The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Gender Forum celebrated women’s month with a special luncheon for female staff to commemorate and celebrate women during this month, at the DUT Rendezvous Restaurant on the Steve Biko Campus on Wednesday the 19 August 2015.
It was highlighted at the luncheon, that women have gone above and beyond the role of just being a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a partner and a sister to name a few of the many demanding roles that they assume outside of being a career woman. These women excel in one way or another, be it academically, making a scientific breakthrough or climbing mountains, they deserve to be given due recognition during a month like this.

DUT Chairperson of the Gender Forum, Ranilla Pillay, said: “The main aim of the DUT Gender Forum is to ensure that there is gender equality amongst the DUT staff, and to uplift the women and empower them by hosting such events.

We empower women, by having motivational talk, etc to inspire .them. We reflect on whatever is current, eg if it is Cancer month we plan events to raise cancer awareness,” she said.

Senior lecturer at DUT department of Nursing, Petro Basson, said, “People need to learn about women empowerment. By attending the forum we can spread the message and bring males and females to the same page,”  Indira Govender from DUT Financial Aid said that she learnt that women are very important and play a very vital role in society and that they should be appreciated.
Buyisile Makhuba from DUT Information Technology Support Services said that women should join the Gender Forum because they will learn a lot as well as get an opportunity to exchange ideas and share views and opinions.
Pictured: Left to Right: Ruby Naidoo, Sharitha Dhebideen Kumar, Peggy Naidu and Shamita Singh, having a wonderful time at the event.

-Mxolisi Ntanzi