Women enjoy their day

A concert at the Joburg Zoo was just the ticket for about a thousand women, who enjoyed the music, the camaraderie and the day out in the park.
ABOUT a thousand women from disadvantaged backgrounds were treated to good music at the Johannesburg Zoo on Women’s Day yesterday.

Majoy entertain womenMaJoy keeps the crowd on their feetThe weather was perfect for a day outside and scores of people brought along their picnic blankets and camp chairs to relax while listening to the music.

Musician Joyce Ledwaba kept the crowd on their feet with some catchy Sotho and Zulu traditional music.

There was also a variety of jazz and Afro-pop music. Young visitors from welfare centres were entertained by Thab'sile Ndlovu, who is featured on DJ Bongz’ Sobabili hit song.

Children sang along and danced on the stage with Ndlovu.

Among the visitors who could not ignore the rhythm were Agnes and Julia Ramosoeu, sisters from the West Rand. They said this was the best Women’s Day event they had ever attended. “We danced and saw animals that we have seen on television,” said the former.

“If it were possible, I would take the fun and the warmth we had here with me so that other women at home can also experience it,” added her sister.

Agnes Ramosoeu said she was inspired by the late Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the former minister of health, while her sister got her inspiration from the late Albertina Sisulu.

Women groove to Women groove to Thab'sile's musicLedwaba, who is affectionately known as MaJoy to her fans, said she was honoured to be performing for women on Women’s Day. She was inspired by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, she said, because she encouraged women to strive for what they wanted in life.

“Vukuzenzele,” she said, meaning “wake up and do it yourself”.

According to Candice Segal, the zoo’s marketing assistant, the Women’s Day concert was part of the Joburg Zoo’s 67-day community campaign which was launched on Nelson Mandela Day. “It aims to bring 10 000 people from the poorest areas for a day of fun at the zoo,” she said.

The campaign would run for three months and was part of the 90-day service delivery plan for City of Joburg entities. “The campaign has already seen over 4 000 people visit the zoo since the launch on 18 July.”

Women’s Day is an annual celebration that commemorates the events of 9 August 1956, when about 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against pass laws.