Women are the holders, the purveyors and the sharers of knowledge. This is true in many cultural and historical contexts.  As an organisation that puts high value on knowledge sharing, the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) held its second Women Leading Knowledge breakfast at the close of Women’s Month under the theme: “Transgenerational Knowledge Sharing”.

The celebratory tone of this gathering of high-powered women, donned in dresses and sneakers, belied the serious nature of the key topics of the morning: ageism, the gender data gap, and the so-called ‘pink tax’ on mobility.

“Women pay an extra 7% on average for travel, as compared to men. This additional expense exacerbates financial stress and deepens inequalities, especially when considered alongside the gender pay gap,” says Viwe Mgedezi, Executive Manager for Knowledge Management at the GMA.

She paid tribute to the women in our society who carry the extra burden of childcare and school lifts (often as single mothers), making what is often an arduous journey to and from work.  

Citing the World Bank Report on Inequality in South Africa (2022), Mgedezi said, “Women face greater financial strain not only because they earn less but also due to their additional responsibilities. In South Africa, a significant percentage of modest households are headed by women, many of whom are single mothers. These women bear the brunt of childcare, elderly care, and household chores, further compounding their financial challenges.” 

She noted that the Gautrain has been a contributor to women empowerment since its inception  through its socio-economic development initiatives and continues to change travel behaviours by providing a safe and efficient transport.

Keynote speaker Lisel Engelbrecht, Head of Data, Analytics and AI at Standard Bank Group, highlighted the data bias, unconscious or conscious, in which data analytics more often than not fail to take gender into account, perpetuating the gender gap. 

The panel discussion which followed interrogated ageism in the workplace and society, with a frank and personal discussion on menopause and the societal expectation that women should look and behave a certain way.

“A big part of addressing gender bias rests on knowledge-sharing; women supporting women and opening up the conversations,” said Mgedezi. “However, even more important is to ensure the passage of knowledge from the older generation to the younger generation.”

Adding to the poignancy of the morning was the arrival of three special guests and legends in their time: artist and sculptor Helen Sebidi, singer and songwriter Abigail Kubeka and writer, poet, politician and activist Barabara Masekela.

“We have to ask ourselves, “To what extent are we paying attention to our ooMakhulu (senior women) and the vast repository of knowledge and wisdom that they hold?” said Mgedezi. “We need to learn from the women who have gone before us if we are to foster a knowledge society and culture of continuous growing and learning.”

The GMA’s 2^nd Women Leading Knowledge breakfast was held in partnership with Wits Business School and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).