By Tshepiso Mogotsi
Friday saw the start of National Women's Month, with the holding of a Gauteng women's imbizo in Braamfontein.
The daylong talks looked at how the provincial government could make Gauteng a better place for women. Issues discussed included women's rights, economic empowerment, poverty alleviation, education and health.
"We will make every effort to ensure that women are prioritised as we deliver services, fight poverty, build infrastructure and transform government and the economy," the premier of Gauteng Mbhazima Shilowa said in a statement announcing the list of activities planned for Women's Month.
The imbizo is just one of the events to "celebrate women's achievements and roll back the frontiers of poverty" - this year's theme.
Other activities to take place during August range from visits to help farm workers register for grants and identity documents; workshops on HIV and teenage pregnancy; talks to police officers on women's empowerment and challenges to the criminal justice system; and workshops to create literacy awareness among women and children.
The Premier's Women Achievers Awards, a special project of Shilowa's, will be announced on Woman's Day, Saturday 9 August. "Too often women's contributions to society are not given due recognition. There are too many unsung heroines who have dedicated their lives to social progress," he said.
Some of the Women's Month activities in and around Johannesburg are:
- Friday 1 August - the Gauteng Women's imbizo begins at 8am at the Parktonian Hotel in Braamfontein.
- Friday 1 August - safety and liaison MEC Nomvula Mokonyane will address the centenary celebrations of the Cleveland police station at 2pm where she will talk on women's empowerment.
- Saturday 2 August and Sunday 3 August - auditions for the Puisano Jazz Music will take place from 9am at Mega Music, Newtown. These auditions are intended to identify and promote talent among women.
- Monday 11 August to 31 August - the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture department will host a craft exhibition at the Bus Factory, Newtown. This exhibition is part of a women's economic empowerment initiative.
- Saturday 16 August - the social services department will hold an information forum at 8am in the Finetown Community Hall, south of Johannesburg, on government services and programmes available to women living in informal settlements.
- Tuesday 19 August - the department of social services will host a workshop on women and substance abuse at Christ the King Church in Sophiatown at 9.30am.
- Saturday 23 August - the safety and liaison department will host a workshop at 9am at the Johannesburg Civic Centre, Braamfontein, on preventing violence against women and children.
- Tuesday 26 August - the construction of the Ikhaya Lethemba Centre for abused women and children will be launched at 4pm at the centre, De Korte Street, Braamfontein.
