Page 45 - Winning Women 2017

BWASA 45

The phenomenal Wendy Luhabe has

NO GRUDGES,
NO

REGRETS:

GAYLE EDMUNDS

t Emoyeni in Parktown on a
sunny Joburg winter’s day, 60
Awomen gathered to celebrate
businesswoman Wendy Luhabe’s 60th
birthday – and her living legacy in the
space of women empowerment.
The June 2 luncheon, organised by the
Businesswomen’s Association of South
Africa, was an inspiring affair with an
array of speakers from across the
spectrum who echoed the words of the
MC, Sasol’s Nolitha Fakude, who said:
“She is phenomenal because she is
courageous ... she’s phenomenal because
she is an overcomer.”
Fakude ended a glowing speech with
perhaps the most evocative feminist
anthem of them all – Maya Angelou’s I
Rise: “We rise because you have risen
for us.” The room erupted into applause
and the tone was set for the event.
The room boasted power players such
as Travel With Flair’s Johanna Mukoki,
67 Blankets’ Carolyn Steyn, Barclays LIVING LEGACY The Businesswomen’s Association’s luncheon for Wendy Luhabe
Africa’s Happy Ralinala, presidential PHOTOS: GAYLE EDMUNDS
hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
and the representative for UN She went on to praise Luhabe for her
Women’s SA multicountry office, commitment to the cause of women.
Anne Githuku-Shongwe. “You are one of the greatest role models
Dlamini-Zuma kept a low profile, we have ever had. We salute you.”
sitting next to the guest of One of the luncheon’s most shareable
honour and posing for an array of moments was when award-winning jazz
selfies, but otherwise staying off performer Nomfundo Xaluva invited
the podium. actor Rami Chuene to accompany her in
The guest list also emphasised a song. Chuene, in turn, invited
the next generation of leading superstar Judith Sephuma.
women, with Luhabe’s adopted Soon the room was standing arm-in-
daughter Maruva Munyati arm, singing and crying and celebrating
expressing the sentiment shared the unity that every speaker had
by the room: “May the seeds of called for – for women to rise, to
generosity you have sown over again evoke the everlasting Angelou.
your lifetime be a harvest for your Luhabe reiterated the call for
children’s children and their children’s women to stand in unity: “Our
children.” women are being called to do what
Others who spoke included two young needs to be done in light of what is
women heading up the newly formed going on. I wake up every day to
student chapter [See Page 30] of the [hear of] another dead woman
Businesswomen’s Association, Itumeleng somewhere.
Makgato and Boikutso Mokoto. “Mothers, be mindful parents of
Referring to the book Women Who what kind of boys we are bringing
Run With Wolves, they said they hoped into the world ... what kind of
to head “a pack of young wolves to take girls.
on the challenges we face”. “We want to live in an equal
Farzanah Mall, the president of the world; they won’t find their way
association, said “adversity is increasing there on their own.”
for women across South Africa” and she that this year’s theme for The joke of the event was how
said the association was getting more Businesswomen of the Year Awards, youthful Luhabe looked, which she
and more calls each day for help. women with no filter, spoke to how it is attributed not to the knife, her diet or
Mall, whose term at the association “up to us women to mobilise”. the gym, but to a “peaceful heart”.
ends this year, has been part of the “Unity matters for the sake of our “I hold no grudges and have no
structure for the past 15 years and said daughters, our sisters, our mothers.” regrets.”