Ululation and cheers echoed in the air as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development hosted its Women Empowerment Programme in the Ukhahlamba Local Municipality, uThukela District on 29 August 2025. All the attendees looked vibrant as they honoured the theme of the day, which was Modern Makoti/Modern traditional.

The Head of Department, Mr. Zibusiso Dlamini, stated that the purpose of the event was to celebrate women in the Department, not only their excellent performance, but their contributions. He continued by saying that he was grateful to MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa for allowing the women to come together to express themselves about the challenges of being women in the workplace. He encouraged women to apply for leadership positions that are considered male-dominated because they deserve them just as much as their male counterparts. He also encouraged women working under the Department to continue to work hard and to stand together because without women, the Department is nothing.

MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa praised the attendees on their achievements and for consistently meeting the objectives of the programmes in the Department. The MEC encouraged women to take advantage of opportunities around them to better themselves, to advocate for themselves against being overlooked and harassed in the workplace. The MEC stressed that the younger generation of women within the Department need to be mentored for future leadership positions by the more experienced officials to carry on the work of the Department effectively.