Constitution First 🇿🇦

WATCH | WORD OF THE WEEK 🎥 We are just 6 days away from the Local Government Elections and I wanted to share what our robot blitzes are really about plus my word of the week. It has been amazing connecting with so many of you at the robots. Your support means everything. Let us bring it home on 4 November. #Nobuntu4Mayor #LGE2026 #BuildJoburg #BuildOneSA

Women, Political Power and the Future of Our Cities. The role of women in shaping political power, policy and public leadership is one of my favourite topics, and it was wonderful to share the stage with my sisters in politics. I spoke about injustice and inequality being the fire in my bones, and about how women can contribute to shaping policy, legislation and implementation. Public representatives are exactly that: representatives, not kings and queens. We must change the culture around how public leaders are engaged. Women must hold us accountable, organise their contributions and channel them into the political process. Our responsibility is to be present, accessible and ready to engage. I shared the example of the Fair Pay Bill that we have introduced in Parliament. The idea came from a citizen, Phathuxolo Maqavana. It is a powerful reminder that citizens do not have to hold public office to shape legislation. And finally, women’s leadership cannot only be about gaining entry into the room. We must ask who the room was designed for, whose voice sounds authoritative in it, and whose knowledge is recognised as expertise. Women need the power not only to participate, influence or adapt, but to redesign the political system itself—to redefine authority, knowledge, expertise and what leadership looks like. Thank you #EmpowaHer for having me.