Sisterhood critical in fight against stigma, says SA activist Mayaba

MBABANE- Internationally recognised HIV activist, podcaster, speaker and TV host Nozibele Mayaba says sisterhood is critical in restoring women affected by stigma.

Mayaba said this on Friday during the 10th Edition of the Mother’s Day Celebration hosted by Break Your Shell at Mozambik Restaurant in Mbabane.

She said she accepted the invitation because the event was focused on women celebrating women.

Mayaba said God’s heart for women is evident from creation, stating that after creating everything, God saw that something was missing and created woman. She said women have often been judged through the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden, but the New Testament shows restoration when Jesus chose Mary Magdalene as the first person to reveal Himself to after resurrection.

She said Mary Magdalene was the first carrier of the gospel to the nations and questioned narratives that women cannot be pastors. She said platforms that promote sisterhood and womanhood are important because they provide examples for girls and women to emulate.

Giving background about herself, Mayaba said she was born and bred in Port Elizabeth and now resides in Johannesburg with her family. She said she did not plan to become an author and speaker. Her journey began in 2013 during a wellness day at her workplace where employees were tested for diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions. She was 21 at the time and tested for HIV, where she was told she was HIV-positive.

She said stigma around HIV still exists in South Africa and globally even in 2026. She later decided to go public with her status to share a message that Jesus restores even in brokenness. She said she met her husband, who is HIV-negative, after her diagnosis and had her son after the diagnosis as well. She said this is evidence that God restores beyond imagination.

Mayaba announced that her devotional book titled Positively Me, which is based on scripture, will be launched outside South Africa for the first time in Eswatini on Sunday. She was introduced as one of the headline speakers for the 2027 10th anniversary conference.

Meanwhile, Break Your Shell Founder and Lead Executive Phiwi Mabuza said the movement is planning its biggest gathering yet in 2027 to mark 10 years of existence.

Mabuza said the event was convened to celebrate mothers and to reflect on the growth of the movement since its launch in 2018. Break Your Shell started with 58 women at the Mbabane Country Club. She said the initiative traces its origins to 2014 when she started Women In Worship, a platform that brought together female gospel artists.

She explained that Women In Worship was not initially intended as the core mandate, but served as a starting point to test the vision. It later evolved into Break Your Shell, a movement focused on empowerment, mentorship and creating forums that deepen connections beyond borders.

“The vision offers empowerment, mentorship and forums that could deepen connection beyond borders and impact positively so that somebody can untie themselves from whatever has held them back,” Mabuza said.

She said the movement has had to change venues repeatedly due to growing numbers. After starting at the country club, she said attendees complained that they could not dress up freely, prompting a move to a larger venue. The conference was later hosted at Tums George Hotel and Happy Valley before moving to Esibayeni Lodge.

Mabuza said the movement gained international attention in 2024 when eight women from South Africa attended the edition held at Tums George Hotel to observe what Eswatini was doing. The delegation told her the venue was too small and pledged to return with more people.

She said the pledge materialised in 2025 when 59 women from South Africa travelled by bus to Happy Valley for the conference. This year, the number increased further with two buses arriving from South Africa for the conference at Esibayeni Lodge.

She attributed the cross-border growth to collaboration with Mita, a South African women’s movement that also gathers and empowers women. She said the partnership has opened opportunities for Eswatini speakers in South Africa, including platforms with audiences of up to 1,500 people.

Mabuza said the 2027 edition will be the 10th anniversary and the biggest celebration to date. She said the intention is to prioritise local attendance.

“Our target is for Eswatini to get the maximum number. We want them to fill that room,” she said, adding that international delegates will be accommodated thereafter.

She announced the theme for the upcoming season as ‘We Are Fully Persuaded’ based on Romans 4:21. She said the theme speaks to women being fully convinced that God has power to do what He has promised in their lives, despite social ills and difficult backgrounds.

Mabuza said the movement emphasises spiritual empowerment as a foundation for balanced living, noting that when the spirit is strengthened, women can rise to their destined positions.

She also acknowledged her core team, which she said has been with the movement since its inception in 2018, and thanked them for their commitment and ability to resolve differences quickly.

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