She spoke with confidence and poise as she introduced the speakers. The JSC Speaker, Junior Cllr Nitara Moodley, from St Stithians College, addressed the audience on what Women’s Day means to her as a teenager. “The obstacles are different, but the struggles are the same”, said Cllr Moodley.

​Nominations from various departments and entities were sought of frontline women employees in often overlooked positions. A general worker from one of the City’s clinics, Ms Daisy Grobler, was happy to be recognised as a woman of excellence.

She asked for a photograph with Cllr Da Gama and told him: “Speaker, I am about to retire and I am so excited that I will share this photo with my grandchildren.” She was referring to the certificate she was awarded to recognise her dedication to her work ever since she started working for the City.

The first guest speaker was Cllr Nikita Dellwaria, who spoke of women in leadership and the importance of the continued battle against gender-based violence. She related the story of having met the last-surviving leader of the 1956 Women’s Day March, Ms Sophie de Bruin. On meeting her, she said: “Miss Sophie de Bruin, I have a t-shirt with your face on it!”

The second guest speaker was Dr Prinitha Pillay, an esteemed medical doctor who has worked with Mèdicine Sans Frontièrs and now practices oncology. She spoke of the need for early screening in women’s sexual health. She also highlighted the importance of access to healthcare, mentioning that the public and private sectors need to do better in assisting women to screen for preventable diseases like cervical and breast cancer.

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“Women’s Day is about power,” she said, “screening for cancer is a gift. It is a gift you can give to yourself and to your loved ones.”

The event ended with every woman attendee being awarded a certificate of excellence and a gift in honour of this important day on the calendar.