“Raising Consciousness, Reclaiming Power: Political Education with Young Women in Mokopane”

Rebbeca Selomo

As the facilitator of the Young Urban Women Movement in Mokopane, I’m responsible for political education and mobilizing young women around socio-economic justice. In South Africa, invisible structural violence continues to push women to the margins, making them the primary victims of poverty, inequality, and unemployment.

The Young Urban Women’s Movement actively advocates for women’s economic rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and climate justice. One of our core tools is political education that empowers young women with a grounded understanding of the macro-economy and the systems shaping their lives. As a facilitator, I’ve found this role transformative not just for participants but also for my own political growth. Every session deepens our collective understanding of the roots of systemic oppression and inspires a clearer path toward liberation.

Our local movement in Mokopane has built a vibrant base of over 50 young women from communities including Mahwelereng, Sekgakgapeng, Ext 17, Moshate, GaMokaba, and Tshamahansi. Despite the complexity of the topics, our education sessions are structured in accessible and relatable ways, nurturing revolutionary consciousness in an energizing, affirming space.

Through these dialogues, young women have come to understand that prior to colonization, African societies lived in relative harmony anchored by land access, agriculture, and a barter-based economy. The violent arrival of settlers not only dispossessed communities but imposed an extractive economic system dependent on cheap labor. This colonial legacy laid the foundation for apartheid and still echoes in today’s capitalist structures, which exclude the very workers who sustain them.

In today’s democracy where many of our elders fought for political freedom, young women are uncovering the economic truth of neoliberalism, which they describe as a system that “puts profits before people.” They recognize how neoliberal policies prioritize markets over social welfare and shift the government’s responsibility onto the private sector.

In my 20 years of activism in Mokopane, I’ve never witnessed such a passionate, informed space where young women critically engage with issues like the national budget, gender-based violence, and structural inequality. After a recent session on the South African budget, Neo Monama from Sekgakgapeng shared that she previously paid attention only to social grants during the budget speech but now feels empowered to assess the entire budget presentation. Kamogela Ntshudusane, just 18, said she’s excited to explore South African history and be part of this “heart-warming” movement. And for Girly Malatji from Mshongo, the movement is “eradicating the poverty of thought.”

Beyond the classroom, the movement advocates for dignified public spaces, including access to clean water and renovated restrooms at the Mokopane bus rank, where many women vendors seek safety and shelter. We are also calling for the revitalization of the local museum and remain present in the community, supporting victims and families in cases related to gender-based violence and femicide.

Through the Young Urban Women Movement, young women in Mokopane are no longer passive recipients of injustice. They are rising equipped with knowledge, fueled by solidarity, and ready to dismantle structural violence in pursuit of total liberation for women in