ISSUE 04 WOMEN IN AFRICA EDITION AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FACEBOOK AFRICA’S REGIONAL DIRECTOR NUNU NTSHINGILA
independent
Fashion narrative THE JOURNEY OF AMNA ELSHANDAWEELY
CELEBRATING WOMEN R35.50 RSA, SWAZILAND, MOZAMBIQUE K58.20 ZAMBIA BWP41 BOTSWANA $8 KENYA, ZIMBABWE
AFRICA’S INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE LEADERS
ISSUE 04 - AUG/SEPT 2018
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AFRICAN PATTERNS Fashion designer Amna Elshandaweely offers some insights into the inspiration behind her fashion line and how it carries the narrative of her African heritage.
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THE LIFE OF A FIGHTER
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Mamokgethi Phakeng – the newly appointed vicechancellor of the University of Cape Town – has known since birth what it means to fight for what she wants.
22 LEADING BOLDY
Xolo Motswasele, as client partner, heads up the Sasol account – one of AYO Technology’s most important South African-based multinational customers.
34 SHAPING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
Architect and bestselling author, Lesley Lokko, brings African locations, cultures and people to life through art and academics.
74 FIGHT LIKE A GIRL
Shana Power, MMA fighter and owner of PHiT gym, talks about sexism in the sports industry and what success means to her.
Well-known chef and food stylist, Zola Nene, says her biggest wish for Africa is that we start embracing what makes us so unique and dynamic.
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editor’s note
“The seeds of success in every nation on earth are best planted in women and children.” – Joyce Banda, first female vice-president and former president of Malawi As a young female editor working in a predominantly male-dominated industry such as the business print media, I’ve found that while we have the same legal rights as men in the workplace, we are still tackling unconscious biases and stereotypes. I am encouraged by the fact that we’re starting to see more women take up leadership positions across the board. Two women who come to mind are Nunu Ntshingila, Facebook Africa’s regional director, and Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, the University of Cape Town’s vicechancellor, both of whom appear in this edition. Our cover personality, Amna Elshandaweely, is an Egyptian
making waves in the fashion industry. From an early age, Elshandaweely was unimpressed with the standard of fashion in Egypt. She felt misrepresented, not only as a woman, but as an African too, and spotted a gap in the cultural representation of people who look like her. Once we as women occupy leadership roles, it is simply not enough to conform. As Huda Sha’arawi, creator of the first Egyptian Philanthropic Society for women, and founder and head of the Egyptian Feminist Union said: “Men have singled out women of outstanding merit and put them on a pedestal to avoid recognising the capabilities of all women.” When we begin to tell the stories of these women – and others who are excelling in their respective industries (and believe me, there are a lot) – we give them the recognition they deserve. Thus, we present our first Women in Africa edition – a celebration honouring those who have come before us, those who are busy changing the world, and those who are yet to come.
independent African News Agency Publishing ANA CEO Grant Fredericks grant.fredericks@africannewsagency.com ANA COO Mark Keohane mark.keohane@inl.co.za Editor Saarah Survé saarah.surve@anapublishing.com Assistant Editor Walter Hayward walter.hayward@anapublishing.com Head of Design Warren Uytenbogaardt warren.uytenbogaardt@inl.co.za Design Tariq Cassim, Sheeth Hanief, Mish-al van Rijmenant Group Head of Sales Kyle Villet Sales Manager Mandla Mangena Financial Manager Lisa de Villiers CA (SA) Printer Paarl Media Distribution MDA Distribution African Channel Distribution Office Manager & Subscriptions Susan Ball susan.ball@anapublishing.com
Saarah Survé
Which female figure inspires you?
Published by ANA Publishing Physical Address 5th Floor, Newspaper House, 122 St Georges Mall, Gardens, 8001, Cape Town
Walter Hayward
Assistant Editor “My mother inspires me every day to be myself and fight for what is right and fair; to not accept defeat and to love unconditionally.”
Farah Khalfe
Writer & Copy Editor “I am inspired by the women of South Africa who go through quiet struggles and carry silent burdens, yet continue to be the nurturers and caregivers – who uplift a nation of young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future – regardless of the sacrifices they have to endure.”
Sonwabo Macingwana
Junior Writer “My mom is a supermom, grandmother, nanny, preacher’s wife and parent, but I’ve also looked up to other phenomenal women who are inspiring other women and doing great things in the world to the betterment of society.”
Elske Joubert
Senior Writer “I am inspired by women who have faced mammoth challenges and who have overcome, who have fought hard battles, and won. As well as the women who wear their scars with pride because those scars are part of their stories. The women who make no excuses and accept and embrace who they were made to be.”
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Africa without borders
Paul Modjadji is a dancer, choreographer, writer, author, social developer and entrepreneur.
Whose responsibility is it to educate us about ourselves? Prior to my recent trip to Jamaica, where I was invited to be a guest lecturer at an arts college, I drove all over Johannesburg looking for books by iconic South African photographer, Peter Magubane. Magubane’s work chronicles some of South Africa’s most historic moments and events dating back to the 1950s. I had decided to utilise part of his work as reference material for my course. After a failed search across the city, I tried my luck at one of the airport bookstores, only to find nothing on Magubane, nor his peers. Since I was determined to find bodies of work to assist in delivering my lectures and displaying the spirit of South Africa to my class, I decided to try a nearby music and DVD store for any South African movies, documentaries or special projects such as the Umoja musical, Sarafina, Iphi Intombi etc. To my horror, there was a shelf with no content. Instead, staring back at me were movies and music from all over the world and close to nothing from other parts of our continent. The store manager confirmed my worst suspicion: they have no content on South African special projects. I
thought about OR Tambo International Airport, and its significant position on the continent as the “Gateway to Africa”. This remains a missed opportunity to educate the world about our rich and diverse heritage. My experience of looking for South Africancentred content reignited my dissatisfaction with the lack of accessibility to African stories and knowledge in general. There is a lack of focused demand to prioritise Afrocentric content production, as well as the distribution of stories and knowledge within our backyards, and consequently within the world. Africa is unique in comparison to other continents; the remnants of our difficult past are deeply woven into our present realities. Every country in Africa has a unique way of reminding one of where it’s been, a fact that tells us that our stories are still fresh, that they are not our history, but our present story. I recently had the privilege of being hosted by the newly launched Centre for Holocaust, Genocide and Xenophobia in Johannesburg. Through conversing with many South Africans, it emerged many of them know the details
about the Holocaust. However, the same cannot be claimed about them being well-informed about the genocides right here in Africa. Many of us aren’t informed or reminded of the approximately one million people who died during the Rwandan Genocide, or the recent ongoing genocide that is happening in South Sudan. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), known as the UN Refugee Agency, reports that of the nearly 20.2 million people who have been forced to flee their homes in Africa, over half of them are under the age of 18. Women and girls are prominent within this group. Women and girls who have had to endure and survive severe hunger and unforgivable acts of violation, forced to leave everything behind as they seek safety and survival. Thousands of refugees seek asylum everyday in camps across Africa. Nearly 44 000 people a day are forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution around the globe. As Africans today, how are we using the power of the arts and our culture to ensure that our realities are never silenced? To borrow from Nina Simone, “The role of the artist is to reflect the times in which we live”. Simone was a part of a group of artists, the likes of Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti, who understood the power of using art to advocate, educate, and demand urgency and justice for humanity, whose bodies of work still reflect the realities of the time. How then do we continue with the same verve to promote human rights and share African stories with our communities? We have a role and responsibility to liberate other Africans who remain oppressed and plagued. As we celebrate Women’s Month, let’s remember all the women and girls in refugee camps who remain resilient, and as we observe Heritage Month, let’s remember our custodianship, as Africans.
