Women Rise: The Power, Potential, and Purpose of Today’s South African Woman
By Sarette Dercksen
For generations, women have carried the heartbeat of their homes, their businesses, and their communities… often silently, often unseen, and often underestimated.
Today, that changes.
We are living in a time where women are no longer waiting for permission.
We are stepping forward, stepping into leadership, and stepping into the destinies we were once told were “not for us.”
This is your reminder:
You are part of the most unstoppable generation of women South Africa has ever seen.
From Restricted to Remarkable: A Short Look at Women’s History in South Africa
Not too long ago, a South African woman:
- Could not vote
- Could not open a bank account without her husband
- Was expected to stay at home
- Was discouraged from pursuing higher education
- Was told leadership was “a man’s world”
Our mothers and grandmothers lived in a completely different South Africa, one where their dreams were limited by laws, culture, and rigid expectations.
But women have never been passive.
Even when the world tried to limit them, women became:
- Activists
- Teachers
- Entrepreneurs
- Caretakers
- Leaders in movements that shaped the modern South Africa
Women marched to the Union Buildings in 1956, not because they had power, but because they were power.
And today, the baton is in our hands.
The Economic Reality: Why Homes Need More Than One Income
We live in a time of rising costs, unstable markets, job losses, and unpredictable economies.
Most households simply cannot survive on one income anymore, and that’s not a failure; it’s a reality.
Here’s the empowering truth:
A woman who contributes financially strengthens her family’s future.
Not only financially, but mentally, emotionally, and generationally.
When a woman builds a business or income stream, she creates:
- Stability
- Security
- Opportunity
- Confidence
- A buffer for hard times
- A legacy her children learn from
And whether you’re starting with R0 or R10 000 – the size of the start doesn’t matter.
What matters is the decision to start.
Every woman has the ability to create income.
Every woman deserves the chance to.
Every woman is capable.
Leadership: What It Really Means (And Why You Need a Mentor)
Leadership isn’t about titles.
It’s not about being the loudest in the room, the richest, or the most experienced.
Leadership is:
- Perspective
- Guidance
- Character
- Example
- Courage
- The willingness to go first so others can follow safely
Every successful woman you admire had someone who walked with her.
Someone who could say:
- “Keep going.”
- “You’re capable.”
- “Don’t give up.”
- “Here’s how to do it better.”
A mentor doesn’t dominate your journey, she accelerates it.
If you want to grow faster, fall less, and step into your potential with confidence, find a leader who:
- Has integrity
- Leads with heart
- Walks what she talks
- Believes in empowering others
This is the kind of leadership I stand for.
This is the kind of leadership women deserve.
The Underestimated Power of Women in the World
Throughout history, women have changed the world, often without recognition.
Women have:
- Discovered medicines
- Led revolutions
- Built businesses from kitchens
- Raised leaders
- Educated nations
- Revolutionised industries
- Fought for human rights
- Held families together through impossible times
Even today, countless systems stand because women do the invisible work no one applauds.
We are not weak.
We are not background characters.
We are not “just helpers.”
We are the backbone.
We are the innovators.
We are the stabilisers.
We are the future-shapers.
When women rise, everyone rises.
Uplift While Being Uplifted: The New Era of Women’s Leadership
True leadership isn’t about elevating yourself above others.
It’s about creating a ladder long enough for others to climb too.
Women flourish when:
- We collaborate
- We support each other
- We share knowledge
- We celebrate each other’s wins
- We inspire those behind us
- We learn from those ahead of us
You don’t have to walk this journey alone.
You shouldn’t walk this journey alone.
We rise higher when we rise together.
To every woman reading this:
You are capable of greatness.
You are capable of leading.
You are capable of earning more, dreaming bigger, and influencing lives around you.
You are capable of stepping into a life that makes your daughters proud and your grandmothers smile.
Your story is not over.
Your power is not small.
Your voice is not irrelevant.
Whether you’re starting a business, rebuilding your life, chasing your purpose, or searching for guidance… know this:
You don’t need permission to rise.
You only need the courage to begin.
And I am here… walking ahead, walking beside you, and making sure that no woman has to rise alone.
