The Vhembe District Municipality planned several events in the region to celebrate Women’s Day.

The celebrations started on Wednesday (6th) at the Makhado municipality. More than 100 women were expected to clean a local orphanage centre in the Bungeni area in an effort to highlight the challenges experienced by women in the 20 years of democracy.

The district municipality spokesperson, Mr Matodzi Ralushai, said during this month the municipality would engage several stakeholders to tackle challenges that women were facing. He said the municipality increased its efforts to engage more women in the district. The municipality has several programmes throughout the year to empower women, he added.

“We always have workshops to provide economic opportunities for women, entrepreneurial competitions within the district and we also urge women to do business with the municipality, and this will empower them,” he said. 

The provincial government will host Women’s Day celebrations at the Tafelkop Stadium in the area of the Elias Motswaledi municipality in the Sekhukhune district tomorrow (Saturday). During the day, government departments and the local municipalities will be exhibiting and rendering services to the members of the community, with the main focus on women empowerment.

The Premier of Limpopo and the members of the executive council will also attend the celebrations.

The spokesperson for the provincial government, Mr Phuthi Seloba, calls on members of the public to attend the event. “The event is centred on women empowerment and it is important for women in the province to attend,” he said. 

Next Saturday (16 August), the district municipality, in cooperation with the Musina municipality, will host a Women’s Day celebration in the Nancefield community hall, and on 22 August, the Thulamela municipality will celebrate the month during an event in the Thohoyandou town hall.

The main district event, which that will close the month’s celebrations, will take place at the Thohoyandou Arts Centre. At the time of going to press, the date was yet to be confirmed. The co-ordinator, Mr Khathutshelo Mapholi, said the event would be an opportunity for women to discuss issues that affected them. “Our women will debate issues that impact on their lives, especially about opportunities for them. This will include women in politics, women in government, economic empowerment and financial independence,” said Mapholi.