds and ethnicities marched on the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9 that year. The march was to protest against the pass laws.
