The Central University of Technology celebrated women’s month with a star-studded virtual event held on 19 August 2021, under the theme ‘Gender Equality’. The panel included winners of the 2021 Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans as well one of CUT’s youngest women in a management position.

The panel included Dr Anya Nowbuth, Medical Doctor at the Lusaka Apex Medical University in Zambia; Agripreneur and Director of Maliyeza, Ms Nandisa Mpanza; Managing Director of Media Beat, Ms Charita van der Berg; lecturer at the Department of Psychology at Unisa, Dr Koketso Tsebe; investigative journalist, Ms Aishah Cassiem and senior town planner, Ms Ntokozo Mchunu from the CUT Bloemfontein campus.

Facilitated by CUT Clinical Science Lecturer, Ms Charlene Geduld and Accounting Lecturer, Ms Daphne Mkhize the theme was centered around The Year of Charlotte Maxeke: Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future, commemorating the iconic South African women who marched to the Union Building in 1956, while embracing the changing narrative that young women are getting closer to achieving gender equality.

As a young investigative journalist, Aishah Cassiem addressed matters such as whether the appointment of women as ministers in parliament accurately reflects representation of women in our society. “I strongly believe that women have the capacity to lead. Gender equality is imperative to achieve the national vision that is promoting the advancement of women, but we still have a long way to go when it comes to women in power. As a society, we love the idea of women being in power, but we are still living in a society where men don’t like to be ruled by women. I truly believe that women occupying positions such as CEOs and Ministers are shattering stereos types. There will always be a struggle because we live in a society where some men differ,” said Cassiem.

Commenting on mental health of women in sports, Dr Koketso Tsebe, lecturer at the Department of Psychology at Unisa, said that more work that needs to be done. “Historically, South African sport has been solely focused on the physical aspects. I always say that sport has always been more psychological rather than physical without being bias. For one to be able to compete successfully in it takes great and strong and stable psychological variables such as motivation, being consistent. The role of psychology in this instance doesn’t not mean that it only comes in when there are challenges, it should be integrated as it can also enhance performance,” said Dr Tsebe.

Charita van der Berg, Managing Director of Media Beat added that young women are now the torch bearers of the struggle for equality. “We are the future, it’s up to us to shape the future of women in the way that it was shaped for us when the women marched to parliament. They started this process for us but it’s up to us to take it to the next step, it’s about being steadfast, believing in what you want and being relentless. We have to make sure that the girls who are the future have no limits to what they can do,” said van der Berg.

In closing, Dr Anya Nowbuth, Medical Doctor at the Lusaka Apex Medical University in Zambia talked about what can men do to help women equality. “Embracing what is called feminine characteristics, being sensitive, tender or gentle, which are sometimes frowned upon, man up or don’t cry. Taking these kinds of feminine characteristics and celebrate, value and encourage them. And to teach young boys and girls to value these characteristics, and together as a society we can manifest all the things discussed today and it will be a more meaningful and fruitful,” concluded Dr Nowbuth.

Watch the virtual women’s day celebration

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CUT celebrated women’s month with a virtual event under the theme ‘Gender Equality’. The panel included winners of the 2021 Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans as well one of CUT’s youngest women in management.