It was all glitz and glam with a touch of traditional outfits on Friday, when 5 of our veterans had their send off.
These are the women who put down the foundation on which Masimanyane was built on. The 28 years of blood, sweat and tears of their hard work was not in vain. Today, Masimanyane boasts 2 offices in both EL courts, VEP offices in Police stations, a shelter, offers services to 2 TCCs and has led hundreds of marches and campaigns against GBVF.
They started the work together with the Executive Director, Dr Lesley Ann Foster, when there weren’t many organisations fighting for women’s rights, particularly black women’s rights. The new South Africa was only 2 years old and was still reeling from the scars of the apartheid era where black women were deeply marginalised and discriminated against when the organisation was founded.
We saw them not only standing up for themselves but the millions of women around the world who are marginalised, women who are survivors and victims of gender-based violence and femicide. They found themself making presentations and representing women in global stages in front of world leaders and activists.
Thank you for your service maqobokazana!
Their peers who have long since retired also shared words of wisdom and their experiences of the new journey the new retirees were about to embark on.
Mentioning the importance of exercising and staying active, taking walks, taking care of their gardens, starting a new hobby and becoming a Sunday school teacher.
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