In contemporary South Africa, no other day on the calendar should hold greater meaning than 8 March. On this day, the world celebrates International Women’s Day, an observance of women’s rights and equality.
Africa still neglects women’s rights and equality
We still live in a continent that puts women below men in the work environment, at home and society in general.
The salary gap between male and female professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is still very much laughable and it is a concern President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to address as South Africa begins its chairship tenure in the African Union (AU).
“With the African Continental Free Trade Area coming into operation this year, we have an opportunity to ensure that women and women-owned businesses are able to meaningfully benefit from what will be the world’s largest common market for goods and services,” Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly newsletter.
“Just as there can be no real gender equality without economic emancipation for women, so too there can be no sustainable economic growth for any country unless women are full and equal participants,” the president said, in February.
International Women’s Day: 10 most influential women in SA
International Women’s Day is important in reminding leaders and the rest of the world that the Socialist Party of America’s protest for equality in New York 111 years ago holds greater significance in modern times because nothing much has changed.
Since we exist in the realm of music and entertainment in South Africa, our way of contributing to International Women’s Day will be to highlight the 10 most influential women in Mzansi.
This is not a ranking and the women listed below are not placed in any particular order.
Sho Madjozi
Boity Thulo
Bonang Matheba
Nomzamo Mbatha
Zinhle Jiyani
Pearl Thusi
Minnie Dlamini
Khanyi Mbau
Thando Thabethe
Connie Ferguson
