In a moment of celebration, the University of Venda (UNIVEN) came alive on 27 August 2025 as staff gathered at the University’s Auditorium for a vibrant and thought-provoking UNIVEN 2025 Staff Women’s Day Celebration. From powerful presentations from various speakers, discussions to uplifting performances of music, the celebration showed the University’s commitment to staff wellness, empowerment, and inclusivity and the role that women play as a pillar to our institution.
The Women’s Day celebration commenced with a warm, inspiring welcome remarks by the of Director Human Resources, Mrs Uanda Ndou, setting a tone for the celebration to the Women’s Month closing service, reflecting on the balance between tradition and modernity in women’s identities, drawing inspiration from the 1956 women’s march, and urging women to unite rather than pull each other down.
She highlighted ongoing challenges such as gender-based violence and inequality, calling for un-apologetic solidarity, support, and purpose-driven living. She emphasised the need for fairness in opportunities like promotions and educational capacitation, encouraging women to build an environment where all can thrive, freely express themselves, and enjoy the present moment together.
One of the highlights of the event was the talk on “Prioritise You: Practise Self Love” by health and wellness expert from UNIVEN Sports and Recreation Unit, Ms Lizeka Miza, who encouraged staff and delivered an empowering talk centred on women’s well-being, highlighting the impor-tance of self-love and self-care beyond the common misconceptions of luxury activities like mas-sages or beauty treatments.
She reminded women that, as mothers, daughters, professionals, and friends juggling multiple responsibilities, prioritising their health, both physically and mentally, emotionally, and socially, is essential. Ms Miza emphasised the need to overcome cultural and societal barriers that pressure women into neglecting themselves and encouraged practices such as exercise. She underscored that self-care is not selfish but necessary for sustaining energy, managing stress, maintaining healthy relationships, and achieving balance in life and work.
Ms Tshimangadzo Ndou shared on the “You Can Do It: My Journey as a Woman Athlete” shared her inspiring running journey, starting with her first 21 km marathon in 2023, where she went on to collect 12 medals, progressed to full marathons in 2024, and eventually qualified and completed the Two Oceans and the 90 km Comrades Marathon despite injuries and setbacks. She emphasised lessons of perseverance, mental strength, listening to one’s body, and running one’s own race at one’s own pace, highlighting that victory comes through resilience. She encour-aged colleagues to value wellness, exercise, and self-belief, while expressing gratitude for the support she received, especially from women, after representing the university in the Comrades Marathon.
“When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going” by seasoned academic Dr Israel Mu-laudzi, reflected on perseverance, growth, and lifelong learning. She encouraged women to em-brace their beauty, uniqueness, and strength, reminding them they are fearfully and wonderfully made. She shared her personal story of being raised by a single mother, facing hardships such as gender-based violence, infertility, loss of a child, raising a child with a disability, and her hus-band’s imprisonment, yet still rising through education to earn multiple degrees. She showed her resilience with the theme “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” urging women not to give up on life despite challenges. She stressed the importance of self-belief, prayer, education, and walking tall with confidence. She called on women to support, respect, and celebrate each other’s achievements, noting that when one woman rises, she lifts others up.
The Keynote speaker, Ms Sesi Patricia Mahlobogoane, Director for Social Inclusion and Equity at the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), talking on “Sexual Harassment in the World of Work” highlighted how harassment and bullying in the workplace often stem from “nuisance power,” where individuals misuse status, wealth, or connections to intimidate others, disregarding hierarchy and respect.
She distinguished between sexual attention (welcome) and sexual harassment (unwanted), stressed that bullying, whether verbal, emotional, or physical, is abuse of power, and reminded colleagues that institutions and leaders bear the primary responsibility for prevention. She also emphasised self-protection and urged knowing workplace policies, documenting incidents, and being mindful of rights and responsibilities.
As she ended, she encouraged resilience, solidarity, and speaking out against abuse, affirming that harassment or abuse should not define one’s worth.
Adv Rolien Roos, Director in the Division Teaching and Learning, delivered a heartfelt closing re-marks and thanked all speakers, performers, and organisers for their contributions, highlighting lessons of resilience, self-care, inspiration, and leadership. She expressed deep appreciation for the Department of Higher Education and Training’s presence, acknowledged the organising team’s efforts, and ended with a message of solidarity drawn from the 1956 Women’s March, reminding everyone to be each other’s “rock” of strength and support.
The Women’s Day celebration was an opportunity to all women staff members to relax, reconnect and reflect. The celebration reminded us of the importance of wellness, resilience, and human dignity in the workplace. Through song, stories and shared wisdom, the celebration not only cele-brated the university community but also the power of inspiration and collective growth.
Handing over of gifts by Ms Avhatakali Gladys Luvhimbi (left)
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
