Celebrating Women Leaders through Time and Space

Women's History Month has begun, and we are already witnessing great moments of reflection and celebration all throughout the world. This month gives us the chance to highlight the voices of female leaders who have had a significant impact on their industries while encouraging other young women to pursue their passions and assume positions of leadership in their fields.

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Women's Month in South Africa includes Women's Day, which offers a chance to honour the generations of women whose battles established the groundwork for the advancements made to date in gender equality and the empowerment of women. while recognizing women's strength, resilience, and contributions to society and the nation. Furthermore, we commemorate the more than 20,000 women who protested the application of the Pass Laws to women by marching to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956.

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This year we celebrate Women's Month under the theme: “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience”. One of the ways our joint CEO, Belinda  Francis Scott is paving the way for women leadership at Fourth Space is by creating a supportive office space that empowers and builds on the strengths of her female employees while being a source of inspiration for how hard work and determination can pay off.

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Women leaders of today are tenacious and diverse. They are mobilising the global climate movement, pushing for social change, addressing the post-COVID-19 crisis, and inspiring fellow women to take up positions of power. Around the world, women leaders improve lives and inspire a better future for all.

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At Fourth Space we believe to change course, power must be shared equally, made visible and accountable, at all levels, and that is what’s at the core of women's leadership. We need transformative female leadership to face the unprecedented challenges of our times.

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Belinda Francis Scott is one of many women leaders who continue to inspire us through her dedication to continual learning and her exceptional leadership as well as years of experience she brings to the table.  

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Belinda was a Member of the KZN Provincial Legislature since the dawn of democracy in 1994, assuming many Portfolio Chairs prior to becoming the MEC for Finance for KwaZulu-Natal in the last term of office from 2014 to 2019. Thereafter Belinda served as the Deputy Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, to turn the finances in the City around.

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Belinda has a Master’s Degree in Soc. Sc: Industrial and Labour Studies from UKZN, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Constitutional Law, PhD.Phil (Law). She was awarded both the KZN Provincial and National Housing Person of the Year awards in 1996 at the age of 32 for her vision in informal settlement upgrades. She served on both the Provincial and National Housing Boards in the late 90s and was a Director of the Cato Development Association for 10 years from 1996. Cato Manor was the first successful inner city housing development for disadvantaged people in SA.

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It is through Urban Lime that she continues to dedicate her passion and commitment towards the betterment of society through inclusive urban rejuvenation.

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Through her years of experience and leadership Belinda has brought invaluable insights to the table by providing in depth expertise on financial and urban development.