PRINCESS Stella Sigcau II, a senior member of the Mpondo Royal Family from Ntabankulu is working hard to ensure that Amampondo are getting better lives.
Sigcau founded the South African Royal Princess Network in 2019, which is a progressive association of princesses from various parts of South Africa, who seek to make a difference to their communities, broader South Africa and the world at large.
She also founded the Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival in 2006 and was the founder of the Mpondo Reed Dance in 2008.
“I have been involved in issues of gender-based violence since 2008 working with institutions like Film and Publications Board on creating awareness about child trafficking and child pornography in the rural areas.
She said she had also dealt with issues of “women and child abuse and empowerment with Impulse Switzerland, sports development with African Rainbow Minerals, and skills development with the Department of Labour among others”.
She said she was also involved in donating sanitary towels and books to schools in Mpondoland and promoting liberation heritage at Freedom Park to honour Mpondo monarchs who played a role in the liberation struggle.
Sigcau is a diplomat by profession, having served South Africa in Thailand, Botswana and the Republic of Congo. She has also been active on COVID-19 awareness, leading to donations of sanitisers, masks, liquid soap, gloves, etc.
She added that she had coordinated a webinar on GBV, on behalf of the South African Royal Network, in partnership with the Diplomatic Society, which was scheduled for August 4. She said other participants who participated in this webinar were princesses.
Sigcau also donated books to Ntabankulu local library in Ntabankulu, recently, to ensure that learners and readers have something to read.
She confirmed that she had also established a book room to be shared with the community at Lwandlolubomvu Komkhulu (Great Place).
“This initiative falls under my Yandisa uLwazi Khuthaza Ukufunda programme. This is to encourage the culture of reading among the youth in the Mpondo Kingdom and campaigning for schools to be capacitated with libraries.”
Sigcau added that she is currently engaging Signature Library to build a library for a school in the Mpondo Kingdom. She is also in touch with Walter Sisulu University, regarding a donation of books to schools in the Mpondo Kingdom.
She confirmed that she was also engaging non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the donation of sanitary towels to schools and food parcels to the elderly, women and child-headed families. She said she would continue to coordinate the monthly hike to create awareness about GBV for the South African Princess Network. After the hike, a donation would be made to empower women.
“We must also continue to inspire and empower each other and never doubt our value and important role we play in our communities. A better life for all requires our participation in all spheres and sectors.”
She advised women to take a stand, playing their part in ending these pandemics, so that their daughters could live in a future where they feel safe and are empowered.
