The Chair of Chairs in the City of Joburg, Cllr Colleen Makhubele hosted ‘Women of Influence’ event under the theme: Leading by Influence – Women Leading the Healing and Restoration of Africa. The event was held on Saturday, 14 May 2022 at Metropolitan Center, Council Chamber in Braamfontein.

This event was designed to celebrate Africa Month in the context of socio-economic emancipation: political cooperation, as well as women empowerment and the central role women continue to play in the restoration and repositioning Africa Continent.

Africa Month, the month of May, commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. Africa day, May 25 marks the beginning of a quest for the unity of the continent, political and economic emancipation of its people as well as cooperation.

Part one of the event started with a visit to one of the shelters in Hillbrow, No. 3 Kotze Street. The shelter under the wing of the City of Joburg Social Development shelters men and women, including children.

The Chair of Chairs, Cllr Colleen Makhubele was accompanied by the City of Johannesburg Mayoress in the Student Council and some of the Section 79 chairpersons in the oversight visit which saw Cllr Sarah Wissler sharing her touching story of family physical and sexual abuse that led to her brother being involved in drugs and later losing his life.  Through her resilience, she was fortunate enough to make it in life.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Nhlanhla Ndlovu could not let the leadership leave without sharing with them how much they appreciate the shelter and that it has revealed a new life to them to start life over again and be good men in society, condemning gender-based violence in all its forms.

Part 2 of the event took place at Reception Room at Metro Centre where the host, Chair of Chairs welcomed all the guests present and all other attendees for making time to honour her invitation.  She also acknowledged other guests who had joined online from Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries.

She explained the development of the City of Johannesburg, and how everyone came to look for gold and a better life in the City of Joburg. And how the population started to increase.  “We are all immigrants in the City, we all come from somewhere. We have Chinese, Indians, Europeans and others who came to settle in the City,” she said.

She spoke boldly of xenophobia amongst African people with the hostility and xenophobic attacks increasing.  She however, mentioned that she was speaking of the documented foreign nationals who are being left to die in the hands of the police. She strongly condemned xenophobia and violent attacks.

She invited provoking thoughts on how restoration and healing can be done. “Clearly we need to find a way of ending the scourge. Now that the chains of the oppressor are off, our hands and feet as Africans, it looks like we have been turned against each other. It is mostly women and children who bear the brunt.’ she end​ed.

Amongst the many guests who spoke, Prophet Shani delivered a moving speech with a message highlighting that God wants to use women to bring divine justice in order to bring healing and restoration to our continent, Africa. “God sees you woman,” she said repeatedly “the time for action is now” she ended.

An inspirational keynote address was delivered by the Programme Director of the day.  She is an Attorney, Best Selling Author and former TV host, Professor Pearl Kupe.  “Healing and restoration is holistic, it talks about our emotions, and physical needs means going to families that have no food and donating some groceries every week. Faith without work is dead. It is time for us to take action now by going to communities and facilitating restoration,” said Kupe.

“Africa has been branded as a place of primitively and not civil. “When I think of Africa I think of the respect she has for elders, ubuntu she extends to others, I think there is no other continent that is more civilized than Africa. Let us not judge nations or continents by the level of potholes it has. We need to fix people more than we need to fix potholes” she concluded.

Ms. Mathapelo Sipamla, Gauteng Regional General Manager at Old mutual was the last speaker who closed the session by sharing information to be a financially smart woman. “One of our mission and vision is to advance women and their growth in society” she concluded.