​Koketso Maraba
 
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has reaffirmed its commitment to women's empowerment through education and career development at its Women's Month event held on 28 August 2025. 
This comes after five (5) female staff members were awarded bursaries from STADIO Higher Education, highlighting the department's dedication to fostering growth and opportunity.
Held under the theme "Building Resilient Economies for All," the event celebrated women's achievements and promoted gender equality, learning, and career advancement within the department.
Currently, 253 women are enrolled in the GDoH bursary programme, making up 71% of all participants. This investment in education is helping to build a skilled and resilient healthcare workforce.
One of the beneficiaries, Diketso Makhele, an administrator from the Department's Communication Chief Directorate, shared her experience:
"The Human Resource Development (HRD) programme has helped me a lot with my studies and is continuing to do so even after getting my previous qualifications. Education is something no one can take away from you, and it helps you grow in your career."
Diketso acknowledged the challenges of balancing work, study, and personal life. "Studying while working is very hard because, even though you need to study, you must not forget your work duties or your social life. But when you keep your eyes on your long-term goal, you see that your sacrifice is worth it."
She added, "I had a serious talk with myself, thought about how important this chance was, and I stayed focused. I would strongly recommend other women in the department to join because they will gain a lot and realise, they have great potential."
Samantha Ngindi from the HRD division explained that the bursary programme is ongoing and widely embraced by employees.
"Most employees choose qualifications in areas like finance, public management, human resources, and humanities. There is also a growing interest in IT-related courses," she said.
She emphasised that Women's Month is about more than just education. "While the partnership with higher education institutions is important, for Women's Month, we focus on a broader approach to empowering women, including shifting mindsets and encouraging entrepreneurship. Our programmes aim to inspire personal growth and professional development across all areas."
By supporting women's education and skill development, the department is not only empowering individuals but also strengthening healthcare services across Gauteng. These initiatives help close skill gaps, spark innovation, and improve service delivery.
With women making up a significant portion of the department's workforce, programmes like this reflect the GDoH's commitment to building a fair, capable, and inclusive healthcare system led by empowered women.