In KuGompo City on South Africa's eastern coast, something powerful happened last Thursday. A three-day summit opened at the East London International Convention Centre, bringing together political leaders, business executives, academics and ordinary activists from across the continent. They came to talk about one thing above all others: how to build a future where women and girls can truly thrive. The gathering, called the Pan-African Transformational Leadership Summit, was also the Provincial Women's Conference — and it was happening at a deeply meaningful moment. This year marks exactly 70 years since the historic 1956 Women's March, when tens of thousands of South African women marched to Pretoria to demand an end to apartheid pass laws that restricted their movement.
The summit's theme put it plainly: "Decade of Empowerment and 70 Years of Resilience: Forging New Pathways for Africa's Sustainable Development." For Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who serves as the government's lead official on women's affairs, the anniversary was a time to remember those who came before. "Seven decades ago, women were mistreated and not taken seriously," she told the crowd. "We must not forget those heroines for what they did for us. The young women of today are succeeding academically and professionally, because of the fights those women in 1956 fought."
Yet as speakers looked back with gratitude, they also looked around with clear eyes. Eastern Cape social development official Bukiwe Fanta acknowledged real progress but named one of the country's deepest wounds. "Statistics show that approximately one in three women in SA experiences physical violence in her lifetime," she said. "These are not just numbers; they represent the lives of our mothers, sisters and daughters." She argued that stopping gender-based violence means tackling its roots — unequal power between genders, economic dependence, and lack of access to education and support.
The woman behind the summit, Nombulelo Bea Hackula, sees it as a milestone in more ways than one. She founded Africa for Africa Women ten years ago with a vision of connecting the continent with women at the center. "We want an Africa that is connected and dependent on its own people, especially women and young people," Hackula said. The organization has grown from an idea into a network now represented across all five regions of Africa and among diaspora communities worldwide. "We are well positioned to help map the direction for the next decade," she added.
Looking ahead, Hackula believes real change means investing in women's economic power — through better access to land ownership, education, and technology. The summit continues through Saturday with panel discussions and networking sessions focused on governance, entrepreneurship and sustainable growth across the continent. For the women gathered here, the work of 1956 is unfinished, but they are determined to carry it forward.