By Mthokozisi Mthethwa
Every year on 9 August, South Africa pauses to remember the thousands of women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in 1956, united in their opposition to the apartheid government’s pass laws.
In Komati Village, this year’s Women’s Day celebration brought that spirit closer to home, creating a space where women could remember those who came before them, connect with one another, support local businesses, and perhaps most importantly, take a moment to simply enjoy themselves.
Komati News Flash joined residents on Women’s Day as women from the area and surrounding farms gathered to celebrate through music, food, entertainment and conversation.
Honouring the women of yesterday and today
For organiser Phindile Gule, the celebration was about honouring the women who fought for freedom while also recognising the women who continue to carry the weight of their families and communities every day.
Gule said she was happy to be part of the team that organised the event, emphasising that while remembering the sacrifice of the women of 1956 remains important, women also deserve moments where they can step away from their everyday responsibilities and enjoy the company of others.
– Phindile Gule,
Women’s day event organiser
“As women, we work hard, and we parent hard, so sometimes it is refreshing to go out and have fun with other women and, even if it is just for a moment, put aside the responsibilities of home.”
Creating opportunities through community
For Gule, however, the celebration was not only about entertainment. It was also about creating opportunities for local people to make a living.
A number of vendors were given stalls to sell food at the venue, turning the celebration into an opportunity for small businesses to benefit from the gathering.
Gule said she hoped the vendors would walk away from the event having made an income, explaining that she believes communities can achieve more when people work together.
The importance of creating these opportunities is particularly significant in Komati, where the ongoing Just Energy Transition has changed the economic landscape and affected many livelihoods.
Gule knows this reality personally.
She remembers a time when she could wake up at 5am, prepare amagwinya and sell them on the streets, knowing there was a market for her products.
Today, although she runs both a food and cake business, she says making a living is not as easy as it once was.
The changing economic circumstances have, however, strengthened her belief that women need to support one another and create opportunities for themselves.
She encouraged women in Komati to stand up, work together and look for ways to build sustainable futures for themselves and their families.
That spirit of making the most of available opportunities could be seen around the food stalls, where the smell of braaied meat and freshly prepared food filled the air.
Residents queued patiently for plates of pap and wors, while soothing music played inside Gwababa Hall, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.
Finding opportunities in challenging times
Among those keeping the fires burning was young Sandile “Masanza” Mahlangu, who was helping to braai meat at one of the stalls.
For Mahlangu, staying active is important in a community where unemployment remains a reality for many young people.
He said he was happy to be helping and would rather keep himself busy than spend his days sitting at home thinking about unemployment.
– Sandile ”Masanza” Mahlangu,
Assisting with braaing meat
“Yes, there are no jobs, but as the youth we must also try to find opportunities for ourselves. We must go out and network.”
His words reflected another important theme running through the celebration, the need for young people to look beyond waiting for formal employment and make use of the opportunities available around them.
Music, belonging and sisterhood
Away from the food stalls, inside the hall, music provided another important part of the celebration.
Among the entertainers on the line-up was NTK wa Soul, a charismatic young DJ who said being invited to perform at a Women’s Day event carried special meaning for her.
Speaking to Komati News Flash, she expressed her gratitude for being included in the celebration and reflected on what it meant to stand among other women in an industry that can be challenging to navigate.
– DJ NKT wa Soul,
event performer
“This means a lot to me as a woman in this tough industry. Being among all these women makes me feel like I belong, and I will play from my soul.”
Her words captured the sense of belonging that was evident throughout the day, women gathering not only to be entertained, but to see, hear and encourage one another.
More than a day of celebration
For many of the women Komati News Flash spoke to, the celebration was ultimately about more than one day on the calendar. Beneath the laughter, music and food was a shared call to be heard, respected and treated with understanding. They spoke of the need for women to be given space to express themselves, to be supported in their businesses and ambitions, and to receive the same sympathy, love and respect that they so often extend to others.
Sometimes, resilience is also about gathering together, supporting one another, sharing a plate of food, listening to music and allowing yourself to enjoy the moment. And on 9 August, the women of Komati and other parts of Ward 4 did exactly that.
Click on the video below to learn more about the event.
