Hailing from the Eastern Cape in Ezibeleni, Simamkele Dlakavu has taken it upon herself to empower girls and women through education.
As the only South African chosen to represent the country at the upcoming G(irls) 20 Summit event in Turkey, she chats to us about the importance of addressing matters that affect women.
By: Ntombizethu Zulu
1.Please tell us more about the work that you do, and how you came to be part of the G20 Summit.
I am the co-founder of Sakha Ingomso Lethu, which is a South African-based non-profit organisation meaning “we are building our tomorrow” in IsiXhosa. Sakha Ingomso Lethu is a youth-led organisation aimed at developing rural and township youngsters, creating media content by young people for mainstream media broadcasters, skills development and transfer for young marginalised workers working in low-skill base jobs.
I’ve been working in the development space since the age of 15 through the Rotary Interact Club, where the principle of “service above self” was instilled in me. I then became the junior mayor of the Lukhanji Municipality. I have also mentored and worked with teen girls from township and peri-urban areas.
Due to my work, I have represented young people in other international summits on issues of education, economic participation and women empowerment. Through these platforms, I learnt about the Girls 20 Summit. I had applied before in 2012 and was not selected. I am happy that I was selected to attend this year as I have grown and I am clearer about my goals and the impact that I want to have in the development of women in Africa.
2. How important is it for South Africa to have representation at platforms of this stature?
South Africa is in an interesting place in global politics. It is the only African country in the G20 countries, and it is also the only African country in platforms such as BRICS. It has the potential to influence G20 policies in favour of the world’s poor and vulnerably. So, in these platforms, it needs to champion the interests of the whole continent instead of its own national interest.
3. Let’s talk about the impact of this programme; what are some of the changes you hope will come about as a result of this summit?
The objective for this year’s summit includes:
- Increasing the narrative and level of commitment by the G20 on investing in girls and women
- Strategically investing in the skills of girls and women around the world and build their capacity to design and launch their own social profit enterprises;
- Bring together the private sector, social profit enterprises and civil society to advocate for investments in girls and women in all three sectors;
- And, Engaging men in the advancement of girls and women as a way to address business and cultural barriers.
4. As the only representative from SA, what are the burning issues you want to discuss in Turkey?
I want to highlight the problem of economic inequality that these G20 countries are also implicated in perpetuating through their economic policies. I want us to focus on alternative economic models where people and the poor are the focus, instead of an elite few who are mostly white men.
5. Back here at home, what are some of the challenges black women face?
South Africa is going through many structural challenges. We are starting to have the tough conversations on race and economic inequalities that we having been avoiding for the past 20 years. Central to these political and economic debates is the question of access to land.
What is surprising and concerning is that the land issue and women has not been politicised enough. It has been the majority of black men who have benefited from the land claims processes. Research proves that it’s not only South Africa that has not utilised its abundant agricultural land and national resources, but the entire Sub-Saharan African region.
A core of this problem is that land still remains in the hands of a few elite men (black and white). Therefore, I would advice G20 leaders to help secure land and property rights to more women for farming and businesses purposes. However, that land should be accompanied by skills training and resource investment. Governments who have unused land can provide more women entrepreneurs with opportunities.
This will enable women to not only provide for their families, it will enable them to contribute to the economy, as growth in the agricultural sector has proven to lead to growth in other sectors such as manufacturing.
6. What would you say to other young black women who are hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Black women are the most impacted by poverty, inequality and unemployment. They are also the most impacted by violence through gender-based violence. My advice to black women is not only to be self-actualised, live their dreams and be selfish because we tend to sacrifice too much for others, even at our own expenses.
I would also advice girls to be politically active and to tick the doors down because we are not represented as we should in the top echelons of politics. Our politics continues to have a face of a man and that cannot continue to be.
