The University of Johannesburg (UJ)’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi together with the Transformation Unit successfully launched the Women anthology on Thursday, 08 August 2024.

The launch event was attended by senior UJ officials, staff members, book contributors and invited special guests including Dr Barbara Masekela, poet, author and educator, who gave the keynote address, UJ Chancellor Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and celebrated artist Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi.

Prof Mpedi addressed the guests by honouring the men and women who contributed towards the book.

“This book is just the start, we are scratching the surface and we are going to continue to build. We say to others to continue to celebrate women, every second, every hour and every day, every month and every year.”

Prof Mpedi highlighted the need for men’s voices in the fight against injustices on women.

“Men are a problem but we are also a solution. Let us not just celebrate women in our lives but all women. At UJ we will continue to build on this.”

UJ Chancellor Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said the book was an initiative that brought men into a space where they were able to play a meaningful role.

“As an academic institution we are nurturing young minds and I hope we have young male students who are learning valuable lessons so that they will take it with them and make it part and parcel of their lives. We hope that this book, a tribute to women, will inspire many of you.”

Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka spoke to the students in attendance telling them to take up space and let their voices be heard.

“Nobody was born a leader. Leadership can be learnt. This book celebrates many of those women who showed up and made a difference, be that women.”

Prof Mpedi announced that the second volume of the book will be a collaboration between the UJ and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) next year

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, in her first public appearance, said she hoped to leave an indelible mark in her portfolio as a servant to the people and was especially happy to speak at an event that was celebrating women.

“As a woman, an African woman, we have so many barriers. I want to urge all women to never forget about the girl child. We need to hold each other’s hands and encourage other women to get educated. Educated women make better choices about their lifestyles and their bodies. Education sets you apart.”

Guest speaker Dr Barbara Masekela said the anthology covered a broad spectrum and uncovered the indivisibility of knowledge and wisdom.

“Through the various stories we are told in this book, we are transported to many places where we not only experience sudden insight but we are also gifted with an entirely novel understanding which sparks our imagination to see our worn, old world in a fresh way.”

The poet, author and educator said storytelling was capable of doing this and that is why it was important to promote reading and writing because ‘it renews our perspective even in those topics we think we know well and it adds quality into our thinking, attitudes and wellbeing’.

Dr Masekela reflected on South Africa over the last 30 years as well as women’s rights.

“The reason for this  book is to improve the plight of women specifically and to give more understanding of women’s acuity for sustaining the continuity of life itself and much more.”

Programme director, Dr Thebe Ikalafeng, facilitated the panel discussion with book contributors Vice-Chancellor of TUT Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, Prof Maria Frahm-Arp, Dr Alistair Mokoena, Prof N’Dri Thérèse Assié-Lumumba, Mr Mike Teke and Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya.

The anthology Women, edited by Prof Mpedi, delves into the multifaceted experiences of womanhood, exploring both the achievements and challenges that women face today.

The book features essays, personal anecdotes, and thought pieces contributed by prominent South African leaders, activists, scholars, and policymakers. These diverse voices provide a comprehensive understanding of the historical significance of Women’s Day, the progress made, and the hurdles that still need to be overcome.

This collection also includes contributions from esteemed leaders such as Prof Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand; Nonkululeko Gobodo, CEO of AWAKENED Global; Thebe Ikalafeng, founder of Brand Africa.

The book is available for R200 (hard copy).