Women across professions continue to face invisible battles, from discrimination to harassment, that too often go unspoken.
This week, Fairbridges, one of Africa’s oldest law firms, created a space to confront those realities head-on.
Bringing together advocates, corporate leaders, and HR experts, the event tackled issues of gender-based violence (GBV), power imbalances, and leadership through honest conversation and shared experience.
Jodi Poswelletski who is the director emphasised the deeper meaning behind the initiative. “This conversation is not just about the law; it’s about progress, accountability, and the everyday experiences that shape women’s working lives,” she said.
“As Africa’s first law firm, we bear a responsibility to lead discussions that challenge traditional hierarchies, celebrate women’s achievements, and promote workplaces grounded in dignity and respect.”
The event, co-led by Poswelletski and Paula Phukuje, a labour attorney and industrial relations specialist at the firm, formed part of the firm’s ongoing BridgeTalk series, a platform created to encourage open, transformative dialogue about equality, safety, and empowerment in professional settings.
“It was important for Fairbridges to host this event because it creates a platform to explore the evolving realities of women, work, and leadership in both the legal and corporate spaces,” Poswelletski added.
“BridgeTalk reaffirms our commitment to transformation and to fostering environments where women can thrive with dignity and respect.”
Some of the keynote speakers, Advocates Sarajulie Swartz and Sarah Saunders of the Rivonia Group of Advocates, set the tone for the day, calling for courage, empathy, and accountability in dismantling harmful workplace cultures.
“The law on sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV) in the workplace has evolved to provide comprehensive protection to victims of such misconduct. Too often, victims suffer in silence out of fear of retaliation or from feelings of shame, despite not being responsible for the actions of others. The more cases of sexual harassment and GBV are reported and openly discussed, the more sensitised society will become to these issues,” they said.
Poswelletski reflected on the broader mission that drives Fairbridges’ work. “Every conversation, policy change, and act of mentorship brings us closer to a profession and a society rooted in equality, respect, and shared humanity. Fairbridges remains committed to being part of that journey.”
The conversations also inspired an open panel discussion on how businesses and law firms can move beyond compliance to cultivate real change through mentorship, reform, and intentional leadership.
Adding a corporate sector perspective, Nolita Garane, labour relations specialist in the banking sector, stressed the importance of early education and training in workplace culture.
“It is a priority to train employees significantly from the onboarding point,” she said.
“This is not only understanding and identifying when the employee is harassed in the workplace but also, as a foundation, understanding the correct way to conduct yourself in the workplace, highlighting behaviour that is often misconstrued as acceptable when it definitely is not.”
Garane further emphasised the role of technology in empowering employees to report misconduct safely and confidently. “There is further training intervention on reporting mechanisms, where employees could, from the comfort of their homes, report incidents digitally and anonymously without fear. This will deepen people’s understanding of this issue and remove misconceptions about workplace behaviour.”
David Short, Head of Employment Law, reaffirmed the firm’s stance on collective action and allyship in addressing workplace harassment.
“Despite legal progress, gender-based violence and harassment remain urgent national challenges. The safety of women at work must be non-negotiable, and it will take a tireless, collective effort to achieve it,” he said.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star
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