South African Women in Defence (SAWID) has now formally renamed itself to Women in Defence South Africa (WIDSA), a strong new start to the movement to advance gender transformation in the defence sector.
The news was disclosed at the Women’s Celebration on 28 August at Denel headquarters in Irene. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, delivered the keynote address with the title “Breaking Barriers, Building the Future”.
The Minister situated the rebrand in the broader history of resistance by women in South Africa. “During this Women’s Month, we remember that we are not starting from scratch,” she insisted. “We stand on the shoulders of giants – the women of 1956 who marched to the Union Buildings demanding justice and equality. Because they marched, there are doors open for us. Because they broke down barriers, we are able to enter rooms that were once unimaginable. And yet, our work is far from over, for ‘The March Goes On’.”
Motshekga stressed that defence should not only be associated with military activities, but with industrialisation, technology, innovation, and economic growth. “The defence industry is a strategic driver of our industrial base. Every contract awarded, every supply chain strengthened, every innovation tested feeds into job creation, technology transfer, and industrial competitiveness,” she insisted.
“Transformation is not just a matter of paper representation; it is a question of real access to contracts, real participation in value chains, and real possibilities for ownership and innovation. We are determined to press policies that bring women-owned enterprises and youth into the procurement processes of the defence industry.”
Denel’s commitment
Tshepo Monaheng, Group CEO of Denel, received the Minister and guests, making a commitment on behalf of Denel for ongoing support to women in the sector.
“Today is not only a celebration day but also a day of appreciation – appreciation of the great contributions that women continue to bring in protecting our country and shaping the future of our defence society.”
“We need more women scientists and engineers. At Denel, we recommit to enabling women to flourish not only as stakeholders, but as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers,” Monaheng said.
SAWID becomes WIDSA
Michelle Nxumalo, SAWID Task Team Chairperson, unveiled the organisation’s new name officially: ‘Women in Defence South Africa (WIDSA)’. “This renaming reaffirms our ongoing commitment to empowering, advancing, and representing women in defence.”
She recalled South Africa’s recent success at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Türkiye, where seven women-owned companies showcased their innovations under the national pavilion.
Nxumalo also cited encouraging movement in women-owned companies joining the Aerospace, Maritime, and Defence Industries Association (AMD) of South Africa. “In May, we had 13.3% women-owned businesses in AMD. Today we are at 17.2%, and out of 81 members we have 14 women-owned businesses. We are improving, but there’s still plenty of work to do.”
“It is our collective responsibility to lay the groundwork for a future in which every young woman can see herself as a leader in this arena,” she concluded.
Empowering women’s voices
AMD Marketing Committee Chair Colin Singarum framed the rebrand as a chance for exposure and greater engagement. “SAWID is not a conference – it is a movement,” he stated. “But visibility is just the start. True empowerment happens when women-owned businesses are able to look beyond branding and into real participation within contracts and supply chains.”
Singarum announced AMD’s plans to showcase women’s work through its Defence Collaboration Magazine and ‘VideoMag’, but made it clear that representation must translate into actual opportunity.
“Transformation happens when women are not only represented but completely integrated into procurement and strategic partnerships,” he argued.
Industry stakeholders supported the necessity of WIDSA as a transformational forum.
“Dr Khulile Mtsetfwa, Swatek Defence and Aerospace CEO and WIDSA Task Team Deputy Chair, reminded the audience of the defence industry’s past exclusion of women.
“Too long, women’s thoughts were dismissed, their work ignored,” she declared.
“The road to WIDSA rebranding is not just a change of name; it is a declaration of expansion. All change is an invitation: to connect again, to believe again, and to walk towards the future together.”
Mtsetfwa called for deliberate interventions, including mentorship programmes, equal opportunities of promotion, and leadership incubation.
Queen Ndlovu, founder of QP Drone Tech, described how she had developed her entrepreneurial career in drone technology, emphasizing the resilience required to get into the defence industry.
“I started my drone manufacturing business in 2018, but had to pivot to services because the market wasn’t ready,” she said. “Now, I am starting manufacturing again, because defence is now embracing drones and AI.”
“Don’t fall in love with your solution; fall in love with the pain of the client. Learn to build a rejection vaccine. A closed door is not a locked door.”
She also said that defence innovations are likely to generate dual-use technologies that spill over into the civilian marketplace and, as a result, make the industry an economic powerhouse catalyst.
Why the rebrand is important
WIDSA’s objectives are to advance greater representation by women in defence policy and practice; Facilitating gender revolution by strategic action; Developing streams of mentorship for young women; Enhancing women’s participation in defence-related STEM fields and Developing networks that foster collaboration and exchange of knowledge.
It is an easy vision: women must not only be involved with the defence industry, but lead its transformation into a driver of industrialisation, innovation, and collective economic growth.
“When women rise, we must rise with others. As we break barriers, we must see that others walk through the doors we open. Because true strength in defence is not found in exclusion, but in diversity,” Motshekga said.
With its new title, WIDSA views itself not just as an advocacy body, but as a movement dedicated to propelling policy, shifting culture, and unlocking doors.
The message from all speakers was the same: the march towards change in defence is under way – and women will drive it.
