From boardrooms and construction sites to football fields, fashion runways, political chambers and digital platforms, women across South Africa continue to break barriers and redefine what leadership looks like. Their journeys are shaped by resilience, courage, sacrifice and an unwavering determination to create opportunities for themselves and others.

As Women’s Month draws to a close, Journal News celebrates women who are building businesses, transforming communities, inspiring young people and proving that no industry is beyond their reach.

Oratilwe Mesele Nameng: Turning Setbacks into Strength

For Oratilwe Mesele Nameng, success has been a journey of perseverance, setbacks and the courage to begin again.

The founder of Mesora Experiences in Phokeng, Rustenburg, Nameng has spent more than two decades navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. As a member of North West Women in Tourism, she has transformed her experience into a wellness-focused enterprise offering spa experiences, accommodation, dining, conferencing, workplace and community wellness, coaching and holistic wellness services.

Her entrepreneurial journey has included several ventures that did not succeed. However, rather than allowing failure to define her, Nameng turned each setback into a lesson in discipline, leadership, resilience and perseverance.

For Nameng, entrepreneurship is about far more than making a profit. It is about creating opportunities, strengthening communities and making wellness accessible to ordinary people.

Her message during Women’s Month is powerful: strength does not mean never struggling. It means having the courage to acknowledge challenges, seek support and rise again.

Nameng’s vision is to make wellness accessible to ordinary people in extraordinary ways while using her experience to inspire others to build healthier and more sustainable futures.

Onezwa Mbola: From the Kitchen to a National Audience

At just 31, Eastern Cape-born Onezwa Mbola has turned her passion for food, creativity and self-sufficiency into a powerful digital platform.

Mbola rose to prominence by promoting organic food and the art of making products from scratch, including salt, fizzy drinks and cheese. She is also known for her online store, where she sells products made in her own kitchen, as well as her distinctive voice-over cooking videos, often filmed while preparing food over an open fire.

A home cook, content creator, former MasterChef South Africa Season 4 contestant and author of A Food Love Story, Mbola has built a brand around her passion for creating food from ingredients she has grown, raised and foraged.

Her story demonstrates how authenticity, creativity and embracing one’s roots can become powerful tools for building a successful personal brand.

Candy Smith: Putting Free State Fashion on the Runway

Candy Smith is the driving force behind Free State Fashion Week, an annual platform that showcases emerging local designers while helping them strengthen their skills, brands and businesses.

The event brings together established personalities and emerging fashion talent, giving designers an opportunity to gain exposure and compete in an increasingly competitive industry.

The latest edition featured personalities such as Somizi Mhlongo and Lamiez Holworthy, while last year’s event featured former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi.

Held during Women’s Month, Free State Fashion Week has grown beyond a fashion showcase to become a celebration of women, creativity and local talent.

Bonolo Maloka: Turning Influence into Impact

Award-winning content creator, businesswoman and momfluencer Bonolo Maloka has built a powerful digital presence from humble beginnings.

After starting her content creation journey about six years ago, Maloka has steadily grown her following despite facing online bullying and criticism.

Instead of allowing negativity to silence her, she has used her platform to assist people in need, including helping members of her fan base with everyday necessities such as electricity.

Maloka also travels across provinces to meet her supporters, strengthening the connection between her online community and the people who follow her journey.

Her recent content focuses largely on family and healthy living, reflecting her growth as both a creator and businesswoman.

Dikeledi Direko: Carrying the Torch of 1956

Seventy years ago, on 9 August 1956, more than 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest apartheid’s pass laws.

Seven decades later, South Africa continues to celebrate women whose courage, leadership and determination echo the spirit of those historic heroines.

Dikeledi Direko is among them.

A Member of Parliament and African National Congress (ANC) politician, Direko has built a career in public service while serving in various structures of the organisation.

Her political journey has included serving as an executive committee member of the ANC Youth League’s Sipho Mutsi Branch and as a Member of the National Assembly.

Her story reflects the continued role of women in shaping South Africa’s political landscape.

Tshepiso Lebyana: Breaking Barriers in Property

Tshepiso Lebyana has carved out a name for herself in the traditionally male-dominated real estate industry.

A content creator and founder and CEO of Powerhouse Properties, Lebyana brings more than 30 years of experience as a realtor to the industry.

Based in Bloemfontein, she has built a reputation around property, style and class while using content creation to strengthen both her personal and business brand.

