Let us build a Limpopo where women leads, says Premier Dr. Ramathuba

Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba has called on residents to strive and build a province where women leads, win, produce and be heard in honor of more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings, protesting Apartheid Pass Laws and Urban Areas Act, on the 9th of August 1956.

She was addressing residents who gathered during the provincial government’s 2026 National Women’s Day commemorations.

The 70th edition of the Women’s Day was celebrated at Moses Monanyane Stadium, Ga-Monyeki outside Lephalale, in the Waterberg District on Sunday 09 August 2026 under the theme: “Empowered Women, Empower Nations.”- highlighting women’s role in economic growth, social development, and national transformation.

“To the young women of Limpopo, I say: do not let silence define your future. If you are from Ga-Masemola, Giyani, Musina, Marble Hall, Jane Furse or Lephalale, your dreams are valid. Pursue education, build businesses, lea with courage, learn skills, enter professions where women were once excluded. Become doctors, engineers, farmers, scientists, principals, entrepreneurs and public servants. The future does not belong to those who wait but it belongs to those who rise.” Dr. Ramathuba encouraged

One of the mandates for the Limpopo Provincial Government 7th Administration is to encourage women to participate in the economy through their involvements in sectors which were deemed not fashionable for them such as agriculture and constructions amongst others.

Notably, through the Department of Co-Operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), women are being supported to participate in construction, human settlements and infrastructure development.

Premier Dr. Ramathuba highlighted that government insists that women-owned and women-led enterprises benefit from projects in housing, building and related value chains.

“Women must not only live in the houses we build, but they must also build them. Women must not only benefit from development, but They must also help deliver it.

Women remain underrepresented in Senior Management Service (SMS) positions despite half of provincial departments still failing to meet performance targets.

Statistics reveal that majority of women still face unemployment, poverty and unsafe conditions while many rural women still struggle to access finance, markets, infrastructure and opportunity.

For this reason, Premier Dr. Ramathuba has called on government to exercise gender equality and permit women to lead at their respective departments.

She said each department must at least produce five women in Deputy Director positions, with the next badge being Assistant Directors.

“We need to mentor women with universities under certain programs. The goal is to empower women and tomorrow we want to see more of them stepping up the ladder and end up being Members of Parliaments’ or legislatures. We are all tributaries of great river of pain…flowing into one ocean spill over the wonders of love into one nation of love. Let us honor women of 1956 not only with words but with actions.” Dr. Ramathuba concluded