This year marks the 68th anniversary of the agency and activism of the 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against the hated pass laws. To commemorate this defining moment in history as well as the 2024 Women's Month, the Unisa Women's Forum (UWF), in partnership with the South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID), held the 2024 Feroza Adam Memorial Lecture and the Unisa Women of the Year Awards.

The lecture, themed "The Government of National Unity as an instrument to achieve gender equality", was presented by Dr Gloria Serobe, Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and co-founder of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings (WHIPHOLD). Nontsikelelo Sisulu, Gauteng Community Safety Head of Department and the granddaughter of struggle stalwart Albertina Sisulu, was the event's programme director.

From left: Waheed Adam, Feroza Adam's brother; Nontsikelelo Sisulu, Gauteng Community Safety Head of Department; Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula; Dr Gloria Serobe, keynote speaker, Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology and co-founder of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings; Thoko Mpumlwana, Chair of South African Women in Dialogue Trust; and Prof Khanyisile Mbatha, Unisa Women's Forum Chairperson.

Holding her own in a kyriarchal context

In her welcome address, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor (PVC) of Unisa, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, stated that the university reached a significant milestone in 2021 when, she said: "I was appointed as the first female PVC of this pioneering institution in its then 147th history, indeed, his story, at the time. I am pleased to say that among our ten catalytic research niche areas identified in 2021, one speaks to the multi-faceted nature of women's experience: the Feminist, Womanist and Bosadi theorisations."

The PVC remarked that the National Women's Day in the country is celebrated annually on 9 August to honour the remarkable courage and determination of over 20,000 women who, in 1956, marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. "These brave women," she expressed, "were protesting the extension of the draconian pass laws to women. The laws were a part of the apartheid regime's oppressive measures, aimed at controlling the movement of the indigenous populations, thereby reducing them to passive beings at the mercy of the authorities."

The PVC stated that the keynote speaker, Serobe, is not a stranger to the university. "Her company," she added, "Women Investment Portfolio Holdings (WIPHOLD), a black women-owned investment company, funded the Unisa WIPHOLD Brigalia Bam Chair in Electoral Democracy in Africa in 2012." Furthermore, the PVC explained that the Chair played a critical role in the country's evolving democratisation and broadly influenced the elections on the continent.

LenkaBula further stated that Adam's considerable personal power and ability to communicate, organise and speak with conviction in public made her a force to be reckoned with, one who could hold her own in a kyriarchal context. "She identified as a feminist and political activist with pride. She possessed irrepressible optimism," said the PVC.

Embodiment of courage

Waheed Adam, brother of Feroza, spoke briefly of the life and times of his sister. "It has been 30 years since the tragic passing of Feroza." He said that Feroza was frequently arrested, tortured and came home bruised; "however, all these strengthened her resolve".

Adam stated that his sister will always be remembered as a brave woman, an anti-apartheid activist and politician who went far and wide to advocate for women's rights, adding: "She was the embodiment of courage, determination and commitment to social justice."

In her keynote address, Serobe commended the university for keeping Adam's memory alive by annually commemorating her values in hosting the event, uplifting other women and recognising their contributions in advocating for women in their respective offices.

Serobe stressed that Adam was a fierce opponent of apartheid and fought against gender discrimination. She said she was vividly active in politics throughout her youth. She added: "She was a living embodiment of the struggle that brought the democratic government to South Africa."

Addressing the event's theme, Serobe said numerous things would not have made Adam happy today, stating that voter turnout was around 58% compared to 1994's 86% turnout. "Voter turnout is a health check of democracy and its participation. Almost 12 million people decided not to vote for a country that fought for years to achieve this," she lamented. "Secondly, eligible voters – 30% of them did not register, particularly among the young." Serobe urged members of the audience to keep Adam's memory alive, not only to commemorate her but also to walk in her shoes.

Unisa 2024 Women of the Year Awards

As the programme drew to a close, UWF's Marketing Officer, Trudy Forbay, took to the stage to honour the 2024 Women of the Year Award recipients. These exceptional women were recognised across various categories for their outstanding contributions:

Unisa Women of the Year awardees, from left: Prof Meahabo Magano, Prof Deidre Byrn and Prof Modjadji Shirindi

Transformative Leadership

• Prof Meahabo Magano: For her transformative leadership, community service, and mentorship.

Significant Achievements

• Kedibone Thantsha: Contributed to the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) 's 2024 National Risk Report as an expert in the higher education sector. 

Community Service 

• Prof Deidre Byrne: Encourages diversity and inclusivity to empower and enable women's voices. She has helped to improve the publication criteria to enable deserving academics to get their work published.
• Lindelwa Makhanya: Advocates for women in the engineering and mining spaces. She is involved in the Phalaborwa Mining Company (PMC partnership with the university.
• Prof Modjadji Shirindi: Demonstrated high academic achievement by constantly contributing towards social work knowledge through research and book publications.

Courage in Adversity

• Prof Fortunate Silinda: Consistently pushed boundaries and embraced innovative approaches to enhance leadership outcomes, making a lasting impact on individuals and communities. Her leadership in drafting the mental health policy for the university displays her commitment to the well-being of the university's community.
• Dr Thuli Shandu-Phetla: For her consistent dedication to advancing women in her department.
  
  

2024 Unisa Women of the Year awardees, from left: Dr Thuli Shandu-Phetla, Claudia Fratini and Makuka Mathatho

Customer Service/Batho Pele

• Phore Lizzy Mareme: For putting people first and serving humanity with excellence.
• Makuka Mathatho: For showing humanity towards her staff and stakeholders.
• Jansie Soet: For her diligence in executing her tasks, displaying a positive attitude at all times, and good interpersonal skills.
• Nokuthula Lethlage: Described as an ambassador of customer service and the go-to person for students who walk in, call or send e-mail enquiries.
• Tsakane Raheem: Described as a quality assurance compass, she is the bridge between print production, academics and students.
• Malebo Mbalati: A cleaner who demonstrates selflessness. She stands out as the advocate and a pillar of strength for cleaners who want to voice their concerns to management.
  
  

2024 Unisa Women of the Year awardees, from left: Phore Lizzy Mareme, Tsakane Raheem and Nangamso Makgoba

And the Advocacy and Promotion of Women's Rights award went to Nangamso Makgoba. She is a professional quantity surveyor who constantly navigates the male-dominated industry to advocate for women. Her advocacy extends to shifting the organisational culture and ensuring more women are exposed to the construction industry's practices.

The annual Feroza Adam Memorial Lecture serves as a platform to reflect on the late activist's contributions and examine contemporary issues related to women's rights and empowerment. Serobe's insights into the GNU provided valuable perspectives on progress made and challenges since the dawn of democracy in the country.

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement