I’m sure most mothers remember the moment they first discovered they were expecting – the joy, the excitement, the nerves. All those emotions at once.
And then, of course, going for that first ultrasound and hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
I’m not a mother, but I’ve walked this journey alongside my sister as well as many friends and relatives. Children truly are a gift.
As society we are quick to point a finger at men, and rightfully so, because in most cases some men are the perpetrators of crime against women and children.
However, in recent court cases it is mothers who have been at the centre of these tragic and brutal crimes.
Amber-Lee Hughes is currently standing trial after admitting to killing her ex’s four-year-old daughter in 2023.
Kelly Smith is serving life imprisonment for human trafficking and 10 years for kidnapping.
She, together with two others were convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping for the disappearance of her six-year-old daughter.
Tiffany Nicole Dunn Meek was arrested and charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son.
A Johannesburg mother was arrested after a video was circulated on social media showing her allegedly encouraging her son to smoke drugs.
I am in no position to judge any of these women; I don’t think any of us is. They, like everyone else, will have receive their just deserts on judgement day, when we all leave this earth.
But if we, as women, can no longer be trusted to care for our children what hope is there for the future of our society?
What possible crime could these children have committed that was so heinous that they needed to be killed?
A four-year-old, who should be nurtured and loved, now knows a life of drugs.
This is not what those brave women marched for when they went to the Union Buildings in 1956.
I’m sure they are crying wherever they may be beyond the grave, speaking to us from eternity, from history, urging us to do better, to honour their legacy with courage, unity and integrity.
This may be precisely what we need; the wise words and voices of our grandmothers, mothers, aunts speaking to us.
Perhaps in our pursuit of freedom and independence as young women we’ve stopped listening, stopped listening to the wisdom of those who came before us, to the hard-won lessons of struggle.
As we live and walk through each day of this month may we take one another’s hands again.
Too often, we women are quick to cast aspersions, pass judgement, throw insults and tear one another down, and forget the strength we have when we stand together.
Let’s make news headlines, but for the right reasons, lift one another up, break barriers, lead with grace and stand united.