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women in Africa
HONOURING WOMEN To t h o s e w h o h a v e c o m e b e f o r e u s , t h o s e w h o a r e c h a n g i n g the world and those who are yet to come.
Women’s Month comes as a period of reflection and remembrance for South Africans. What better way to commemorate the fearless and courageous roles women have played in shaping our continent’s history than by celebrating the exceptional beings who continue to steer our present and build our future? The leaders, the educators, the mothers who do it all; businesswomen who have overcome the insurmountable – women in all sectors who march to the beat of their own drum, as they did in 1956. Women are the bedrock of our society. They are the ones who uphold family and
community and, often times, they do this without receiving any form of recognition. It is our duty, and should be regarded as a privilege, to honour and celebrate the women who have come before us and the women who are among us; women who have paved, and are continuing to pave, a way forward for us all. The importance of our Women in Africa edition is to highlight the success stories of those who are breaking new ground; those women who aspire and inspire, and those who are proving that Africa doesn’t need to be put on the map. Rather, it can hold its own seat at the table.
Left: Ode to Octavia (24) and Cleo (2) murdered in Atlantis – Found with heads buried in the sand so unfortunately they can’t see you all begging for forgiveness. Lady Skollie, 1.5 x 1.8 m, crayon and ink on Fabriano, 2017
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Africa’s LEADING LADY An interview with Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director of Facebook Africa
I’ve long been waiting for the opportunity to interview the formidable female at the helm of Facebook Africa. At the other end of the telephone line, more than 1 000 km away, the humble and soft-spoken Nunu Ntshingila commands my respect – and my full attention. I asked Nunu about what it means to be a woman in leadership, the state of gender parity in South Africa and her one wish for Africa. Do you think being a woman in a leadership role comes with its own set of challenges? I think leadership in itself is challenging, irrespective of gender. It is so important to understand people and to bring out the best in them; to understand their strengths and to let those strengths come through. Take those strengths and make sure that you match them with people’s ideas and ambitions, and then match that with the ambitions of the continent. I think that’s what leadership is about. Leadership comes with its difficulties, yes, it’s not an easy journey, but I relish in leading people everyday. As a woman, and especially a woman of colour, what advice do you have for other women aspiring to leadership roles? (Nunu laughs) My journey as a woman of colour has been very fascinating right from the start. I am so happy where I am and I always encourage women to continue being themselves; it truly isn’t about anything else other than being yourself – to be true to who you are and to bring all of who you are into the leadership role, or any other role that you find yourself in. What, according to you, is the status quo of women in technology in South Africa? In terms of women in technology, I think that we still have a long way to go. We all have to work extremely hard in making
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What legacy do you, as a woman, ultimately want to leave behind? I truly don’t think about the legacy I want to leave behind. What I think about daily, is what I would like to represent. I would like to represent hope – to girls, to women. I try to do that every day. I interact with the young girls at school and the young women who are coming into whatever industry they are active in, a young person who is starting their own business, giving them the leg up, sharing my experiences. That is what concerns me today and is what I focus on daily.
sure that women are fairly represented in tech. But I am inspired by all the women who are already out there, running small businesses. The women who run small businesses are more likely to use technology to run their businesses. In the instances we’ve measured, we’ve found that the adoption rate of technology among women is quite high. That gives me hope. We run a programme called “She Means Business”, using the tools of technology to enable women to start and run their businesses. An area where we’re seeing interesting green shoots is in development. We’re seeing more and more women becoming developers. We are encouraged by women who are building the developer ecosystem because we believe that that is the single most important way of including women in the technology space. I’ve also seen a lot of women taking up various leadership positions in technology companies, as well as women using technology to start their
own businesses. Yes, we still have a long way to go, but I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing and will continue to promote women in technology. In your opinion, how far have we as a country and continent come in terms of gender parity? We as the world still have a long way to go. We believe that when women do better, economies do better. Gender parity is critical for the growth of all industries, including technology. I’m so enthusiastic about the results of some of the work we’ve done here in South Africa. We’ve seen that if women do get involved, we will see growth in our economy. In a study we conducted, we found that if all the women who have said that they were going to start businesses in the next five years do so, it would add an additional R175 billion to the South African economy! We did a similar study in Nigeria and found that in the next four to five years, approximately seven million businesses are likely to be started by women.
Your favourite getaway destination? Definitely my home on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). I travel all around the world and have seen so many places, but the place that is very close to my heart is the little place I have along the coast of KZN – it fills my heart every time I go there. Any interesting books you can recommend? Yes! Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg. The reason I love this book and give it to every woman I come across, is because it’s about the spirit of resilience; a spirit that is alive on our journeys – whether it’s our careers or our families. Your one wish for Africa? My wish for Africa is that the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions will help redefine our potential. My hope is that technology will help the continent to achieve its greatest potential.
Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Ben Bergh.
“We believe that when women do better, economies do better.”
Who or what inspires you? I have been so lucky to have had two amazing women in my life: my grandmother and my mother. My grandmother was a small business owner; the reason behind my passion for small businesses. My mother also took the same path of being a businesswoman. That is what inspires me and I am so privileged to be in a job where I am able to help other women who want to start businesses.
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Planting seeds of
INSPIRATION
African Independent chats to Senamile Masango from WISE Africa about her journey, the challenges and joys of being a woman in science and engineering, and her plans for the future.
Text by Elske Joubert. Courtsey image.
Senamile hails from Nongoma, a deep rural area in KwaZulu-Natal. Born to a prominent father and princess mother, it was her parents – particularly her father – who planted the seed of education in her, that years later, proved to bear incredible fruit. She is the founder and chairperson of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Africa, a registered NGO that provides leadership and mentors to young people wishing to enter the field of technology. What is the status quo of women in science and engineering in South Africa? Africa has a critical shortage of technologically trained people. The number of women in engineering and science has been of particular concern as women are still grossly underrepresented, with the percentage of female graduates in science and engineering still below 20%.
Have you faced particular challenges being a woman in what is regarded as a male-dominated industry? Yes. No one believes in you in most cases, and as a woman you have to work extra hard. People tend to look down on women as if they are not capable or don’t deserve to be there. I always use this in a positive way. I will work hard and ensure that I excel, and what works for me is that I am ambitious – I want to break every barrier. You established an NGO to encourage other women to enter your industry. What was the reason behind it? I am all about female empowerment. Owing to the shortage of women in this field, it is very important to lobby for more women. There are a lot of issues that learners, students and professionals experience in this field, and I want all of these addressed by our NGO.
QUICK - FIRE Q&A What would you do with an extra hour in your day? I usually spend my day in a lab reading and writing. With an extra hour, I’d spend it on Facebook, motivating my friends and followers because I support the next generation. Who or what inspires you? My late father, Dr MJ Masango. He was all about education and giving back to the community. He is the one who planted the seed of education in me. Favourite hobbies/pastimes? I read political books because I am not limited to science, and I have an interest and heart for Africa. Africa must be transformed.
