Women’s Leadership Reflection Conference

Author: Abigail Webb, Secretary of SASSWA.

SASSWA hosted a Women's Leadership Reflection Conference on the 30th of September 2021, reflecting the prior month's celebration of Women's Day. Sixty-six years prior, four courageous women, Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Sophia Williams De Bruyn, led a march at the Union Buildings protesting passes for black women. Women of different races, yet united in their hearts for advancement for women and united society.

The speakers of this conference represented women of different races and fields who are united by their pride in being women. A Paralympian, Louzanne Coetzee, recently breaking the Africa record and obtaining two medals at the 2021 Paralympics, spoke on her inspirations, experiences, balanced lifestyle, endurance, commitment, and the advancement of the disabled community in South Africa.

Our second speaker, a recently elected Judge of the Supreme Court, Judge Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana, spoke on mentorship, her inspirations, reflecting on the women's march and on the advancement of women and young people no matter where they lead from.

Our final speaker was the previous president of the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI), Dr Varoshini Nadeson. She specifically spoke on the social work profession, her inspirations, and the importance of women's empowerment in such a predominantly female profession.

The conference inspired all who listened and even was left with a challenge from Judge Mabindla-Boqwana to another student-led conference and initiatives by the next generation.