2026 Women's Month Message
South Africa observes National Women's Day annually on 9 August to commemorate the historic 1956 Women's March to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws. Twenty thousand women of all races, ages and religious backgrounds organised a remarkable march at a time when access to telecommunications and broadcasting services was limited and, in many instances, non-existent. It was a time before the airwaves were freed – a time almost unimaginable seventy years later.
As we honour and pay tribute to the brave and selfless women of 1956, we do so against the backdrop of the continued challenges facing women and girls in 2026. Thirty-two years into our democracy, Women's Day has evolved into a month-long celebration that shines a spotlight on women across society, business and government, celebrating those who continue to shatter glass ceilings and redefine leadership. Their achievements inspire us to do even more, and renew our resolve to keep confronting inequality, gender-based violence, racism and sexism, and to walk, with purpose and hope, the path the women of 1956 forged towards a Bill of Rights and a Constitutional democracy.
As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Women's March in a country still marked by deep divides, and in an era shaped by digital technology, social media, misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence and surveillance, we see real opportunities to bridge divides in our society at large, as well as within the sector we serve and love. We are proud to keep prioritising this important work, embracing it with energy and purpose.
My message this Women's Month is therefore one of gratitude and deep respect for the incredible women of the NAB Women's Forum, led by Gagasi FM Managing Director Minenhle Dlamini, who work tirelessly, with passion and unwavering commitment, to bridge divides, mentor and train others, and ensure that the experiences of women and girls remain at the centre of content creation across genres and platforms.
It is also an opportunity to recognise the remarkable women leading key organisations within our broadcasting sector: our own Julia Sham, who heads Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the NAB; Dr Sunette Lötter, Chairperson of the BCCSA; its Registrar, Shouneez Martin; Gail Schimmel, CEO of the Advertising Regulatory Board; and Shoeshoe Qhu, CEO of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
Their leadership continues to strengthen our institutions and our industry. We have come a long way in addressing inequality and the many challenges facing women and girls in our country, and there is more still to do, together. That shared responsibility is also a shared opportunity: one we can meet with the same courage and unity the women of 1956 showed us, making every 9 August and Women’s Month moments of both accountability and hope.