Minister Dina Pule to address challenges facing widows in Limpopo

Social Development Minister Dina Pule is set to commemorate International Widows Day in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Friday, 21 August 2026.

The event will be held at the Premier Hotel in the Vhembe District under the theme: “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows – The African Perspective.”

The commemoration will bring together widows, traditional leaders, government agencies and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting women who have lost their spouses.

The Department of Social Development says the engagement will provide an opportunity for widows to raise their concerns directly with the Minister and contribute to identifying long-term solutions aimed at improving their lives and livelihoods.

International Widows Day was established by the United Nations in 2010 and is commemorated annually in June to raise awareness of the challenges faced by widows globally. The day promotes the rights of widows and calls for greater access to support services while addressing poverty and injustice.

The department says many widows in South Africa continue to face challenges including disinheritance from marital property, poverty, social exclusion and limited access to emotional support and counselling.

Some widows also experience grief and trauma following the loss of their spouses while facing economic insecurity, discrimination, stigma and harmful traditional practices.

The dialogue will focus on issues including cultural and religious oppression, socio-economic challenges, poverty, inequality, gender-based violence and other injustices affecting widows.

The event is scheduled for 10:00 on Friday, 21 August 2026, at the Premier Hotel in Thohoyandou, Vhembe District, Limpopo.