This year, as the world reflects on progress and persisting challenges, it is important to acknowledge the powerful role of women leaders in driving health policy reform, especially Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, whose work in South Africa has left a lasting legacy.

Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma served as South Africa’s Minister of Health from 1994 to 1999. During her tenure, she was instrumental in introducing and championing legislation that significantly restricted tobacco use in public spaces facing strong resistance from tobacco companies.

The Tobacco Products Control Act of 1993, though initially passed before she assumed office, was strengthened under her leadership through strongamendments and regulations. Dr Dlamini Zuma ensured the enforcement of smoking bans in public places, restrictions on tobacco advertising, and the mandatory inclusion of health warnings on packaging. Her firm stance on tobacco control made her a formidable advocate for public health on the African continent.

Dr Dlamini Zuma’s contribution is more than a case study in effective policy making, it is a testament to the transformative power of women’s leadership in government. Her work shows how women leaders bringstrategic thinking to governance, often championing issues that directly impact families and communities. In South Africa, Dr Dlamini Zuma’s efforts not only helped reduce exposure to harmful tobacco smoke but also paved way for prioritizing public well-being over corporate interests.

The measures championed by Dr Dlamini Zuma continue to influence South Africa’s tobacco control landscape. Her work paved the way for later laws, such as the proposed Control of Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which seeks to strengthen existing regulations to include modern tobacco products.

In a world where tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death, her contributions remain profoundly relevant. By aligning national health policies with WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, she positioned South Africa as a continental leader in tobacco regulation.

As we commemorate World No Tobacco Day, let us honour not only the strides made in reducing tobacco use but also the leadership that made it possible. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s legacy exemplifies how women in positions of power can drive meaningful, life-saving change. Her work is a reminder that empowering women in leadership is not just a matter of equity, it’s essential for building healthier communities. 

The Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, together with Hon. Andile Biyela and Hon. Mongezi Twala, has officially concluded participation in the exchange seminar titled “Exchange of Experiences on Modernizing National Governance and Professionalization of the State between China and South Africa.”

The seminar took place in Beijing from 7 May to 27 May 2025, and formed part of a strategic partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and South Africa’s National School of Government (NSG).

The programme aimed to foster mutual learning between South African and Chinese institutions, focusing on innovations in governance, administrative reform, and the professionalization of public service.

The 25th May marks the commemoration of Africa Day across the African continent. Every year, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature commemorates Africa Day which marks the birth of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was founded on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to free the continent from the bondage of colonialism and to forge the unity and solidarity amongst African states. The OAU is a forerunner of the now African Union (AU), which South Africa is a full member. This year Africa Day is commemorated under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”.

The KZN Legislature will be commemorating Africa Day at its Legislature precinct through various activities including displays of African flags, books, magazines, posters and other material that reflect the history of the African continent and the struggles waged by African countries to free themselves from the yokes of colonialism and oppression from external forces of imperialism.

Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, along with Hon. Andile Biyela and Hon. Mongezi Twala, is currently attending a strategic exchange and sharing session in Tianjin City, China. This engagement brings together various stakeholders from the private sector and forms part of a broader exchange programme being hosted in Beijing.

The delegation is participating in a seminar themed “Exchange of Experiences on Modernizing National Governance and Professionalization of the State between China and South Africa.” The initiative is designed to promote mutual learning and cooperation between the two nations, with a focus on effective governance practices and institutional development.

This strategic initiative is a result of a growing partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and South Africa’s National School of Government (NSG), aimed at strengthening state capacity through international collaboration.

The exchange programme started on the 7 May and will end on the 27 May 2025.

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As part of the programme, Speaker Boyce is delivering a presentation on “Enacting Complementary Legislation that Supports the Implementation of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.” Her contribution underscores the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusive governance and the advancement of women’s rights across the continent.

This high-level workshop brings together women parliamentarians from across Africa to engage on critical strategies and legislative measures aimed at achieving gender parity and empowering women in the African continent.

Caption: 

Hon. Nontembeko Boyce, Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, at  the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Regional Sensitisation Workshop held at the Parliamentary Building in Kigali, Rwanda.

The KZN Legislature continues to provide the labour sector with a platform to raise issues that affect them. To this effect, the Legislature gathered at its annual Workers Parliament event on 16 May 2025 as part of the Workers Month to bear testimony to this commitment.

The historical sacrifices of Workers were celebrated in Darnacol in Amajuba District on the 16 May 2025. The Legislature describes this year’s Workers Parliament as another huge success. This parliament saw a gathering of three major Federations in the Province, FEDUSA, NACTU, and COSATU.

The 80 delegates parliament held under the theme  Unite for Jobs, Reject Austerity, Build an Economy for All, kicked off on the 15 May where four Commissions discussing various topics or issues that affect the working class were deliberated on, and these were Challenges, Compliance, and Opportunities for Worker Empowerment with a special focus on Current energy and mining challenges, Pillars of the Mining Charter, specifically the beneficiation and workers’ conditions, Mining rights and community impact: Spotlight on Dannhauser. Strengthening Compliance and Justice for Workers in KZN, OHSA compliance and investigations, Ballito, SAPPI/FARMUSA fatalities, and exploitation and undocumented foreign workers and the Employer accountability and intervention strategies. These were amongst many other issues discussed.

The parliament ended on the 16 May 2025 with resolutions to address the above challenges. “Indeed, we were able to reflect on the challenges facing our workers, and we made a clarion call through the  resolutions to our government to intervene where necessary to improve working conditions of the working class. We look forward to next year as the Premier will deliver on the milestone his government will have gone to implement the resolutions”, said Cosatu Provincial Secretary, Edwin Mkhize.