New flagship station property to debut at Mbokodo Rise as South Africa marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March
As South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the historic Women’s March of 9 August 1956, trufm is redefining the way Women’s Month is celebrated with the launch of truShero: The Living Legacy Project — a new flagship station property dedicated to documenting, preserving and celebrating the stories of the extraordinary ordinary women whose courage, sacrifice and resilience helped shape the South Africa we know today.
Developed in partnership with Mbokodo Rise, truShero positions trufm not simply as a broadcaster, but as a storyteller and custodian of living history. Under the campaign theme, “Celebrating the women whose stories built our future,” the initiative will preserve voices that have often remained unheard, ensuring that their legacies live on for generations to come. Throughout the month of August, trufm will invite listeners to nominate extraordinary ordinary women born in or before 1956 whose lives have positively impacted families, communities and future generations. Five women will be selected as the inaugural truShero, with their journeys brought to life through a series of Legacy Conversations—powerful intergenerational discussions between the women and trufm’s female presenters that will air across the station throughout Women’s Month.
The campaign culminates on 29 August 2026 at the Mbokodo Rise event, where truShero: The Living Legacy Project will take centre stage as one of the event’s signature highlights. The five women will be honoured with the Imbokodo Legacy Award, presented by trufm, in recognition of their enduring contribution to their families, communities and society. Over and above an awards presentation, the ceremony will symbolise the passing of courage, wisdom and resilience from the generation of 1956 to the women who continue to shape South Africa today.
“For us, this is much bigger than a Women’s Month campaign,” says Cwy Mandindi, Marketing Manager for the SABC Eastern Cape Combo (Umhlobo Wenene FM and trufm). “We asked ourselves what would make this different from every other Women’s Month initiative, and the answer was simple: preserve living history before it is lost forever. truShero is about giving a platform to the women whose stories may never have been told, but whose lives built the future we now enjoy. There is something incredibly powerful about seeing a grandmother from New Brighton, KwaZakhele or Motherwell sharing her life story on stage before hundreds of people, while thousands more experience it on radio and online. That’s what makes this partnership so special. Together, we’re not only celebrating these women, we’re preserving their stories for future generations. We want these voices to become part of our collective heritage, inspiring generations long after this year’s commemoration.”
Founder of Mbokodo Rise, Sesethu Gqomo-Seyibhokwe said: “When we started Mbokodo Rise nine years ago, our vision was simple: to create a space where women’s voices matter. This partnership with trufm takes that vision beyond the event by bringing the stories of extraordinary ordinary women from our communities to one of the Eastern Cape’s biggest platforms. For Mbokodo Rise, whose annual event champions the importance of women’s narratives and the power of storytelling to inspire change, the partnership represents a natural alignment of purpose. Together, the two organisations are creating more than a Women’s Month celebration—they are building an enduring platform that honours the past, inspires the present and preserves the voices that will shape the future”.
As the Exclusive Radio Media Partner, trufm will broadcast live from Mbokodo Rise on 29 August, bringing listeners to the heart of the celebration through live crossings, interviews and a dedicated live-stream across the station’s digital platforms. This will allow audiences across the Eastern Cape and beyond to share in the celebration and experience the powerful stories of the inaugural truSheroes as they unfold.
Beyond the event, the stories of the nominated women will live on through the truShero Legacy Archive, a permanent digital collection hosted on the trufm website. The archive will preserve audio recordings, photographs, biographies, podcasts and documentary content, creating a growing repository of the women whose lives helped shape the Eastern Cape and South Africa.
As the inaugural edition of what is envisioned to become an annual property, truShero: The Living Legacy Project lays the foundation for a growing legacy. Future editions will celebrate different generations and themes, ensuring that the remarkable stories of ordinary women continue to be documented, shared and remembered.
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