SWEEP Launches at Rhodes University to Promote Economic Empowerment for Women

By: Ephreeda Banda

Marking the start of Women's Month in South Africa, Rhodes University officially launched its Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) in the Eastern Cape. This initiative is a robust response to persistent inequalities in economic participation, and it arrives at a time when the need for targeted support for women is more critical than ever.

The programme, run in partnership with the University's Career Centre and the Division of Student Services and Development, aims to bolster economic agency among women students through targeted support in leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career development. It is a movement that addresses women's complex challenges in South Africa's social and cultural landscape and celebrates their potential as future leaders and innovators.

SWEEP is significant because it is not merely a local initiative. It forms part of a national movement under Universities South Africa (USAf), operating within the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme. This national footprint gives the Rhodes University chapter immense weight, connecting it to a broader support network and shared purpose.

The SWEEP programme was born at Nelson Mandela University in 2022 and has since spread remarkably, establishing 17 university chapters nationwide. Each chapter is committed to nurturing a sisterhood of economically empowered young women. The Rhodes University launch, therefore, signals the deepening of this national movement within the Eastern Cape, highlighting the University's steadfast dedication to gender equity and student entrepreneurship.

The launch event brought together a diverse audience, reflecting the programme's wide-reaching impact. The audience included Rhodes University students, university leadership, representatives from sister SWEEP chapters at other universities, and local community partners. The atmosphere was one of shared purpose and a collective understanding that economic empowerment is not simply about offering equal opportunities.

Instead, it requires acknowledging the uneven playing field many women face, barriers shaped by history, culture, finance, and systemic exclusion. This was the central message and the heart of the launch's keynote address, delivered by Dr. Edwell Gumbo, Director of Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE).

The theme, "Equality vs Equity: Women in Economic Participation," framed the entire event and provided a crucial lens through which to view the programme's mission. Dr. Gumbo reminded attendees that entrepreneurship cannot be treated as a race where everyone begins at the same starting line. He detailed the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in South Africa: they remain underrepresented in high-growth sectors, grapple with limited access to capital, and are often sidelined from the networks where opportunities flourish.

The challenge, he argued, is not about women's capabilities, but about opening access to the structures that support success. As Dr. Gumbo explained, SWEEP is designed to close this equity gap. It focuses on capacity building, networking, and visibility, ensuring women have the skills, connections, and advocacy needed to thrive in their entrepreneurial journeys. This deliberate and targeted approach sets SWEEP apart and makes it vital.

Tailoring Support to Lived Realities

The University's leadership echoed this profound commitment to inclusive economic participation. Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, Rhodes University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Student Affairs, celebrated the launch as a landmark moment. She underscored the University's role in nurturing students who are not only intellectually curious but also socially conscious leaders.

For Professor Monnapula-Mapesela, SWEEP is a critical bridge between classroom learning and real-world economic engagement. It helps students envision a future where their ideas and leadership can create sustainable social impact, linking academic theory to practical application.

The discussion at the launch was a deep dive into the practicalities of equity. Professor Tshidi Mohapeloa, Director of the Rhodes University Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CfERI) and Chair of EDHE, highlighted the importance of tailoring support to the "lived realities of women students". She stressed that generic interventions cannot dismantle systemic financial, technological, or social barriers.

Instead, intentional, context-sensitive support is essential. This means advocating for comprehensive policies, equal access to technology, and opportunities designed to empower women on their terms. SWEEP, she explained, embodies this vision by fostering a sisterhood that uplifts through solidarity and shared purpose.

Ms. Karen Synman, Specialist Student Entrepreneurship at Nelson Mandela University, further illuminated the origins and rapid growth of the SWEEP movement. Reflecting on the programme's inception, Ms. Synman explained how recognising historical exclusion spurred the creation of SWEEP. She elaborated on the distinction between equality and equity, noting that equality "fails to account for the deep-rooted barriers women face" - barriers such as Apartheid legacies, patriarchal norms, and economic marginalisation.

Conversely, equity recognises these challenges and "seeks to level the ground with deliberate, targeted support ". The rapid expansion of SWEEP chapters across South Africa is a powerful testament to the urgent need for and widespread commitment to this equitable approach.

Redefining Success, Reshaping Culture

This vision of transformation extends beyond mere numbers and programmes. Dr. Claire Kelly, Rhodes University's Director for Equity and Institutional Culture, challenged attendees to rethink what success truly means. She argued that inclusion is not simply about presence but about "reshaping policies, cultures, and systems" so that women can lead authentically and without hindrance.

She emphasised that starting from the undergraduate level, dismantling patriarchal stereotypes is key to creating environments where women do not just participate, but innovate and influence. SWEEP drives these cultural shifts within higher education and beyond.

Planting Seeds of Change

The launch concluded on an inspiring and hopeful note, with reflections from Mrs. Milisa Mamase, the SWEEP Rhodes University Chapter Chairperson, and Mr. Thobani Mesani, SWEEP Rhodes University Chapter Coordinator. Their words celebrated the programme as a "seed planted", a beginning that promises growth in empowerment, sisterhood, and opportunity.

This promise has already begun to bear fruit. The Rhodes University chapter has extended its impact into the wider Makhanda community, mentoring Grade 7 girls from C.E. Vellem Primary School and igniting aspirations early. This community engagement demonstrates the practical, on-the-ground impact that SWEEP is committed to achieving.

The SWEEP launch at Rhodes University was far more than a formal event. It was a powerful reaffirmation of the institution's commitment to inclusive innovation and social justice. It served as a vital recognition that the economic future of South Africa depends on ensuring women have not only the right to participate but also the resources to thrive and lead. As Women's Month inspires reflection and action, SWEEP stands as a living testament to the power of equity-driven change. With the proper support, the seeds planted at Rhodes will grow into a landscape where women shape the economy, their communities, and the nation's future on equal footing and with unwavering confidence. This initiative is a beacon of hope and a blueprint for a more equitable and prosperous South Africa.