Her journey is a reminder that success is not simply about selling properties. It is about building a legacy, opening doors and showing others that they, too, can rise to the top.

Thato Mokgothu: Building a Legacy in Construction

The women of 1956 left behind a powerful legacy of courage. Today, women such as Thato Mokgothu are continuing that legacy by breaking barriers in industries once dominated almost entirely by men.

Mokgothu is the owner of RTT Construction, which she founded in 2012, and the founder of the Phenomenal Women Initiative.

Through her work, she has demonstrated that women can thrive in construction and other traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Her mission extends beyond business. Mokgothu is committed to empowering other women and reminding them that their circumstances should never determine the size of their dreams.

Mamosina “Mamzo” Leshabane: Making Her Mark in Football

Mamosina Leshabane, popularly known as “Mamzo”, has become a prominent figure in South African football administration through years of dedication to developing the sport.

Her contribution was recognised at the Free State Sports Awards on 15 August, where she received the MEC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Leshabane is the owner of Mangaung United Football Club, which competes in the Free State ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of South African football.

In a sporting environment still heavily dominated by men, she has established herself as one of the province’s influential football administrators.

Her recognition is not only a celebration of personal achievement, but also an acknowledgement of women who continue to claim their rightful place in sports administration.

Nthabiseng Majiya: A Rising Star in Women’s Football

At just 19, Nthabiseng Majiya is already making her mark in South African women’s football.

Her journey from Richmond United to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies is a story of talent, determination and perseverance. Majiya was named the Hollywoodbets Super League Young Player of the Season in 2021 and 2022, establishing herself as one of the country’s most promising young talents.

Her performances also earned her a Banyana Banyana call-up, where she became the youngest player in the squad at the time.

Her move to Sundowns marked another important milestone. She made an impressive start, scoring four goals in her first five Hollywoodbets Super League appearances.

Despite her early success, Majiya remains grounded and credits her family for supporting her football ambitions.

“My family inspired me to join Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. They've always been my rock since day one, supporting me throughout my journey,” she said.

Away from football, Majiya enjoys spending time alone and with her family, whom she considers an important part of her life beyond the pitch.

Her rise is a reminder to young women and girls that success is built through discipline, sacrifice, resilience and the support of those who believe in you.

Nontobeko Vilakazi: Leading with Purpose

Nontobeko Vilakazi has emerged as a prominent leader in the Northern Cape, with a career centred on public service and community development.

Vilakazi has served as a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since 2019 and has held several leadership responsibilities within the provincial government.

In January 2026, she was appointed MEC for Health, taking on the responsibility of strengthening healthcare services across the province.

Her leadership journey has also included serving as MEC for Social Development, where she was involved in programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable communities.

Vilakazi’s journey demonstrates the importance of women occupying positions of leadership and influence. Her work shows that leadership is not simply about holding office, but about listening to communities, responding to their needs and turning responsibility into meaningful action.

During Women’s Month, her story serves as a reminder that when women lead, they can inspire other women and girls to believe in their own potential.

Ntsetsao Viola Motsumi: Breaking New Ground in the Legislature

Ntsetsao Viola Motsumi, the newly elected Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, has risen through the ranks of public service to take on one of the province’s key leadership positions.

Motsumi became a Member of the North West Provincial Legislature in 2019 and served as Deputy Speaker before being appointed MEC for Education in 2022.

On 18 August, she was elected Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, becoming the eighth Speaker of the institution since the advent of democracy and the first former Deputy Speaker to subsequently rise to the position.

In her maiden address as Speaker, Motsumi committed herself to protecting the dignity and constitutional authority of the Legislature while presiding over the House fairly and impartially.

She also emphasised the importance of strong oversight, accountability and ensuring that the Legislature remains accessible to the people of North West.

Her leadership comes at a significant time when women continue to play an increasingly important role in shaping South Africa’s democratic institutions.

Motsumi’s journey demonstrates that leadership is not simply about holding a position, but about using that position to serve others, strengthen institutions and create a better future for communities.

Women Who Refuse to Be Defined by Limits

From tourism and wellness to food, fashion, digital media, politics, property, construction, football and public service, these women are proving that leadership has no single shape.

Their journeys are different, but their message is the same: barriers can be broken, setbacks can be overcome and success becomes more meaningful when it creates opportunities for others.

As Women’s Month comes to an end, their stories remind us that the legacy of the women of 1956 is not confined to history. It lives on in every woman who dares to lead, build, create, challenge the status quo and rise.