WOMEN IN
TOURISM MMAMOLOKO KUBAYI, Minister of Human Settlements (former Minister of Tourism), says this sector has the potential to advance women’s empowerment through policies and programmes that substantially increase the meaningful participation of women in tourism
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n the southern bank of the Klein Letaba River in Limpopo, lies the ancient sacred site in Baleni which tells the story of the pioneering spirit of women. Visitors can watch local women, such as Emelia Mathebula and Maria Mkhari, using techniques dating back 2 000 years to extract salt from sand, using water and filters made from mud and wood. The filtered water is boiled to evaporation point in steel pans placed on wood fires to produce salt, which, among others, is revered for its healing properties. This ancient, slow, meticulous salt harvesting process – passed on from one generation to another – is the main attraction to the site. The two women can usually be found sitting serenely at the foot of an ancient
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