Empowering Women: UNIVEN Hosts Thought-Provoking Public Lecture

On 8 August 2025, the University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Department of Youth in Development, together with the Black Management Forum (BMF) Thohoyandou Branch, gathered at UNIVEN’s Lecture Hall E1 for an insightful and thought-provoking Public Lecture delivered by Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Honourable Mmapaseka Steve Letsike. This Public Lecture was held under the theme ‘Women and Economic Empowerment: Building Financial Independence.’

When delivering the lecture, Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Honourable Mmapaseka “Steve” Letsike, spoke about women’s economic empowerment. “When women earn, they reinvest significantly in their children’s education, household, nutrition, and well-being.” Women’s financial independence is not just about income, but about agency, power, and dignity, and it requires dismantling deep-seated structural barriers that obstruct women’s economic participation.
“We must be intentional in our approach, in our actions that disrupt the status quo and place economic emancipation of women at the very heart of our national development agenda.” She said collective action is necessary to support women’s economic empowerment.
Honourable Letsike also told the audience that their circumstances and poverty should not determine their future. She shared her personal story of growing up without parents, but still achieving a lot, to show that with determination and hard work, anyone can overcome challenges and achieve greater things in life.
She concluded her lecture by mentioning that now it is time for women to take their rightful place in the economy.

Prof Tawanda Runhare, the Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education, welcomed guests and students to the Women’s Day celebration Public Lecture. He stated that it is essential to promote female students’ confidence to influence social change and empower them to make informed decisions about their future, while explaining that the university aims to produce graduates who are competitive both locally and internationally, guided by its Strategic Plan, which includes youth empowerment. Prof Runhare stated that the university cannot claim victory while female students continue to face ongoing challenges related to economic transformation and gender-based violence. He also mentioned that “If you educate a woman, you educate the nation,” highlighting the importance of focusing on female students’ empowerment.

When giving the purpose of the day, Prof Thizwilondi Mudau, HoD of Youth in Development at UNIVEN, stated that the purpose of the gathering is to celebrate Women’s Month, highlighting the challenges that are faced by women, such as rape and murder. The Department of Youth in Development, led by Prof. Mudau, organised this event to bring in speakers to discuss important issues affecting women, with the Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities present to share insights. She thanked Prof Runhare and BMF for their support of this event.
Mr Mpho Motsei, Black Management Forum (BMF) President, shared a personal sto-ry about his mother’s struggles and sacrifices for him to be educated. He enlightened that his mother worked hard to support him, including selling food and working in facto-ries, and made significant sacrifices to ensure he could access tertiary education. Mr Mo-tsei stated that if his mother had been economically empowered, she would have made a significant impact in her community. He encouraged attendees to empower each other.
When proposing a vote of thanks, Dr Mafemani Baloyi expressed gratitude to vari-ous individuals and stakeholders who contributed to the success of this Public Lec-ture. He appreciated the Deputy Minister, Honorable Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, for her humble and generous gesture when delivering the lecture. He also acknowledged stu-dents, staff members, the SRC President, BMF President, Acting Executive Dean, and the Vice-Chancellor while thanking them for their roles in making the event a success.
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Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811