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The business of WELLNESS Dr Nandipha Magudumana talks to African Independent about her journey in medical aesthetics and how she plans to make a sizeable impact in this trade. After obtaining her Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHsc) in Biomedical Sciences, Dr Nandipha Magudumana decided to further her studies and acquire a Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery (MBBCh). As required from most medical professionals, she went on to apply her skills in the public sector for a couple of years, practicing at the Far East Rand Hospital. Upon leaving the public sector, Nandipha decided to pursue aesthetic medicine, purely out of passion and a desire to explore the entrepreneurial opportunities in this sector.
Text by Levi Letsoko. Photography by 72_Photography.
Medicine is a broad field, why aesthetics in particular? I have always had a love for aesthetics, wellness and health. I am a fitness enthusiast and had the opportunity to merge everything that I am passionate about. This is how this enterprise was founded. I also plan on studying further. I look at starting a business as one way of raising the funding I’ll need for that. Besides the hands-on process of delivering the service to your clients, what other roles do you fulfill at Optimum Medical Aesthetics? As the CEO of Optimum Medical Aesthetics, my role is to communicate the strategy, vision and mission of the business. I need to ensure that all employees are working in support of the company’s goals. Groundbreaking achievements cannot be accomplished by individuals – they can be achieved
by a team. We take pride in doing research, especially in developing the medical aesthetics solutions for the African market. Your enterprise is still new in the market and still prone to some teething problems. Which specific challenges have you experienced so far? We previously moved offices prematurely due to unforeseen obstacles at one location. I found the company in a position where I was unable to trade for a couple of weeks while fixing and preparing the new office space. That placed a financial strain on the business and it hampered our ability to service clients adequately. We managed to overcome that setback, and have recently moved to a faster paced and well-equipped location in Sandton. Which aspect of your personality qualifies you to be a revered individual in your trade? Firstly, it has to be self-discipline. Being an entrepreneur comes with great responsibility and one needs to be focused to be able to accomplish the company’s goals. Secondly, being open minded. Keeping an open mind is important as new ideas and strategies are continuously being introduced. I am open to learning and acquiring new skills. Thirdly, being decisive and action-orientated. It is very important for an entrepreneur to be able to take decisive actions; to
reflect and get feedback on decisions that have been made, and to learn from mistakes as well. What keeps you on your toes? Most businesses that have had great success rely heavily on innovative ideas. It’s important that I implement creativity in my business because innovative thinking gives room for a different approach to problem solving. When that is introduced and implemented in a business atmosphere, the outcomes can be rewarding. Constant innovation, persistence and learning new modalities of treatments for different aesthetic conditions that clients need resolved, remains the main objective for the company. How do you believe women are changing the negative narrative about Africa as a continent? I believe as African women we are now more than ever aware of the power of storytelling. We have seized the pen and we are taking back our power by ensuring that positive and inspiring stories are being told. I see a rise in different platforms – digital, print, seminars and gatherings celebrating African women’s stories. The narrative about Africa and its place in the world will change if we continue to share and tell our own stories. I am reminded of an African proverb that says: “Until the lion can tell her own story, every tale will glorify the hunter.”
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Fighting
GENDER INEQUALITY in tech
COO of Britehouse, Zimkitha Buwa, values family above all else. She’s vocal about gender inequality within the tech industry and aims to change this with the next generation.
Zimkhita Buwa is the Chief Operations Officer at Britehouse, a company that provides industry leading digital solutions. A family woman, Zimkhita is extremely passionate about community development and the information technology industry. She is also the founder of Techpearls, a global platform that provides valuable opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and maths. Zimkhita holds an honours degree in Technology from the Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Malaysia. She has been awarded numerous times for her drive and work in the technology industry, including the MTN Women in Information and Communication Technology Awards, where she was recognised for her professional and
community achievements as an Outstanding Woman. She serves as a volunteer board member and director at Silicon Cape, an organisation that promotes technology entrepreneurship in the Western Cape. What are some of the challenges women face in male-dominated industries, such as technology and innovation? Although the underrepresentation of women in technology is welldocumented and has been talked about on various platforms, there are three main challenges that women still find themselves facing in male-dominated industries: Being seen and heard – I have had the honour of speaking at various
‘women in technology events’, and this point constantly features in the discussions. The frustration has arisen due to women feeling as though they are dismissed, and their contributions not heard. When one is constantly the only woman in the room, finding your voice and having the confidence to be heard is a constant struggle. My advice to women who struggle with this is that one needs to push through. It’s okay to be yourself – It’s not hard to understand the temptation to try and fit in, and this is especially so when one is surrounded by colleagues who are wired differently. It is understandable that women would question whether they should lead differently, sell more aggressively, play golf with clients and adopt the
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understanding the value of embracing diversity and also including this as part of an organisation’s core values.
Text by Elske Joubert. Courtesy image.
Would you say that women are fairly represented in the tech industry? No. So much research has shown that women are underrepresented in the industry. For example, there’s a lower percentage of female founders that receive funding and women in leadership roles are hard to come by. However, the tide is turning and organisations are waking up to the fact that diversity is no longer a luxury, but rather an imperative for building sustainable organisations that will remain relevant for the future. Women are getting a seat at the table, but with all these opportunities available, we should not have what I call “the only one syndrome”, which subscribes to being content or even celebrating being the only woman in the room. If you are the only one in the room, ask yourself, how many other women are you supporting to ensure that you open the door for them?
dominant behaviours that they are surrounded by. My view is that you certainly don’t need to change yourself in any way. You can lead in a feminine way and achieve the same or even better results. Unconscious gender bias and stereotypes are far more deeply rooted than what we realise. Damaging statements are made in jest about women, with the impact not being realised. Changing perceptions and creating a safe environment that makes women feel welcomed is imperative. Changing this kind of gender bias in our technical industries is a process that has to be repeated and enforced daily. This process must be augmented with initiatives that address being more inclusive,
What more can be done to grow the number of women in tech? Get them while they’re young! I believe the pipeline is where we need to start. It’s important to change the perception that young women have of the industry. The image of a young geeky male that is celebrated as a coding genius is definitely changing. It is absolutely critical for young women to see people that look like them and people who they can relate to in positions of authority. We have to tell our stories and share our experience. Young women coming into the industry need guidance; it is therefore important to make ourselves accessible in terms of mentorship and coaching. The tech industry is dynamic and there are ample opportunities to thrive in this industry, but this narrative needs to be told.
Advice for women aspiring to leadership? Connect with leaders who have been around the block for a while. Do not be afraid to approach leaders for mentorship – people are always willing to help. Don’t be afraid to approach male leaders – most of my previous mentors and people who have backed me when I didn’t even back myself, were men and they have opened so many doors for me. Invest in growing your leadership skills. Courses are important, but nothing beats real experience. If you’re not in a leadership position in your professional role, why not volunteer? There are professional bodies and non-profit organisations that are always on the lookout for an extra pair of hands. Know that no one leader has a smooth journey; challenges will be thrown your way but resilience, perseverance and authenticity are key traits that you need to keep in your toolbox at all times. QUICK - FIRE Q&A Who or what inspires you? Family! Family! Family! They inspire me daily. Their passion for striving to be the best, no matter what, fuels and inspires me. Favourite hobbies/pastimes? Spending time with family is number one. My passion is being active in the tech community – I speak regularly at women-intechnology events, and I am constantly motivating young girls to see the world of opportunities available in technology. Due to this burning desire to create a different tech industry to what we’re seeing today, I am on the board of Silicon Cape and am on the advisory board of Girlhype.
