Women’s Day 2026
This Women's Day was incredibly poignant for me. I got to celebrate, along with my sisters, Keeya Mofokeng and Jean Zandile Mahlangu, the courage of a young writer living in Alex, who finally got the chance to tell her story - a story that was brave and true, and a story that is often hidden under the polite constraints of society across all spectrums.
A conversation that is often hidden, particularly in environments where therapy is regarded as strange and confusing.
For Lorreine Noko Lebeko to tell her story, a story that is often steeped in secrecy, was brave.
She finally got the opportunity, after six long years, to tell the story in a global book on Resilience, writing about how she battled severe anxiety and depression following the birth of her children, and having to seek out therapy, a therapy that saved her in so many ways. And in doing so, it birthed her courage to tell her story.
I was honoured to speak and I spoke about courage. The courage of 20,000 women to march 70 years ago against traumatic and incomprehensible pass laws.
To stand in silence for 30 minutes.
That is why this Women's Day was so poignant for me, because I got to witness one woman's courage to ignite her community.
Approximately 70 women attended, all dressed beautifully, in traditional dresses that spoke to the rich colours of Africa and the warmth of its people.
The Master of Ceremonies, Tebello Mashele, was wonderful, and the music so inspiring.
Keeya spoke beautifully about her journey from pain to purpose, and how telling her story in courage had shaped her life in new ways. It was another baton of courage.
Jean spoke passionately about taking up the baton of leadership after watching in the wings in silence for many years. She spoke about the conviction to make a difference in this country, and what being called truly means.
And finally Lorreine got to tell her story in real life, at times with her young son strapped to her back.
She spoke about the crippling effects of anxiety and depression, and losing her best friend under terrible circumstances that almost drowned her. How voices of sanity helped her feel less alone, and able to feel whole once again, to step back into life and create three new businesses, with her beautiful daughter Otlile, who is nine and so mature, supporting her in her businesses. Wanting to help other children in her neighbourhood by collecting clothes for them, a business called Otlile. Already a leader being lead by her mother.
It was an extraordinary story of courage and resilience, in the footprints of reality, defined by so many living on grants, living such tough lives. Yet these strong women remain joyful, and eternally faithful. A love amongst sisters. Dancing in the rythm of joy and celebration.
This day was about courage. It was about faith. And this day was about one woman sharing her story, so that others would feel less alone, less daunted.
We all came to celebrate that, in colourful joy, and in a refusal to let courage, community, collaboration and hope die.
Just as the women who marched in courage 70 years ago.
