Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu and Miss South Africa 2016 Ntandoyenkosi Kunene march with more than 100 schoolgirls

At least 50 000 schoolgirls across South Africa were hosted today in offices and places of work as part of the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day® campaign.
The event at the Union Buildings honoured the 20 000 women of all races who marched to the Pretoria Union Buildings on August 9, 1956 to present a petition to the then prime minister J G Strijdom. In it they demanded an end to an apartheid law requiring women to carry passes. It is the 60th anniversary of this historic march, organised by the Federation of South African Women who challenged the idea that a woman’s place is in the kitchen, declaring it, instead, to be “everywhere”. Lillian Ngoyi led the march, along with other anti-apartheid legends – among them Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, Motlalepula Chabaku, Bertha Gxowa and Albertina Sisulu.
Said Suzette van der Merwe, Managing Executive Cell C Foundation: “We are astonished, and delighted, by the record number of partners who, by their participation, have opened the doors of learning and culture beyond the classroom.”
The Cell C Foundation has challenged all its participating partners – and every other corporate or organisation – to extend the one-day into several days, or a bi-annual, or a monthly commitment.
In order to grow this initiative into a meaningful movement, Cell C established a Girl Child Bursary Fund. In partnership with The Tomorrow Trust, the fund has 30 recipients from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds studying at various tertiary institutions across the country.
Cell C has also established a Girl Child Institute of Mentorship under the patronage of Dolly Mokgatle, Executive Director of Peotona Holdings. The institute matches Cell C female executives and senior managers with bursary recipients and is an important element of ensuring sustainable empowerment of the Girl Child beyond a “one-day” exposure to the working environment.
Other Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day® events that took place today:
Thuli Madonsela, Public Protector, once again took part in the initiative. Tshepiso Matsepe and Bontle Makula, whose interests lie in politics and the law, were hosted at her offices.
Basetsana Kumalo, businesswoman and co-owner of Tswelopele Productions, mentored Naledi Mogajane and Fatima Doucoure whose interest is television production and entrepreneurship.
Dolly Mokgatle, executive director of Peotona Holdings, met with Ziyanda Dlamini and Lebogang Ngwaradi, both who have a keen interest in business.
Ferial Haffajee, editor of City Press, hosted Nonhlanhla Ngcobo and Mpho Mahlape who wanted to learn about the media and writing.
Leave a Reply