Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka, the Executive Director of the United Nations (UN) and Dr Stergomena Tax, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will address Africa’s Webinar on informing, empowering women and enhancing gender equality taking place on Monday, 30 August 2021. 

In a historic turn, this week marks the end of both Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Dr Stergomena Tax’s second terms after holding senior positions as Executive Directors at the UN and in SADC respectively. 

The Webinar is hosted by the Government Communication and Information System in partnership with Brand South Africa and Binti Afrika Konnect.

August is celebrated as Women’s Month and it provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the generations of women whose struggles laid the foundations for the progress in realising a conducive environment which enables women to prosper. 

In line with gender equality goals, the emphasis will be on elevating the voices of ordinary women across sectors of society under the banner of “What Women Want”. This should in turn provide further impetus to strategic interventions which will ensure the radical transformation of gender relations and the political, social and economic empowerment of women, including young women and those with disabilities. 

The empowerment of women is about transformation of society, particularly the transformation of unequal power relations between women and men, and fundamental changes to institutions and laws. 

The aim of the event is to create a platform for various stakeholders and the media to exchange information on empowering women and achieving gender equality to achieve inclusive growth across all sectors.

Other speakers in the programme are: 

Ø  Ms Phumla Williams, the Director General at GCIS and Cabinet Spokesperson for the Republic of South Africa.

Ø  Ms Valerie Ndeneingo-Sia Msoka: A seasoned journalist from Tanzania. One of the Founding members of the Tanzania Media Women Association and Chairperson of the Tanzania ending Child Marriage Network. BintiAfrika co-founder and Western Afrika Editor 

Ø  Ms Mmabatlharo Nono Dihemo: Senior Gender Advisor at the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan, Women’s rights and minority’s rights activist and advocate for gender equality. Binti Afrika co-founder and Southern Afrika Editor 

Ø  Ms Hoden Musa-Ahmed: Research Officer and Binti Afrika co-founder and Horn Editor 

Ø  Ms Victoria Rowan: Media Strengthening Project Officer and BintiAfrika co-founder and Eastern/Central Afrika 

Members of the media are invited to cover the Webinar as follows: 

Date:             Monday, 30 August 2021

Time:             15:00 (Central Africa Time) 

Zoom link:    https://gcis.zoom.us/j/91062947889?pwd=S1lSWnVmSFhQcXlPT1BzSVBZMzF5dz09

Please RSVP to Ms Mpho Sekgaphola on mphop@gcis.gov.za  or send a WhatsApp message to +27 79 605 2659.

For more information, contact Mr Ayanda Hollow on holo@gcis.gov.za  or on +27 61 488 0634 or Ms Mmemme Mogotsi on mmemme@gcis.gov.za  or on +27 72 856 4288.

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GCIS)