A daughter of Zebediela, standing for women who refuse to stay silent.

My name is Tebatso Aphane, a proud daughter of Zebediela in Limpopo — a citrus farming community that taught me resilience, discipline, and the value of hard work from a young age.

I am an Occupational Health and Safety Officer, an entrepreneur, and currently completing my BCom in Project Management. I work in high-risk, male-dominated environments where safety is not just policy — it is the difference between going home whole or not at all.

In these spaces, women are often expected to adapt, stay silent, or prove themselves twice over. I have experienced sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace — moments that could have silenced me, but instead strengthened my voice.

I know what it feels like to stand in a space where you are made to feel small — and I also know what it takes to rise anyway.

This is not just my personal story. It reflects a national crisis, one so urgent that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy recently issued a national guidance note addressing gender-based violence, femicide, and the safety challenges faced by women in the workplace.

That is why I founded SheWorks Safely — to create workplaces where women are not just present, but protected, heard, and respected.

Through my initiative, Hard Hats and Safety Shoes, I lead practical safety conversations and use workplace toolbox sessions to raise awareness about sexual harassment — breaking the silence around issues many women are still afraid to speak about. Supported by a strong network of female psychologists, HR practitioners, and legal professionals, I ensure that women are not only heard, but also guided, protected, and empowered.

I believe that a woman should never have to choose between her femininity and her ambition. We can lead with strength, with grace, and with certainty.

I stand for a South Africa where women do not just rise — they rise in environments strong enough to protect their power.