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tech person Our first deal stands out simply because it was a huge learning curve. I learnt a lot about business. It’s not necessarily about being book smart, but more about having a clear strategy that’s been tested, expecting the unexpected and not losing your balance when things don’t work out as intended.
EFFICIENT An admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, hung up her legal wings to create an energy company that is well on its way to breaking new ground in the continental energy landscape.
A fueled ambition, dedication and pure grit are some of the characteristics that have propelled Linda Mabhena-Olagunju into being a major player in the energy sector. Armed with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Cape Town, coupled with a Master of Laws (LLM) qualification from the University of Aberdeen, Linda placed the flag on the hill of women empowerment. Her passion for continental challenges and an unparalleled work ethic drove Linda to found DLO Energy Resources Group – one of the few black-owned companies with a strong focus on alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar electricity. Undoubtedly one of the most complex industries to maneuver in,
what does it mean to captain the ship known as DLO Energy Resources Group? As the Managing Director of DLO Energy Resources Group, I’m in charge of everything from the day-to-day processes to the big picture problems. I’m responsible for creating and driving the strategy of the company to achieve business, operational and financial objectives. My responsibilities extend to ensuring continued growth of the group and that we reach our goal of becoming the continent’s largest majority black female-owned development and investment company in Africa. At one point DLO Energy Resources Group was a startup, charting unknown territories. How did the company manage one of its earliest ‘back to reality’ moments?
You are very vocal about continental challenges. In what ways are you mobilising different key players to work on solutions to these challenges? As a group we will host the first ever DLO Africa Power Roundtable in London; the first-ever held by a 100% black female-owned company in the country. This roundtable is a platform through which we bring together private sector investors and government with the objective of encouraging investment in Africa’s power sector. We not only focus on Foreign Direct Investment but also Intra African investment. How do you believe women are changing the negative narrative about Africa as a continent? I think this is a non-gender specific question. Rather, we should ask how Africans as a whole, whether male or female, are changing the narrative. There are pockets of excellence, but we fail dismally at collaboration, because we all want to be chief of our small villages most of the time or in some instance we have been colonised to believe that the best collaboration is somehow with our previous oppressors, which often strikes me as odd.
Text by Levi Letsoko. Photography by Sigrun Engelen.
Energy
Looking back after all those years, what did you derive from the outcomes of that unfortunate turn of events? Your first deal will teach you the most valuable lessons on what to ask for the next time. In business, just as in life, you won’t get everything right the first time, no matter how smart you think you are. These lessons prove that experience is the best teacher and often the ones learnt through loss, stick.
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SqwidNet
Interconnecting
HUMANITY
Text by Dharmisha Cvetkovic. Courtesy image.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry means believing in yourself and knowing your value. If ever there was a great time to be alive, it is now. We find ourselves in the early stages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the ability to redefine the world as we know it. It’s as if the sky has turned into a great big canvas waiting to be digitally painted, and we all have the choice to paint, or sit back and observe. As the Solutions Programme Manager at SqwidNet, I work with a team of dynamic individuals bringing the canvas to life with “things” that can talk. As the licensed Sigfox Operator in South Africa, SqwidNet is rolling out the largest Internet of Things (IoT) network in the country. Today, Sigfox has a presence in 45 countries and covers over 800 million people with its global network, allowing Sigfox Ready™ devices to roam at no extra cost. In the solutions division, we find ways to disrupt traditional models by connecting “things” to the network. The beauty of the current revolution we are part of, is that it spans across all spheres of life, as well as life forms, and has no gender bias. This broad spectrum opens the doors for women to play in different areas of the IoT value chain, and more importantly, to influence how and why IoT solutions are produced to solve real-world challenges. Is it tough being a female in a male-dominated industry? Personally, I think it all depends on your state of mind. I am very comfortable in the IoT space. I also find that businesses on the cutting edge of technology are extremely forward thinking and are far less likely to have environments that are biased towards gender discrimination. It just seems so “last year”, especially when
there’s a whole lot of other stuff to get excited about! My typical day is highly unpredictable. It varies from looking for solutions to help rangers combat poaching, to helping municipalities overcome illegal tampering with their assets, or businesses creating smart buildings. I never know what real-world challenge I will be trying to solve next through the magic of technology. Is it a life-saving device that can sense that an elderly person has fallen, or a device that can create a virtual fence to ensure that my pet is safe at home? Is it a sensor that can automatically sense harmful levels of pollution in the air or a sensor that can tell me the levels of pH in my swimming pool? The list of IoT solutions is endless, limited only by your ability to imagine. What I love most about this dynamic industry is that it brings a lot of innovation and room for
growth. I now also work with local entrepreneurs through our IoT Entrepreneurship Programme (IOTEP), to empower them with the knowledge and the tools to solve South African challenges. SqwidNet ran a three-day workshop to train selected participants on IoT and Sigfox. We then provided them with business training and held our very own Dragon’s Den where they pitched to potential funders. Building the local IoT ecosystem and boosting entrepreneurship in South Africa has been yet another bonus of being part of this cutting-edge team. The pressure of such a dynamic industry certainly takes its toll, which is why our leadership also emphasises the need to keep everyone passionate and inspired. I manage my stress and find the balance between work and family life through daily practice of yoga and Sudarshan Kriya (breath work). SqwidNet also allows me to volunteer my time for the International Association of Human Values (IAHV), teaching the prison SMART programme. Serving inmates by teaching them yoga, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya over five days assists them with inner transformation, and brings me back to work re-enthused that the world is a great place to be in. It reminds me that the little things I do can go a long way in contributing to the whole. So, whilst the gender debate goes on and may remain prevalent in our journey as human beings, we as women need to rise above this. Remaining centred in who you are, believing in the skills you bring to the table and focusing on serving the world through IoT is the key to continuous evolution.
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Leading
BOLDLY Asking Xolo about the importance of women in leadership roles, especially in the technology space, she notes that it is vital to hone and encourage more women to take up executive roles in order for the sector to benefit from their unique skills and knowledge. “This will bring different perspectives to the table – a sure way to enrich the dialogues that will take the industry and organisations to greater heights.” According to Xolo, leadership comes naturally to women, owing to the fact that women already often assume these roles in society, be it as homemakers, mothers or caregivers. “Women are known to offer a broader perspective, having acquired it from different contexts in life. However, I tend to disagree with the notion that women are ‘special’ because this same reason is used when women are being marginalised.” For Xolo, one of the greatest struggles of being a woman in a leadership role includes handling differences of opinion. “My biggest challenge was the fear of dealing with conflict. I struggled with having difficult conversations. It’s impossible to keep everyone happy all the time because you’ll often do it at your own expense. I’ve learned to toughen up and address the issues as they come.” Her successes, however, outweighed these challenges. “I was overjoyed when I was able to employ women-only heads of department in my division. The thought that there are not enough women in the information and technology (ICT) industry is questionable to me but I do agree with the fact that organisations must be passionate about women development and grow the existing talent.” Xolo says she is inspired by women who spearhead change and take command. “The women I admire, specifically, are the CEO of the Maponya Group, Chichi Maponya, and Zola Stephen, an executive at Standard Bank. Both these women harness the ability to lead boldly, without losing their femininity.” The advice she has for other women? “Learn to trust yourself and accept that you have a right to claim your seat at the table. We need to deal with the imposter syndrome that minimises our contributions within an organisation. Lastly, learn to celebrate your achievements.”
