Unisa’s first female principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng Lenkabula, says South Africa as a society must tackle gender inequalities in spaces of work and in family relations to realise the future the country hopes for.
Professor Lenkabula made the remarks while addressing the virtual 12th Annual International Women’s Day Event, organised by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and Unisa.
“We are reminded that as we imagine hope that it cannot be realised without inclusive futures where we foreground holistic gender equality and against gender-based violence which in South Africa which we have named as the second pandemic. It has reared its ugliness within these contending challenges of COVID-19,” says the professor.
“It is indisputable fact that both locally and globally the victims who are hardest hit by the huge devastation and trauma caused by COVID-19 are in the main women, especially African women,” she elaborates.
Professor Lenkabula’s address below:
The Motsepe Foundation will observe the day looking at the role women are playing in pandemic recovery as the country continues to battle the coronavirus.
The panel discussions will focus on health, women in leadership as well as youth perspectives.
Dr Precious Moloi – Motsepe shares more about the event:
Summit to discuss women’s COVID-19 experience
To mark International Women’s Day, here in South Africa, the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit will take on a guiding role, hinging the conversation on this year’s theme – Africa Reloaded: The Power of The Collective.
The COVID-19 experience has brought to light some harsh realities – the deepening inequalities that continue to be experienced by Africa’s women and the continent within the global economy.
It has also lit a fire in many.
Renuka Methil, Managing Editor at Forbes Africa and Forbes Woman Africa and Phiwokuhle Nyanda, renowned South African rugby player share more about the event:
