Photo: From left: Ms Gloria Pule, Deputy Campus Director: Welkom Campus, Ms Jacqueline Pietersen, Deputy Director: Alumni Affairs, Ms Karabo Mamogale, Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sally Dzingwa, Institutional Registrar and Ms Kwena Mageza, Senior Director: Legal Services.

National woman’s Day draws attention to significant issues that African women still face, such as inadequate access to education, employment opportunities, sexual harassment, salary disparities, gender-based violence and workplace discrimination.  

Central University of Technology’s Welkom Campus hosted the Women’s Day celebration on 11 August 2023 under the theme “Women and Health.” Different speakers reflected on the challenges and progress made and also celebrated the acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who took part in the struggle.

Dr Sally Dzingwa, Institutional Registrar, said that CUT management is committed to developing women through Next Generation Women in Leadership (nGenWiL)programme, which focuses on promoting gender equality and empowering women for leadership roles. The programme aims to build high-performing women employees and offer development and support to enable them to gain critical skills, knowledge and qualifications needed to complete leadership roles as they become vacant. “This event is a significant undertaking by the university to recognise that women’s health also constitutes their rights. The appointment of our first female Vice-Chancellor is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to develop and empower our women and provide them with support to flourish and prosper in their endeavours,” she added.

She further encouraged CUT women to share their success stories and be celebrated for their achievements.

Photo: CUT incredible women dancing to the Zumba moves at the Woman’s Day Celebration.

Ms Karabo Mamogale, guest speaker and Clinical Psychologist from Mediclinic, Welkom, spoke about the importance of mental health.  Her emphasis was based on the mind, body and soul. She said that a person has three components -spirit, soul, and body- forming part of understanding ourselves. “A whole person has personal and professional lives that interconnect with her mental, physical, and spiritual components to influence and interact with each other. The physical part is our bodies, which we must take care of; the spiritual component is our connection with religion, and the soul is our hearts, where most decisions are made.”