Celebrating mothers in style

The value of a mother cannot be overstated, this is the word that was being preached at a mother’s day lunch hosted by Miss Soweto and White Star on Saturday, May 13.

On a day dedicated to women who have spent the better part of their lives raising their children, the guests of honour were treated to lunch and entertainment by former Jazz singer turned DJ Wanda Baloyi.

In a moving speech to her mother, Miss Soweto 2017 Busisiwe Mmotla said: “I was raised by a strong and hardworking mother, she has shaped me into the woman that I’ve become today and I’d like to thank her.”

Mmotla’s mother was a single and unemployed mother but she never felt it as she and her siblings always had everything they needed according to her. “I remember when I went to my first pageant, we didn’t have money but my mother made sure I had the most beautiful dress in that pageant. We walked the streets of Joburg looking for the most beautiful dress we could find, it didn’t have to be the most expensive but it was beautiful,” Mmotla said.

Daughters brought their mothers to celebrate as well. Nolwazi Magula (37) brought her aunt Sylvia Tshabalala (58) whom she considers her mother as her biological mother is in the Eastern Cape. “I came to Joburg in 2008 and my aunt took me under my wing, she has become a second mother to me. She means a lot to me and she supports me in everything I do,” said Magula.

The guests of honour were happy as they were showered with love and gifts alike. “I’m so happy, my daughter surprised me with this. It’s my first time getting entertained the way I have been today,” said Tshabalala.

The mothers also took important lessons about what motherhood is from other women and were happy to interact with other mothers according to Tshabalala. “It was nice sharing a space with other women and hearing what motherhood is to them because we never talk as mothers so this important,” Tshabalala concluded.