01 May 2025
Final Preparations Underway for the South African Women in Defence (SAWID) Breakfast
Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated South African Women in Defence (SAWID) Breakfast, set to take place on 9 May 2025 at the prestigious facilities of SAAB Grintek Defence. This gathering marks a significant milestone in the reactivation of SAWID, an initiative aimed at empowering women across the Defence and National Security sectors. The SAWID Breakfast is more than just an event — it is the start of a new chapter. It forms part of the build-up activities leading to the official SAWID launch, scheduled for August 2025 during South Africa’s Women's Month celebrations. The breakfast seeks to bring together women from various arms of service, industry leaders, government representatives, and key stakeholders in a spirit of dialogue, mentorship, and strategic collaboration. In alignment with SAWID’s core objectives, the event will focus on:
As part of the preparations, a special invitation has been extended to the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to facilitate the participation of 80 women in uniform from all Arms of Service, whose presence will symbolise the SANDF’s commitment to gender transformation and leadership development.
In addition, Defence TV/Podcast has been invited to provide coverage of the event, ensuring that this historic gathering is captured and shared widely to inspire future generations of women leaders.
The SAWID Steering Committee expresses its gratitude to all partners, stakeholders and participants who have played a role in shaping this initiative. The upcoming breakfast promises to set a strong foundation for SAWID’s future work and reinforce the vital role women play in securing a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous South Africa.
We look forward to welcoming all our distinguished guests to a morning of inspiration, connection and action.