“Organisations must be passionate about women development and grow the existing talent.”
Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Paul Shiakallis.
Acknowledged by her peers as a born leader, and as a woman of stature and valour, Xolo Motswasele, as client partner, heads up the Sasol account – one of AYO Technology’s most important South African-based multinational customers.
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tech person
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guest column
Rewrite your script and carry on
Be the master of your own destiny, direct your story, and inspire other women to do the same.
QwaQwa, my rural childhood home, reminds me of a large amphitheatre hewn from rock, with evening yellow rays bursting through its craggy mountain range like searching stage lights. The Free State is no place for small dreams. Inspired, I never made my dreams small or ordinary. Our family home was always filled with music – jazz mostly. My father was part of the South African Orchestra; a tall, debonaire smooth talker. As a child, I could never understand why the strange notes that came from the piano were so important to him. He would encourage me to play the daunting, oversized piano better than him, but music was not my passion. As soon as I could wander off on my own at the tender age of 12, my world opened up when I discovered theatre. It was as if I had found a portal to my untapped imagination. I had found my rhythm, like call and response, my stories no longer belonged to me, but were shared with an audience. Over the years, in my adoring hometown, I honed my craft until I was ready to move to
Johannesburg, the City of Gold. Stepping up in the city was difficult. Like many young artists, countless failed auditions, no callbacks and broken promises, forced me to look for a stable pay-the-bills job. I went back to the drawing board and figured out what it is that I needed to do to make me happy while I pursued my dreams. Weekdays were for the job and weekends were for auditions; that was my life. I worked at a boutique architecture and interior design firm and grew to love it. Bursting with newfound expression, I left and started my own interior design company. Cash flushed and ambitious, I packed my bags and left for New York. The Big Apple was bigger, brighter, and better. My hustle got me cast in a Broadway play about a South African girl who was abused by her stepfather. Not the most auspicious role, but my rawness and authenticity got me the attention I had longed for. I was lucky that a renowned stage director was watching that night and opened doors for me. From
there I transitioned to television, cast first in NCIS, then later given the opportunity to direct Tomorrow People. I found strength in my fears and possibility in my hopes and dreams. The experience grounded me as an entrepreneur and filmmaker. But Africa kept calling my name, and it was time to bring all the experience that I had amassed, home. Returning to Johannesburg was like rekindling a romance. I was busy and I realised that it was time to make my mark in the industry. I knew that as a young woman filmmaker, I had something to contribute to the industry. So often, women get to co-direct, but not be the lead director. I would be the master of my own destiny, direct my own story and inspire other women to break the mould. My mother used to express her thoughts about this cruel world that we live in. At last I have started to understand my mother – glowing amber, proud, always present. As women, we are continuously making choices and we cannot abandon the choices we have made. In life, we learn that we have to acknowledge the reality of the world that we are in because where we are in life, there’s no choosing, there’s only accepting of the choices that we made a long time ago. If we continue to deny the reality of the world we are in, we are only delaying the inevitable. Simply rewrite the script and carry on. I have found my voice – a deep passion for our stories, our struggles, and tribulations. I am inspired by African women of all hues who are committed to making it in the world.
Text by Billy Seitshiro. Courtesy images.
Billy Seitshiro is a presenter, actor, producer, and entrepreneur.
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“Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!” (You strike the woman, you strike the rock) These words from the famous resistance song have come to symbolise the courage and strength expressed at the Wo m e n ’ s M a r c h o f 1 9 5 6 a s S o u t h A f r i c a n w o m e n r e f u s e d to give into increasing oppression without some form of protest. (source: South African History Archive)
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AFR ICAN P a t t e r n s Fashion designer Amna Elshandawe ely offers some insights into the inspiration behind her fashion line and how it carries the narrative of her African heritage.
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design started working on my clothing line. In 2016 you launched a collection themed ‘The Road to Nairobi’. What was the purpose/message behind it and how has it shaped your journey up until this point? It was mainly to support people of colour, including myself, who face discrimination in their own country. Secondly, it was to highlight our identity as Africans, as most Egyptians see themselves as Arabian and Middle Eastern more than African. The whole collection was presented with dark skin models and it was the very first staging of its kind. To compliment the collection, I launched a short documentary of my trip to Kenya, showcasing how Kenyans embrace their own identity. That led to me being selected by Women of Egypt Magazine as one of the most effective women in Egypt, and I also landed a spot on the first season of Project
“Not following the rules of fashion is the key to having real brands that tell real stories.” Amna Elshandaweely is a self-titled clothing line that you started. How did this come about? Amna Elshandaweely is an Egyptian Tribal wear brand for men, women and kids. I am the managing director and head designer. I help in shoots, art direction and digital marketing. I have always mentioned how the Arab Spring and Egyptian revolution have specifically affected me directly. It made me see fashion differently. That’s when I started working on myself as a fashion activist more than a fashion designer, and this is how I
Runway Middle East. Would you say you succeeded in driving the message home? Did perceptions change? Did the collection drive the conversation? This has taken the brand to the next level. People started understanding what tribal or ethnic fashion was about. They also started wearing and embracing their own identity. Since then, every collection we launch immediately points people to looking at the story behind it. For example, the ‘City of the Amazigh’ collection was designed to empower
women of Siwa, where they are kept in their houses from the age of 10. When you launched your career, you didn’t quit your day job right away. How did that benefit you? I kept working as a marketer becasue I wasn’t sure how the market would react to my product. I didn’t want to risk my financial stability by leaving the corporate world. Sometimes in business one needs to be experimental and courageous enough to serve a new product without a guaranteed market reaction. As a cultural creative, how do you revive your passion for what you do? I achieve that through engaging with ordinary people on the streets of Egypt. The more stories I get to know and photograph, the more I want to help and be more involved. These stories inspire me to initiate more change and this can only happen through my product. I suppose, then, that it is more than just fashion to you? Fashion is a revolutionary tool for me. It is something I use to reflect the beauty of the world and the misery of it. My brand usually tackles social issues by highlighting the bitter-sweet experience through wearable art. Not following the rules of fashion is the key to having real brands that tell real stories; where authentic people can express themselves, and every collection carries a story that represents or educates the community. Do you believe that enough is being done to ensure that African fashion is well-celebrated globally? I think the one mistake people usually make when it comes to African fashion is to only embrace it when the world treats it as exotic, tribal or bohemian. I believe African fashion is the future. I want it to be standardised for us to wear our fashion in work and social spaces. I want to always highlight its stories, its origins and to work on developing it with technology and futuristic elements, so we can deliver a modern applicable story.
Text by Levi Letsoko. Portrait by Abdallah Sabry.
Unimpressed with the standard of fashion she observed in her country at an early age, the Egyptian-born designer spotted a gap in cultural representation for people who mirror her image. She felt misrepresented, not only as a woman, but as an African too. A well-read creative, Amna studied English and Chinese literature at Ainshams University in Egypt, as well as fashion and pattern making at the Italian Fashion Academy Unwilling to follow the traditional route to the helm of the Egyptian fashion industry, she started the first tribal and hip fashion line to reflect the true identity of herself and her peers. Prior to trying her hand at entrepreneurship, she worked as a translator, before putting the training she received from the American University to use as a PR and digital marketing specialist.
