Mall honours women making a difference in Vryheid
Scholtz said, 'We are here to celebrate phenomenal women – those who lead, inspire and uplift through their actions and stories.'
Nosipho Gcabashe, the mall's general manager, added, 'Leadership doesn't always mean a fancy title or office. Sometimes it's the woman wearing an apron, carrying a baby on her back, or running a stall at the taxi rank. That kind of leadership matters just as much and it deserves to be celebrated.'
Mayor Mkhwanazi also spoke about the role of women in the community. He acknowledged the challenges women face, including gender-based violence and unemployment, but stressed their strength. 'Women are the backbone of our communities,' he said. 'Many households in AbaQulusi are led by women because men have left to find work and never returned. Our mothers hold these families together, and they deserve our respect and thanks.'
Five women from the community – Chantel Barnard, Sue Coetzee, Cindy Mossop, Ayanda Mncube and Samantha Hayes – were nominated and shared their extraordinary and inspiring stories on The Vryheid Plug Podcast, hosted by Nonjabulo Nkosi. Two of the women who spoke were Chantel Barnard and Sue Coetzee.
Barnard shared her experience battling cancer for almost seven months while raising four teenage daughters. 'It was tough from the moment I was diagnosed until my surgery and chemotherapy,' she said. 'The kids had to grow up fast, but cancer won't define me.' She hopes more women will support each other in the community.
Coetzee, an audiologist at Vryheid Hearing Centre, spoke about her work helping people with hearing loss. She quoted Helen Keller, saying, 'Being blind removes you from things, but being deaf removes you from people.' Coetzee said it's rewarding to help patients reconnect with their loved ones through hearing aids. She encouraged anyone struggling with a disability to ask for help and not suffer in silence. 'Grace always finds those who need it most,' she said.
The 'She Leads Freedom' event celebrated the courage and strength of women in the community, and is set to become an ongoing tradition.
ALSO READ: ANC Women's League pickets as mayor appears in court
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
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