​​Kick-starting the Women’s Month on the high gear, women in Johannesburg have demanded the peace talks in the looting aftermath during the recent virtual dialogue.

The virtual dialogue dubbed the “Women’s Peace Table towards Renewing and Uniting South Africa,” was hosted by the Joburg Speaker of Council Cllr Nonceba Molwele on Thursday night, 5 August 2021.

“This month marks an important month in our calendar. August is the month in which we commemorate the iconic South African women, who fought in the struggle against apartheid. The list includes people like mama Helen Joseph, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Charlotte Maxeke to name but a few. Women month is the time we empower, honour and celebrate the beauty and strength of our women,” said Cllr Molwele.

The Speaker said it was important to reflect on the impact of the recent violence in the country on the society and economy.

Caron Kgomo said Johannesburg was also affected badly by the July looting in which 200 malls were targeted throughout the country.

“The clinics and pharmacies which are housed in malls were also destroyed, which further exacerbated access to health care. The recent looting has had the devastating impact on our society and economy, resulting in increased unemployment and negatively affected service delivery,” said Kgomo.

Nthabiseng Kwinana, the Acting Judge of the Gauteng High Court and the Deputy President of Lady of Peace Community Foundation said, women must mobilize to play the role to effect the change they want to see in their communities.

“We must teach people about what has transpired [the looting] in our communities. We need to sit around the peace table as equals. We must collaborate and each bring our expertise and skills. We need structures to ensure that what is taught filters through to the next generation,” said Kwinana.

One the young panelist, Celeste Diale, who is a PeacePod Director, Brand Architect, Concept Developer and Peacebuilder encouraged her peers to find innovative solutions to challenges in their communities.

Diale said the advent of Covid-19 had spurred her organisation to action, allowing it to connect with those who are hurting. She said they did this by establishing a WhatsApp chatroom to connect with those who need help.

“From the chatroom, we have expanded and went to the grassroots to connect with communities, listening to their needs…and really becoming part of the communities,” said Diale.

She said as young people they have developed and come up with Peace Podcast to connect with young people and start the peace conversations.

“We are asking young people to tag in, to come along and join the Podcast to learn and communicate and have solution based conversations,” Diale.

Larry Cooke said it was important for men to challenge stereotypes about women and change the negative narratives.

“We need young men to know it’s cool to fight for the course that is bigger than them, that they need to stand up for women. We need to ask men to do introspection and ask tough questions about what we’ve been taught and the narrative from the bathroom conversations,” said Cooke.