South African social entrepreneur and founder of Qrate, Candice Chirwa, has stated that her country needs a feminist leadership rooted in empathy, justice, and accountability.
Chirwa, who is also an educator and popularly known as the Minister of Menstruation because of her advocacy in menstrual health issues, made this known in an interview published in Naira Stories Magazine on Tuesday.
Asked if she has thoughts of becoming South African president, the Qrate founder replied, “Me as president? I think my role is more as the Minister of Menstruation than the Commander-in-Chief.”
However, she stressed that representation matters and that a female president would signal progress. On the other hand, she cautioned that it is not just about identity, but also about the politics a female president would bring.
“I would hope for a presidency that centres care, dignity, and inclusion,” she added.
Chirwa noted that if she were to meet the South African president regarding the poverty and humanitarian issues in the country, she would advise him to listen to young people, that they are not the future, but the present.
She stated that she would also advise him to invest in dignity, not just infrastructure, because poverty is not just a lack of money, but also a lack of a voice, an agency, and respect.
”Finally, he should prioritise gendered approaches because poverty looks different for women, and policies must reflect that,” she said.
Explaining how she came to be called the Minister of Menstruation, she said her friend gave her the title because of the work she was doing in communities.
“He felt I was more visible than our actual ministers in South Africa and doing important work as well. For those who do not know, we have a lot of ministers in South Africa. So, instead of shying away, I embraced it because it reframed something taboo into something powerful and even playful,” she added.
Asked if South Africa actually needs a Ministry of Menstruation, she said not literally, but symbolically.
“Menstruation deserves institutional recognition, not hidden in health, not tucked under education, but as its own cross-cutting issue. A ministry signals seriousness, resources, and accountability,” she said.
On the other hand, she noted that if she were appointed by the government as the minister of menstruation, her dream would be a South Africa where menstruation is seen as ordinary, not extraordinary, adding that she would ensure menstrual health is not just about products but about dignity, education, and infrastructure.
Chirwa admitted that free pads alone would not fix period poverty if girls do not have bathrooms at school, or if stigma keeps them at home.
“Sustainability would come from embedding menstrual health into broader policies: education, healthcare, and labour rights. That way, even if the minister changes, the systems remain,” she added.
Candice Chirwa is also a writer and is currently pursuing a PhD in International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. She has spent the past eight years breaking the silence around periods and pushing for systemic gender equality.
Her work has led to her inclusion in the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, and she has been honoured by Mail & Guardian, Constitution Hill, and the NYDA.
