Women have been urged to stop merely talking about their rights and start taking action to bring about meaningful change in the workplace, communities and society.

The call was made by keynote speaker Sesi Mahlobogoane during Nkangala TVET College’s Women’s Day celebration at the Portuguese Hall, eMalahleni, on August 7.

The event was held under the theme ‘Celebrating the Power of Women by Promoting Gender Equality in the Workplace’.

Mahlobogoane challenged women to recognise their strength and use their voices to address issues affecting women and girls.

“Nothing can keep us down as women,” she said.

Opportunity to take action

Mahlobogoane emphasised that Women’s Month should not be viewed simply as a time for celebrations and commemorations, but as an opportunity for women to take action.

According to her, the commemoration of Women’s Month and TVET Month contributes to the social development of the country by encouraging people to play an active role in building better communities and workplaces.

READ MORE: Families appeal for shelter after heavy rain destroys Kamgewane homes

She called on women to become agents of change and to continue fighting for justice and equality.

“Women’s voices must not be heard only during commemoration time,” she said.

Mahlobogoane further challenged women to put their rights into practice rather than only speaking about them.

“Let’s start doing that, and let’s do it with our rights, not just talking about them,” she said.

She described empowerment as a collective journey, urging women to support one another and work together to overcome barriers.

Managing personal finances

Financial empowerment was another key focus of the celebration, with Nokuzola Tiwane, an Old Mutual facilitator, advising women to take control of their finances.

Tiwane said many of the challenges people face are linked to financial difficulties and encouraged women to become more disciplined in managing their money.

She urged attendees to plan ahead, prepare budgets and make responsible financial decisions.

Tiwane also encouraged women to learn to say ‘no’ when necessary and to make choices that protect their financial well-being.

She further warned about the negative impact of social media, describing it as a growing social problem that is affecting society.

Four families in Kamgewane, Ward 17, have been left homeless after heavy rainfall swept across the area on the night of August 10. The storm caused a large tree to collapse onto their houses.#witbanknews #witbank #Kamgewane pic.twitter.com/K1PXMBumT4

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) August 12, 2026

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