Street hawkers and self-employed women from the Vhembe District, who formed their own organisation to uplift women, hosted a business shower at Makonde Shadani on Saturday, 16 August.
The group, called Entrepreneurs in Town and Business Showers, is made up of hawkers who sell food, fruit and vegetables in and around Thohoyandou. They have since expanded to areas such as Makhado and Blouberg. Their main aim is to empower women socially and economically, enabling them to create jobs for themselves and reduce financial dependence on their partners.
Spokesperson Vuledzani Nevari said the organisation, launched in May last year, had already supported at least 16 members. "One of the causes of gender-based violence, which affects women more than men, is financial dependency. Creating a platform that allows women to earn their own income helps them become self-reliant," she said.
The organisation also wants to attract unemployed women and encourage them to become hawkers. "We are engaging with companies to assist us with financial resources to train more women and equip them with the skills to start their own businesses," Nevari said. She added: "It is unfortunate that we live in a country that does not seem to care about the poorest of the poor in our communities."
Asked about their contribution to Women's Month, she said the initiative was also a way to honour women who had advanced empowerment in South Africa. "The late Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu proved that women can raise and feed their children single-handedly. Their husbands were in prison, yet they worked tirelessly to educate their children. That is exactly what we aim to do," she said.