The Executive Mayor of the Joe Gqabi District Municipality (JGDM), Councillor (Cllr) Nomvuyo Mposelwa, who also serves as the SALGA National Women Commissioner, attended the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Women’s Commission (SWC) Lekgotla held on 12 and 13 November 2025 at Riverside Lodge in Maletswai.
Joining her was the district’s Chief Whip, Cllr Ruth Lengs, Finance Portfolio Head and District Women Commissioner, Cllr Unathi Hlathuka, and District Multiparty Women Commissioner, Cllr Nomfundo Mabunu.
The Lekgotla brought together National and Provincial SALGA officials, members of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), women councillors including Mayors, Speakers, Municipal Managers, Directors, and officials from both District and Local Municipalities across the Eastern Cape. Also in attendance were stakeholders such as Imbumba Yamakhosikazi Akomkhulu (IYA), South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID), Afsis Corplan, and the Department of Social Development.
Held under the theme “Breaking Barriers of Patriarchy and the Triple Oppression of Women as Gender, Class and Race, 30 Years After the Beijing Platform for Change,” the Lekgotla served as a platform to unite women leaders and reflect on the progress made in advancing gender equality within local government and communities.
Key discussions focused on revisiting the gains and gaps since the Beijing Platform for Action, tackling the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), exploring women’s role in political and economic spaces, and addressing patriarchy and tradition within rural municipalities. “As women, we tend to forget where we come from and we should always fight for transformation, representation, inclusion and participation in decision-making”, Cllr Mposelwa remarked and went on to say, “When women lead, communities strive”.
This gathering reaffirmed the commitment of women in leadership to continue advocating for transformation, empowerment, and gender parity in all spheres of governance and society.
