This Women’s Month, Health For Mzansi, celebrates the unsung heroes of our time – women-led organisations that are changing Mzansi, one community at a time. These trailblazing groups led by izimbokodo, fueled by passion, determination, and a commitment to justice, are redefining what it means to empower, uplift, and inspire.
Supporting widows through tough times
Dealing with the death of a spouse is already an incredibly challenging experience. As the grieving process unfolds, the burden often intensifies with family disputes over the deceased’s assets. Conflicts about property division, financial matters, and personal belongings can add layers of stress and anguish.
This complexity is one of the reasons Izwi Labafelokazi was established in 2008, by Jabu Hlophe and the late Nomusa Mbanjwa, both of whom were widows at the time, explains the organisation’s treasurer, Sanelisiwe Mabaso-Ndlhovu.
Mabaso-Ndlhovu says when women face the death of their spouses, even people who were not close to the deceased may come forward to claim a share of the estate. This sudden influx of claims can leave the women vulnerable and in urgent need of support.
“Many women find themselves trapped in challenging circumstances because they simply don’t have the resources or financial stability to leave,” she explains.
“This lack of economic independence often forces them to endure difficult environments, unable to seek the help or opportunities they need to change their circumstances.”
Sanelisiwe Mabaso-Ndlhovu
Izwi Labafelokazi focuses on women’s development by providing valuable skills. These include baking, hair care, gardening, dressmaking, and driving. Mabaso-Ndlhovu emphasises that the organisation’s origins are difficult to trace due to the passing of some founding members and the influx of new members in recent years.
Funded by the KwaZulu-Natal department of social development, Izwi Labafelokazi initially aimed to support widows but has since broadened its scope to assist all women in need.
By offering skills training, the organisation helps women create their own opportunities. Operating collectively within the UMgungundlovu District Municipality, the organisation fosters group-based skill development, benefiting the entire community.
They are also working on establishing a shelter for victims of gender-based violence, focusing on supporting women and children.
ALSO READ: Women’s health advocate: Nurse Natasha serves with heart
On a mission to empower women
The Activist Education and Development Centre (AEDC), founded in 2009 by Vuyiseka Dubula, is a feminist organisation dedicated to empowering women through skills development, economic advancement, leadership support, and fostering intergenerational dialogue.
According to Tantaswa Ndlelana, the programme Coordinator, the AEDC operates across several areas including Klipfontein, KTC, Gugulethu, Phillipi, Siyanyanzela, Vlei, Siqalo, Xroads, Khayelitsha – Harare, and Strand.
Recently, AEDC has expanded its reach to the Eastern Cape, with new areas of operation in Guvevu, Tsomo, and Ngcingwana in Dutywa. They have also partnered with the Melita Matiso Organisation in Queenstown to further their mission.
“Our objectives include facilitating access to higher education for women from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Ndlelana explains.
“We also offer vocational training in sewing, knitting, crochet, and gardening. These short- to medium-term measures aim to help women alleviate food and economic distress, especially in the context of high unemployment.”
Tantaswa Ndlelana
In addition to vocational training, AEDC provides leadership support and development for community leaders. This includes creating spaces for collective reflection, writing, and sharing tools to prevent burnout.
The organisation also focuses on health and community outreach to raise awareness, promote health literacy, and advocate for prevention strategies. They work with young girls to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid HIV.
“I hope that with time, we will be able to establish our own farm and clothing factory,” Ndlelana adds.
However, she says, “Despite our efforts, some women are reluctant to engage with our programmes, particularly in addressing gender-based violence, which remains a significant issue in various communities.”
ALSO READ: Why women outlive men: Check your health, mfethu
Helping to rehabilitate forgotten women
Cleo Jacobs from Cape Town founded Beauty Behind Bars in 2016, and it has since been an organisation providing hope to women living behind bars in rehabs, mental hospitals, shelters, HIV/TB centres, and orphanages.
This unique approach helps women regain their confidence and prepares them for a fresh start once they re-enter society.
“Beauty Behind Bars is a women empowerment charity organisation where we uplift women who are forgotten, neglected, and rejected by society. We provide free rehabilitation beauty skills to women in prisons and shelters, including abused women,” says Jacobs.
“Our main challenge is raising funds towards our prison projects. The community needs to be educated on prison reform and give second chances to ex-offenders who have been released from prison.”
Cleo Jacobs
Looking ahead, Jacobs envisions creating a halfway house or shelter for women released from prison who have nowhere else to go. “We strive to equip the women with beauty skills so that they can become self-sustainable and not return to crime.”
Uplift ‘broken’ women
Women At the Well Motivations and Project founder Zanele Shwane, a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment from Khayelitsha, Cape Town, shares how she has dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of women.
Reflecting on her 13-year journey, Shwane says, “It has been a beautiful journey of my life doing this around the lives of women; some are broken, and you will witness their healing process and journey, and you see them changing and becoming the better version of themselves.”
“We support women through our seminars, trainings, workshops, mentorship, and coaching. We do seminars for young girls, wives, single ladies, divorced, and widowed. We do networking for women in business. We also do camps and events.”
Shwane firmly believes that empowering women is the key to transforming society. “I always believe if a woman is healed, the nation will win. Women are incubators; they give birth to ideas; they are nature’s by birth.”
“I aim to see women transformed, healed, restored, and empowered. Women who know that they are fearless, beautiful, intelligent, and wise. Women who can start their businesses and survive through entrepreneurship. Women who can change their painful stories to success stories.”
Zanele Shwane
Despite the challenges they face, Shwane and her team remain committed to their mission.
“Our main challenge is the space to host these seminars and events and office space to arrange counselling sessions because we need to pay for venues, and sometimes we don’t want to charge a fee for people to attend.
“To overcome this, we have decided to donate as members through the organisation to pay for venues and other expenses.”
ALSO READ: From farm to pharmacy, Dr Mayimele is breaking barriers
Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.
