By Seth Naicker
“Women’s Lives and Women’s Choices” was the title of a semester course I completed at Bethel University, taught by Professor Katherine Nevins. This course offered an action-learning project that invited us to engage, understand, and explore the lives and choices of women within our own communities and relationships.
For my project, I interviewed women who were part of my own life journey and documented the meals they prepared for me. Through these meals, I was invited into their stories. I learnt about the person behind the recipe, the experiences that shaped their lives, and the choices they made along the way.
Through these conversations, I discovered the leadership of women — their service, their work, their resilience, and their care for their families and communities. I learnt who taught them to prepare these meals, how traditions were passed down through generations, and how their lives had changed from childhood into adulthood. I heard their concerns, dreams, hopes, disappointments, and aspirations for themselves and their families.
I learnt about their worlds of work and the ongoing challenge of balancing career, relationships, faith, family, and personal aspirations. I learnt about the difficult decisions they had to make and the courage required to navigate the realities of life.
Through this experience, I came to understand more deeply women’s lives and women’s choices.
I concluded my action-learning project by preparing the meals of the women I interviewed, following the recipes they shared with me. I brought these meals to class as a “show and tell” presentation, sharing not only the food but the stories, wisdom, and lessons connected to each meal.
This experience challenged me to think about the systems, structures, and social constructs that continue to devalue the lives, voices, contributions, and choices of women. It invited me to reflect on my own responsibility as a man, a husband, a leader, and a person of faith committed to justice, dignity, and equality.
I remain grateful for the learning experience, the mentorship and teaching of Professor Katherine Nevins, and the reality that these lessons have continued to shape my work, witness, and service.
Years later, after returning to South Africa and working in pastoral ministry, social impact, leadership development, and community transformation, Merrishia Singh-Naicker and I launched a conference and interactive learning workshop titled “Women’s Lives and Women’s Choices.”
These spaces were created to encourage conversations where women could share their stories, reflect on their experiences, and explore ways to challenge gender bias, unequal treatment, and the violence that women continue to face in our communities and societies.
This year marks 70 years since the historic Women’s March of 1956 in South Africa — a defining moment when thousands of women stood together in courage and solidarity to challenge unjust laws. The message of those women continues to inspire us today.
Yet, 70 years later, it remains painful to acknowledge that women around the world continue to experience injustice, inequality, discrimination, violence, and barriers that limit their full participation and flourishing.
I am deeply grateful for the mentorship, coaching, leadership, and guidance I have received from women throughout my life. From childhood, through adolescence, young adulthood, and into adulthood, I can identify women who have cared for me, taught me, challenged me, encouraged me, and helped shape who I am.
Women have been part of my journey as family members, friends, colleagues, mentors, educators, and leaders. Their influence has shaped my understanding of leadership, compassion, courage, justice, and service.
During an online forum meeting of the Faith Action Collective on 5 August 2026, Dr. Nontando Hadebe reflected on her leadership journey in honour of the women who marched on 9 August 1956. Her reflections reminded us that leadership is rooted in dignity, responsibility, relationships, character, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
My summary of Dr. Nontando Hadebe’s leadership principles is:
“Dr. Nontando Hadebe’s leadership principles emphasise that authentic leadership begins with recognising the dignity and humanity of people, embracing responsibility with courage, drawing strength from collaboration, cultivating character and integrity from within, and committing to lifelong learning and growth. At its heart, leadership is a journey of serving others, building relationships, and expanding our capacity to create positive transformation.”
— Summary based on Dr. Nontando Hadebe’s “Principles That Drive My Leadership”.
The idea of lifelong learning remains important as we reflect on where we are today and the future we desire to create.
I remain hopeful that through my work, witness, service, and advocacy, I will continue to be an ally of women — affirming their leadership, their equal rights, and their inherent dignity and humanity.
I am encouraged by collaborative efforts that seek to engage men and fathers in creating healthier communities through initiatives such as Fathers Matter, Men Coaching for Gender Justice, and spaces such as #AstroFootballFellows, where conversations about positive masculinity, responsibility, respect, and justice can take place.
When men understand that the wellbeing and freedom of women is connected to the wellbeing of all people, we move closer to creating communities built on dignity, equality, and mutual respect.
I see signs of hope when we reflect on how far we have travelled since 1956. Today, women are leading across diverse sectors, including education, business, government, civil society, and faith communities.
Yet our journey is unfinished. South Africa has still not had a woman president, and perhaps the emergence of women in the highest levels of leadership will become part of our ongoing journey toward a more equitable, just, and inclusive society.
May we continue raising our voices for the equality, dignity, safety, and justice of women.
Happy Women’s Month 2026.
Halala! Womandla! Halala!