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City of the
AMA ZIGH T h e b r a n d , A m n a E l s h a n d a w e e l y, i n t r o d u c e d t h e i r a u t h e n t i c l y African collection in 2016. It aimed to empower women of Siwa, Eg ypt , where they are kept in their houses from the age of ten.
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Photography by Loof Production
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Shaping the
AFR ICAN D i a s p o r a A r c h i t e c t a n d b e s t s e l l i n g a u t h o r, L e s l e y L o k k o , b r i n g s African locations, cultures and people to life through art, academics and novels.
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Associate Professor and Head of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg, Lesley Lokko is an architect, academic and the author of 11 bestselling novels. She was born to a Ghanaian surgeon and Scottish artist, grew up in Ghana and studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Can you tell us more about yourself and career background? I have quite a chequered career history which, when I think about it now, seems only logical, but I suspect
that’s the same for anyone who’s ever made a series of big changes. In hindsight, everything seems as though it should have happened exactly as it did, but at the time, it’s often quite daunting. I began studying languages (Hebrew and Arabic) at Oxford University, then switched to sociology in the US before finally completing my training as an architect, going on to do a PhD. But almost as soon as I’d finished the PhD, I chucked academia and became a bestselling novelist for thirteen years. I published 11 novels and then decided to return
to academia, taking up a position at the University of Johannesburg and eventually going on to found the Graduate School of Architecture in 2016. You were born in Scotland but grew up in Ghana. What was it like growing up in Accra? Probably a lot like growing up anywhere in West or East Africa in the post-independence period. A huge amount of freedom – school started at 8am and was over by noon; quite a close circle of friends and family; a
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design very ambitious and strict father, which tended to produce over-achieving kids; the sense that you could do and be anything. Ghana in the 70s and 80s went through enormous social and economic changes. It gave me a very wide world view before I was even aware that it was a world view. It was a challenging childhood, but absolutely made me the person I am today, good and bad. You studied architecture, a maledominated career path. Why did you choose to venture into this particular industry? I was always drawn to the interiors of peoples’ houses, the interiors of their lives, the way people chose to live, socialise, display their ambitions and values... perhaps subconsciously looking for a way to reconcile the two very different cultures that always jostled for space in my own home growing up in
You’ve authored several books. What makes a compelling novel? Good characters who go on to tell their own story. It’s a terrible cliché but if you, as a writer, don’t know and understand your characters, the novel will hardly ever hang together. People read about people they care about. The novelist’s skill is in making the reader care. What do you enjoy writing about most? Africa. I love bringing African locations, cultures and people to life. What would you consider as the most precious moment in your life? There have been a couple. Getting into architecture school. The day my niece was born. What are your thoughts on the African Renaissance and women on the continent?
is also under enormous stress. African women – contrary to the way we’re often portrayed – have historically been the strong ones, holding families and societies together. This has had a profound impact on the way men and women relate to one another, what they expect from each other as they navigate the tricky territory between tradition and the new, modern way of life. As a single African woman in my fifties, I hear the expression, “oh, I’ve given up on our brothers” far too often, as I’m sure every other African woman hears. Your biggest challenge and greatest success? My biggest challenge is to reconcile a personal and professional life in a way that not only makes sense, but allows a difference between them to exist. I would say that founding the Graduate School of Architecture has been my greatest
Text by Sonwabo Macingwana. Courtesy images.
“African women have historically been the strong ones, holding families and societies together.” Scotland and Ghana. My father was Ghanaian and my mother Scottish. As I said, I studied a number of things before settling on architecture, but almost as soon as I’d begun, I realised it was what I’d been looking for all along – a way to make sense of a complex and, at times, very contradictory world. When I began studying in the late 80s, there were very few women in the course (and even fewer black people), but by the time I began teaching myself in the late 90s, the course was almost 50/50 male and female, although it is still overwhelmingly white and un-diverse.
Teaching African students over the past four years has brought me enormous joy and satisfaction, but also enormous despair. Talent is here, in abundance, but the institutions required to nurture, build and develop that talent have an incredibly long way to go. We’re the world’s youngest continent and we have the world’s oldest leaders. I would say there’s a crisis of leadership, and specifically of African leadership, that takes our own history, cultures and emotional makeup into consideration. The relationship between men and women on the African continent
professional success. I would dearly love to be a more patient person. Any advice for other women aspiring to leadership? Don’t take no for an answer. Just because something hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And listen to your instincts. There are painfully few women mentors or leadership examples around, particularly for African women. I think we’re making the leadership road by walking it, which is tough and pioneering and demanding. But we’re making it.
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To the
point
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art On the heels of her upcoming exhibition, PAPSAK PROPOGANDA, we caught up with Lady Skollie for some honest insight into her role as an African artist in a realm of her own, served with a side of non-conformity and trademark realness.
Text by Farah Khalfe. Photography by Katie Lovecraft.
Lady Skollie (real name Laura Windvogel) is a South African visual artist who has risen to prominence as much for her striking and provocative artwork, as she has for her refreshingly unabashed and outspoken persona. She uses her voice and artwork to tackle the raw reality of gender-based violence, socio-political inequality, and the complexities of coloured identity in South Africa – told through a lens of sensuality and feminist narratives. How was your creativity nurtured when growing up? When I was eight years old, a teacher at the staunch Afrikaner school I attended told my mother that I needed extracurricular art classes that the school couldn’t provide. She gave my mother the details of Frank Joubert Art and Design Centre (FJADC) in Newlands, Cape Town, and so my journey with art started formally. Twice and later three times a week, I would attend FJADC until the age of 18. I don’t remember wanting to be anything else but an artist my whole life. Your pseudonym, Lady Skollie, is somewhat of an oxymoron in its imagery and symbolism. What is the meaning behind this name? Skollie is a term used to describe a shady character, most often for the mere fact that they’re a person of colour, in a place they should not be (according to the white minority). I am also interested in the way the word “skollie” was used to oppress and stereotype. Now owning a pair of Air Maxes renders you a “gangster” and “street” and the term “skollie” is now a badge of honour. I am interested in the way street cred can be bought and curated. Mostly Lady Skollie is a play on the two parts of my personality that are often at war with each other. A couple of years ago, I had these ringlets and cute 1950s dresses. But inside, I always had this
element of the obscene; wanting to be against authority, to challenge the norm. I looked like a little lady, but my mouth would be dirty. Lady Skollie is a space where those two things are harmonious. You have an instantly recognisable artistic aesthetic. What was the journey like in discovering your artistic identity? Great. Were you ever afraid of expressing your true aesthetic? No. Much of your work is dual in nature — alluding to serious topics such as sexual violence and abuse, yet injected with an air of humour and playfulness. Why do you choose to present these topics in a lighthearted manner? What makes you think it is lighthearted? The colours? The subject matter? Nothing about it is lighthearted; South Africans just prefer to laugh before they cry. I think my work is like one of those giant phallic-shaped flowers that can only be pollinated by flies; they seem beautiful from far but the closer you come, the more you smell the rotting meat smell. An overarching theme in your work is tension between two things — humour and pain, male and female power dynamics, for example. How has this contortion manifested in your daily life/personality? Can I be cliché and say that I’m a Libra? The scale? The striving but failing toward balance? Or maybe that my mother strategically tapped into her femininity when she needed it, or maybe that when I was young my mother dressed me like a boy until I was 10, I don’t know. In line with the juxtaposition of your work — when creating an artwork, is your process ruled more by a calming therapeutic energy, or is it
instead driven by a frenzied burst of creative energy? The latter. You’ve mentioned before that you don’t consider yourself an activist. What form of protest would you instead consider your artwork to be? Nah. You draw a lot of inspiration from your Khoisan roots. How do your expressions of Khoisan cave drawings help to fulfil the search for your identity as a coloured woman in South Africa? Colouredness has a complex past, present and future in South Africa. I am creating giant, complex cave drawings to find my own catharsis when thinking of my racial identity. Khoisan culture, or the little slivers of it that remains, has been stunted by colonisation, caught in time, never developing past the trauma of being nipped in the bud pre- and post 1652. All I can do is draw until I feel better. What do you hope for your artwork to achieve, with regards to changing the collective conscious about sexuality and patriarchy in South Africa? Make women fearless, strategic and bold in their capture of what they want. You have amassed many followers on social media. Do you think social media has allowed you to present your artwork to the public more authentically? Boring. Who cares? How do you ensure that you continually grow and develop as an artist? Never stop thinking, making, drawing, imagining, hoping. Which topic, that you have not explored yet, would you like to explore next in your artwork? My next show is called PAPSAK PROPAGANDA; delving deeper into the dop system, its effects on coloured culture and also the effects of Model C (previously whites-only) school upbringing; the ensuing propaganda and assimilation towards our ‘masters’. It is being announced in Birmingham (UK) on 5 October with a performance at Eastside Projects.
