South Africa’s lottery regulator spotlights women’s economic empowerment and community impact at Women’s Day event
The programme recognised the contribution of women within the NLC and communities across Gauteng, while highlighting the need to expand opportunities for women.
South Africa.- The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has marked Women’s Day with a 2026 commemoration at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Gauteng, bringing together women from the Commission and women-led community initiatives under the theme “Empowered Women Empower The Nation.”
The programme recognised the contribution of women within the NLC and communities across Gauteng, while highlighting the need to expand opportunities for women to participate in economic development.
Delivering the purpose of the day, NLC commissioner Jodi Scholtz reflected on the significance of Women’s Month and its connection to the 1956 Women’s March, which saw more than 20,000 women march to the Union Buildings and was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. The commissioner noted the progress made during 32 years of democracy but said more work was needed to ensure women have access to economic opportunities. She said: “It is incumbent upon us as women of the NLC not to leave others behind.”
The event also featured accounts of career progression within the Commission. Solani Kholonyane, acting assistant manager for the North West, spoke about her journey from joining the NLC as an intern in 2015 to taking on her current role. Kholonyane said: “NLC gave me a platform to learn, grow and study further.”
Community impact was another focus, with representatives of organisations supported by the NLC describing the effect of its funding. Estelle van Schoor, CEO of Irene Homes, said the NLC “transforms people, lives and minds”, while Blondie Tloubatla of Alex Hospice noted that the organisation received NLC funding when it had been unable to secure support elsewhere.
The event also addressed workplace culture and the NLC’s ongoing change management process. According to Natasha Wray, acting senior manager: human capital management, employees remained an important part of the organisation’s transformation. She said: “Our change management journey is continuing. In the NLC, everyone is important and valued.”
Mosima Tambani, senior specialist for forensic investigations in internal audit, called for greater solidarity among women at the Commission, saying “Women of the NLC should unite and must uplift each other.”
The programme also placed emphasis on personal wellbeing. Guest speaker Faith Mangope, a Metro FM talk host, urged women to prioritise self-care alongside their responsibilities to others. She stated: “You must pour into yourself before you can pour into others. Take care of yourself.”
The NLC said the event provided a platform for women to share experiences, recognise achievements and draw lessons from their respective journeys.
