🏐 Swenka Ngephinifa Commemoration Day – A Proud Start to Netball Women’s Cup Week

On 28 August 2025, the community of Charlestown gathered at the Charlestown Community Hall for the Swenka Ngephinifa Commemoration Day, officially launching Netball Women’s Cup Week.

This powerful event blended culture, empowerment, and community partnerships, with a strong focus on equipping women and young girls with knowledge and skills that can transform their lives.

🤝 Stakeholders Who Made It Possible

The event was hosted in partnership with the Charlestown DSD Office and supported by key stakeholders:

• Charlestown SAPS – educating women on their rights, protection services, and how to report GBV cases safely.
• Department of Agriculture – providing practical training and guidance on small-scale farming, food gardening, and creating sustainable livelihoods for women.
• Ward Councillor – ensuring community support, mobilizing resources, and encouraging local women to take up leadership roles.
• Charlestown Clinic – addressing women’s health, mental wellness, and offering information on support services available for survivors of GBV.
• Charlestown DSD Office (Partnership Host) – driving the empowerment agenda, connecting women to social services, skills development, and social relief programs.

🌱 Skills & Knowledge Shared

The commemoration was not only cultural but also practical and educational. Women were:

• Equipped with agricultural skills, learning how to start food gardens, poultry projects, and use agriculture to provide for their families.
• Guided through GBVF awareness sessions, where survivors’ support networks and referral pathways were explained.
• Taken on an interactive tour of departments’ services – each stakeholder explained how women could access help, whether it was reporting abuse, seeking healthcare, applying for agricultural support, or connecting with social development programs.

🎗️ Culture Meets Empowerment

The highlight of the day was the “Swenka Ngephinifa” showcase – women proudly dressed in cultural aprons and attire, symbolizing dignity, identity, and resilience. The cultural expression blended beautifully with the empowerment workshops, showing that while women honor their traditions, they also embrace tools for a better future.

💜 A Lasting Impact

The day ended with a unified message:

Empowered women strengthen families, protect communities, and inspire the next generation.

The Swenka Ngephinifa Commemoration Day set a strong foundation for the Netball Women’s Cup 2025, proving that sport, culture, and empowerment are deeply connected in building a safer, stronger, and more united community.