Female Celebs Empowering Women in SA
Celebrating Women’s Day in South Africa often feels like a contradiction. How do we celebrate women in a country with high rates of gender-based violence and systemic issues that set women and young girls back?
These SA celebs are just a few of the people who are using their powerful platforms to shine a light on issues that are affecting women and girls. They’re also taking action by partnering with important brands and launching their own projects to change and empower the lives of women and girls. Check them out below.
Lerato Kganyago
The prevalence of period poverty in South Africa means 30% of young girls in the country miss school and fall behind in their classes. Amongst the celebrities who are fighting issues surrounding period poverty is radio DJ and television presenter, Lerato Kganyago. Lerato has used her platform to raise awareness about the problem and even launched her own brand of sanitary pads. Earlier this year, she hosted an online event where she gathered South African celebs to raise awareness around the issue and also gave them sanitary pads to donate to a charity of their choice.
DJ Zinhle
DJ Zinhle has always been about women empowerment throughout her career. From centering women’s needs in her beauty and fashion businesses to centering women in music and entertainment education. The media mogul has co-founded the FUSE Academy, a DJ school for women and also held the Pink Revolution Conference with the aim to empower women. Recently, she donated 2000 sanitary pads to five schools in the Eastern Cape and said that she hoped to donate more to other provinces in the country.
Nomzamo Mbatha
Nomzamo Mbatha is a celebrity known for using her platform to highlight social issues. Among other initiatives and roles, she has spoken on the need for quality education in her partnership with the Cotton On Foundation and she was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2019. Women empowerment is also a significant issue for the humanitarian. The ‘Coming to America’ star has recently partnered with Hollywoodbets to fund women-owned companies with R1.5 million.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron might be an A-List Hollywood celebrity, but she still seems to hold South Africa quite close to her heart. Earlier in her career, Charlize spoke out against sexual violence aganst women in the country in an ad that was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority. Today, she continues to voice her concerns about gender-based violence through her social media and through the Charlize Theron Outreach Project, an initiative to help sub-Saharan youth fight HIV,
Bonang Matheba
Bonang Matheba has been very vocal and active when it comes to women’s rights in her career. As powerful as she is, the TV personality has empowered other young women through the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund to help pay for girls’ tertiary education. In 2018, she stated that her goal was to send 300 girls to university by 2021.