UKZN Extended Learning hosts Women’s Day event

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Travel your path with honesty, dignity and dedication, says founder of cancer awareness NGO, Sinomusanothando Community Development, Dr Thandeka Mazibuko.

Speaking at UKZN Extended Learning’s Women’s Day event, Mazibuko delivered an inspiring address.

Having built a successful career in the face of financial difficulties, she recalled eating stale, left-over bread as a child, just to get sustenance to go to school. “Education is the key to everything,’ she said.

An alumnus of UKZN, Mazibuko encouraged women to ‘rise above segregation, pressure in the family and poverty’.

She completed her Medical degree while looking after an extremely sickly son and also going through a divorce.

Nominated for South African of the Year, Mazibuko emphasised the importance of the early detection of preventable cancers (breast, colon and cervical) and of unity and maintaining a positive attitude.

Head of East Coast Radio’s Marketing department, Ms Renee Burton, entertained the audience, detailing her experiences in building a successful career, while leaving a legacy behind for her children.

Burton said stories of ‘everyday people battling everyday issues’ inspired her.

Entrepreneur Ms Pria Hassan said hard work, sacrifice and dedication were crucial to get ahead in business. Developing young women and surrounding herself with ‘people you would like to be like,’ were important to her.

Mahatma Ghandi’s granddaughter, Ms Ela Gandhi, reminisced about the past, highlighting the contributions made by women, some famous and some not-so-famous, to the liberation movement in the country.

She said the best tribute to women who ‘bore so much pain so that we can be free today,’ was to continue the struggle for a better life for all women in the country, including those in rural areas,

Ghandi emphasized the importance of access to medical care and education in the struggle for a better life for all.

Extended Learning’s Mrs Nashlene Maharaj thanked the guest speakers and her team for putting together a successful event.

Maharaj highlighted UEL’s customised courses which she said would be ‘game changers in careers’.

The event, with East Coast Radio’s Jane Linley as the MC, included entertainment by LIV Village Choir, a village for orphaned and vulnerable children, and UEL’s Ms Faith Ndlovu. Design houses Victor Kingdom Fashion and House of St Luke put on a fashion show.

Lucky draw prizes were sponsored by Independent Newspapers, Tiger Brands, Kotex, Turner’s Travel, Fairmont Zimbali Resort, Proverb, Nando’s, Intombi and Cabana Beach Resort.

 Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer