Mbokodo Rise 2025: A tapestry of strength, stories, and sisterhood.
- Sep 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Mbokodo Rise 2025 was nothing short of a reverent symphony of womanhood, a gathering that reminded us that when women rise, entire communities stand taller. Hosted at the Slipperfields venue of Nelson Mandela Bay, the event brought together over 300 women from all walks of life into a safe, intentional space of expression, reflection, and celebration.
This year’s edition was the perfect way to close Women’s Month, not with quiet reflection, but with powerful voices, laughter, shared wisdom, and a collective sense of purpose.
We were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Sesethu Gqomo-Sayibokwe, the visionary founder of SG Communications, who has nurtured this flagship platform for eight years. In her opening address, Mrs. Gqomo-Sayibokwe shared the humble beginnings of Mbokodo Rise, how it started as a small gathering and has now grown into an expansive space where hundreds of women gather to celebrate one another, tell their stories, and connect deeply.
“When I launched Mbokodo Rise, I wanted to create a space where women could not only tell their stories but also see themselves reflected in the journeys of others. Every year, I am reminded that our strength is collective, and that when women rise, communities rise.” – Sesethu Gqomo-Sayibokwe
From the outset, the atmosphere was one of collaboration and upliftment. The event opened doors for mentorship, networking, and inspiration, with speakers who left attendees with “pocket gems” of wisdom to carry back into their lives, whether they were mothers, fathers, entrepreneurs, or corporate leaders.
Zizipho Mqwala, a passionate advocate for Women in Leadership, spoke on “Leading with Vulnerability and the Power of Agility.” She shared her personal journey of finding her voice in the corporate world and remaining anchored in her values while navigating spaces that often demand compromise. She reminded us that leadership requires not only strength but the humility to be vulnerable and the courage to belong authentically in every room we enter.
Her message resonated deeply, “we cannot be everything to everyone, but we can choose who we are and stand firmly in those choices.” She also touched on the delicate dance of balancing roles, corporate executive, daughter, sister, and mother, with grace and agility.
Nizenande Machi, Leadership Development Expert, followed with a talk titled “Thriving Through Discomfort, Being Comfortable with Discomfort.” She painted a vivid metaphor of the seed, planted in darkness, enduring the pain of breaking open, and growing unseen before ever reaching the light. Her message was simple yet profound: transformation demands discomfort. Growth requires patience, faith, and the willingness to wear our crowns even when we feel undeserving.
Her closing thoughts struck a powerful chord, we must be willing to change our minds, explore new avenues, and trust the process, even when it is lonely and challenging.
Dr. Libo Matshaya, a specialist psychiatrist and thought leader, closed the speaker sessions with a talk on “Accelerating Emotional Intelligence to Enhance Interpersonal Relationships.” He emphasized the vital role of emotional intelligence in building healthier relationships and communities. Drawing from African traditions, he spoke about the power of greeting, how this simple act carries immense meaning and can transform the tone of our interactions. His session ended with a lively Q&A, allowing attendees to unpack and personalize the insights they had gathered.
No celebration would be complete without music, and the event was graced by homegrown talents Dumza Maswana and Zain SA, whose performances were nothing short of magical. Their music brought the room to life, creating moments where everyone could sing along, sway, and simply be present in the joy of the moment.
The exhibition space was buzzing with vendors, offering opportunities for discovery, collaboration, and connection. Women mingled, exchanged business cards, shared ideas, and forged partnerships that will undoubtedly outlive the event itself.
Mbokodo Rise 2025 was a gentle yet powerful call to action. It reminded us that the journey of women is a shared one, that our stories are seeds that blossom when planted in fertile ground, and that our strength is magnified when we rise together.
In the end, Mbokodo Rise achieved what it set out to do, it accelerated action, nurtured dialogue, and created a tapestry of unity where each thread, each woman, mattered.
As the curtain fell, one thing was clear, Mbokodo Rise is a movement.
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