Honouring the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke

In honouring the legacy of Mama Charlotte Maxeke, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will next month launch an initiative aimed at mobilising the global community behind the Gender Equality Forum (GEF)’s Global Acceleration Plan, particularly the Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights.

The Charlotte Maxeke African Women’s Economic Justice and Rights Initiative was to be implemented in three phases, namely; Charlotte Maxeke Africa Future Leadership Programme, Charlotte Maxeke African Women's Leadership Awards, and the Charlotte Maxeke Minister's Breakfast with Women Ambassadors.

The Charlotte Maxeke Africa Future Leadership Programme was aimed at providing mentorship and training opportunities for youth on international policy and diplomacy work. The programme, to be launched in June, was to target 70% youth leaders from the continent and 30% from the country. 

The Charlotte Maxeke African Women's Leadership Awards were to celebrate women leaders across the continent whose achievements, mentorship, influence and contributions have advanced Africa’s development in various sectors of society and made contribution to the advancement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The Charlotte Maxeke Minister's Breakfast with Women Ambassadors, to be held annually, was to provide the Minister the opportunity to engage women Ambassadors accredited to South Africa on gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. 

Minister Pandor made the announcement during her media briefing ahead of DIRCO’s Budget Vote in Parliament on 20 May 2021, which theme was "Building Back Better, Honouring the Legacy of Charlotte Maxeke”. 


The second phase of these initiatives were scheduled to start in 2022/23, and included other programmes such as the. Charlotte Maxeke African Women's Leadership Training Programme on Economic Justice and Rights; Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Fellowship for African Women in Diplomacy; and Charlotte Maxeke Women's Trade Fair. 

Minister Pandor said her department was reflecting on Maxeke’s internationalism. 

Maxeke was the first black woman in South Africa to graduate with a Bachelor of Science from the Wilberforce University in Ohio, United States of America. Minister Pandor also praised Maxeke’s championing of several programmes, including arranging opportunities for other South Africans, especially women to study at Wilberforce University. “She was indeed building back better based on her experience,” said Minister Pandor.
The government had also declared 2021, the year of Charlotte Maxeke. 

Maxeke would have turned 150 years this year.

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