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Food for thought Well-known chef and food stylist, Zola Nene, says her biggest wish for Africa is greater unity and for us, as Africans, to start embracing what makes us so unique and dynamic.
Can you briefly tell us about yourself and your journey thus far? My food journey spans over 12 years and began when I decided to stop my law studies and pursue a career as a chef. I worked in the UK for two years, then returned home to enroll in a culinary arts institute to obtain my chef qualifications. I specialised in food media during my studies, where I learnt about food styling as well as food writing. I have since been a chef and judge on multiple TV shows, and have written and released a cookbook. Have you always known that you wanted to be a chef and food stylist? I always had a passion for food, but I never really thought of it as a career choice originally, which is why I chose to go into law studies after matric. When I realised that law wasn’t what I was passionate about, my father encouraged me to pursue cooking as a career option. What, besides preparing delicious meals, are some of your other passions? My other passion is travelling – I LOVE travelling, I wish there was a way that I could do more of it. I love discovering new cultures and seeing what the rest of the world has to offer. Who or what would you say has been the key to your success? My father has definitely been a
key influence in my success. He was the one who always encouraged me to pursue what makes me happy. He encouraged me to explore the idea of becoming a chef. Patience Stevens has also been one of the factors to my success. She was the one who insisted that I get in front of the camera and gave me the platform (Expresso Show) to cook on national TV and become a recognisable public figure. What, in your opinion, are some of the challenges that women – particularly in Africa – face in terms of following their dreams and making a success of themselves? First and foremost, I think the main thing that holds women back is fear of failure. We put so much pressure on ourselves that we don’t often follow our gut when it comes to career decisions. I also think that women often suppress their femininity and fragility in order to fit into the male-dominated corporate society. Being a woman is a powerful thing and we should be proud of the fact that we can be sensitive and motherly, and use those qualities to our advantage in the workplace. We don’t need to be like men to succeed, being a woman is enough and is worthy of success. If you had one piece of advice for other women, what would that be? Trust your gut and follow your passions.
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BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS
SERVES 4 - 6
“Dumplings or amadombolo were usually reserved for big traditional family gatherings on my grandfather’s farm, but occadionally Mom would surprise us with a hearty stew served with dumplings.” – Zola Nene
For the stew:
For the dumplings:
45 ml 410 g 500 g 250 g 30 ml 500 ml 30 ml 4 2 1 1
280 g 5 ml 5 ml 5 g 375 ml
cake flour can chopped tomatoes stewing beef button mushrooms, halved tomato paste beef stock olive oil sprigs fresh thyme onions, chopped bay leaf large carrot, peeled and chopped
cake flour, sifted salt white sugar instant dry yeast warm water
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1. Season the flour with salt and pepper and use to coat the beef. 2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid over high heat and brown the beef in batches. Set aside all the meat. 3. To the same saucepan, add the onions, carrot, bay leaf, thyme and mushrooms. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften and brown. 4.
Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and stock and bring to a simmer.
5. Return the beef to the pan, cover with the lid and gently simmer for 1 hour or until the meat is tender. 6.
I n the meantime, make the dumplings by mixing the flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a bowl and adding enough warm water to form a soft and pliable dough.
7. Knead the dough until elastic, cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rise for 30 minutes in a warm place. 8. Pinch off small bits of dough, roll into balls and place into the stew, which by now has been cooking for about 45 minutes. 9.
R eplace the lid and simmer for a further 15 minutes or until the dumplings have cooked through.
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CHICKEN AND LEEK POT PIES
SERVES 4
“Who doesn’t like a homemade pie? It’s hearty and tasty, and this recipe is so simple to make. Sometimes I swop out the fresh chicken breasts and use leftover roast chicken instead to make the filling – it saves on the cooking time.” – Zola Nene
For the pastry:
For the filling:
170 g 2.5 ml 110 g 2 15 ml
50 g butter 4 leeks, washed and sliced 1 clove garlic, chopped 5 ml dried origanum 4 skinless chicken breasts, diced 100 ml chicken stock 125 ml cream 30 ml chopped fresh parsley salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1.
cake flour salt butter, diced large egg yolks iced water
ift the flour and salt into a bowl and then rub in the butter using your S fingertips.
2. Add 1 egg yolk and just enough iced water to form a dough. 3. Roll the dough into a ball, cover in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 4. To make the filling, melt the butter in a frying pan over low heat and gently sauté the leeks until softened but not browned. 5. Increase the heat, add the garlic, origanum and chicken and cook, while stirring, until the chicken has browned. 6.
tir in the stock and leave to simmer for about 10 minutes until the chicken S is cooked through.
7.
Add the cream and parsley and season to taste.
8. Divide the chicken filling between four individual pie dishes. 9.
Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
10. Divide the dough into four equal pieces and roll out each into a circle slightly larger than the pie dish. 11. Cover each filled pie dish with a circle of pastry and drape the excess over the edge. 12. Beat the remaining egg yolk and use it to brush the pastry lids. Pierce each with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape. 13.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
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food QUICK - FIRE Q&A What’s your biggest wish for Africa? My greatest wish is for Africa to unite and stop pointing out our differences and focus more on what makes us similar. Africa, as a continent, has so much to offer the world and we, as Africans, need to start embracing what makes us so dynamic. We are responsible for changing the narrative of what Africa is to the world. Favourite meal? I always answer this question in the same way – if you were to ask a parent who their favourite child was, they would say that they love them all the same for different reasons – the same goes for me and food; I love different dishes for different reasons. Favourite getaway destination? Oh, that’s a difficult one. I feel like there’s so much more of the world to travel and see, it’s impossible to choose a favourite. But of the places I’ve been to I have to say that Paris is my favourite city to visit and Zanzibar is my favourite beach getaway.
Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Matanna Katz.
What inspires you? I’m inspired by so many different things: I’m inspired by the people who message me every day to tell me that they look up to me and love what I do. They inspire me to keep striving for more and to keep creating recipes and teaching people about food.
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“I know for sure that African women are endlessly resilient. After what we have overcome in the past, nothing can stop us from creating the future we and our country deserve. Just watch us.� Dr Pre cious Moloi- Motsep e, chair woman of Afric an Fashion International and the Global Agenda Council on Population a t t h e Wo r l d E c o n o m i c F o r u m
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Feeding South Africa
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Women make up 43% of the farming labour force, while 69% of small-scale farms are run by women. How do women fare in this previously maledominated industry? Wadea Jappie is proof that they are more than capable.
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Wadea Jappie is a vegetable farmer from Philippi, Cape Town. She is also a businesswoman who runs the administration, financing and marketing of her urban farm all the while training her sons to run the operations. Strength and perseverance are the qualities Wadea credits for the success of her farm. She also believes that these qualities are what stand women in good stead in the tough agricultural sector. Wadea and her family have been supplying fresh produce to Freshmark, Shoprite’s fresh produce acquisition and distribution outlet, for nine years now. Initially, she only supplied 20-30 bunches of coriander three times a week. These days she supplies 800900 bunches per day, and in the last financial year, she delivered three tons of produce totalling R1.1 million in value. Can you tell us more about yourself and career background? I am a Muslim woman, wife, mother and farmer. I married my husband, Agmat Brinkhuis, 28 years ago when we relocated to Cape Town. When we arrived here, my husband was a builder who started a small construction company, while I raised our three sons and daughter. Thirteen years later we started farming in Schaapkraal, Philippi. It has been my passion ever since. What led you to found Chamomile farms? We bought our smallholding 15 years ago after moving out of an area where gangsterism was rife. The area was just too dangerous to raise our three energetic boys. Random shootings were the norm and they couldn’t even play outside. Fear kept them cooped up indoors all day. This forced us to reconsider our residence and buy property in an area where our boys could have enough space to play and be safe.
In Schaapkraal, we are surrounded by nature, so I started planting beautiful herbs. We also bought 20 chickens to enjoy fresh eggs every day. This was costeffective as I had three growing boys who ate all the time, but we didn’t realise how many eggs 20 chickens would lay! Each chicken laid an egg a day. Soon we had far too many and started sharing with family and friends, but we still had surplus eggs, so eventually we started selling them. Our coriander started flourishing. I decided to sell boxes to the local butchers and supermarkets. I chose to grow coriander because of its popularity in Indian and Malay cuisine. At this time, my husband was still running his construction company while I started making a profit from our fresh foods. As our business grew, I realised that we needed a name. My husband was searching for names when he stumbled upon a book which described the beauty of chamomile. This herb is renowned for giving one strength in adversity, and this resonated with us. We’d been through so many challenges, yet always remained strong during times of adversity. You started selling coriander to local markets. Today you supply South Africa’s biggest retailer, Shoprite. How did you transform the business into the integrated entity it is today? It wasn’t an overnight success. Initially we were disappointed when we planted and harvested chillies for a supplier, but were told that we had harvested too early. He wanted red chillies, which meant we had harvested one month too early. He had not shared this instruction with us prior to harvesting. That’s when I realised I needed a more reliable buyer. l sat down with the telephone directory and started
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searching for fresh produce suppliers. That’s how I discovered Freshmark. Before I knew it, I was speaking to Jennifer du Toit, a Freshmark buyer. She agreed to purchase from Chamomile. We started supplying the Shoprite Group with 20 bunches of coriander three times a week. Today we supply them with up to 1 000 bunches of coriander and radishes every day, and in winter we also supply the fresh soup packs you find at Shoprite and Checkers stores. We’ve grown in volume every year ever since we started supplying to them. It’s not an easy career though. As a retail supplier, one needs to adhere to strict farming practices and be Global Gap certified. Shoprite verifies our certificate annually. Their standards are high and often as a small-scale farmer, we struggle to adhere to all the standards as resources are scarce at times. However, it has never stopped us before and we know it needs to be done. Apart from the 1.6 hectares we purchased in 2002, we also secured a caretakers’ agreement with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform back in 2010. It was a 22ha piece of vacant land bought from a commercial farmer in Schaapkraal. That was another challenge, but as our partnership with the Shoprite Group grew, so did our demand for land. We also grew our chicken business from 20 backyard chickens to 100 to 500, then 4 000 and now 10 000 chickens.
Where do you get your entrepreneurial spirit? My father has always been self-employed. He started numerous businesses, built them up and sold them before pursuing his next venture. We always worked with my father during school holidays and never had the luxury of going to the beach when our friends did. But it was all worth it. We learnt a wealth of knowledge from my dad without realising it. Today, I implement many of his business practices. One in particular is: when you have a business you can’t trust anyone and you need to work twice as hard as your employees.
How vital is skills development and entrepreneurship amongst women in disadvantaged communities? I’m a first-generation farmer and, initially, I learnt farming techniques from the internet. Not everyone has access to the internet though, so yes, it is extremely important for the government to visit disadvantaged communities and train the women. Simple things make all the difference, even if they’re just taught how to plant a small food garden to help sustain their family. Having no entrepreneurial skills can be dangerous when you start – you could lose a potentially profitable business.
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underground water, we need to drill deeper boreholes and we don’t have the financial resources to do so. This water crisis is negatively impacting our business and we’re unable to maximise our planting because of it. It’s tough.
Text by Sonwabo Macingwana. Photography by Luigi Bennett.
“We are not the weaker sex and should harness our potential in our efforts to carve out a better future for ourselves.” You need to understand your business’ profit potential from the beginning. Farming started out as hobby for me, but now it’s my business. In fact, it’s become my family’s business as my husband helps on the farm too. He calls a meeting every Sunday morning with my sons, where we discuss our work and plan for the week ahead. Farming is tough, but I believe there’s still money to be made from it. When you own the business, you work so much harder. You can’t separate family life from your work life. We are not the weaker sex and should harness our potential in our
efforts to carve out a better future for ourselves. How lucrative is farming and how transparent are the processes from a behind-the-scenes perspective? Farming can be a lucrative business if you have the necessary cash flow and correct markets. Currently we’re experiencing serious water shortages in the Western Cape. Our farm relies solely on underground water. Schaapkraal, where we farm, used to have an abundance of underground water, but it has dried up due to the drought. In order for Chamomile to utilise the
What are your thoughts on African Renaissance and women on the continent? I believe in Africa. I believe in our African sisters and I believe, given the opportunity and proper resources, anything is possible. Women can do the job and are smart. Give us a house and we’ll give you a home. African women are evolving, we’ve made ourselves visible and we need to continue inspiring our sisters. I believe the generation growing up today will make that difference. Your biggest challenge and greatest success? Our biggest challenge is the continually rising import costs and access to cash flow. Being a black farmer in a previously white domain has been challenging too, but we persevere and continue breaking down walls. My greatest success is yet to be achieved. I want to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren – if we achieve that, then I’d say we succeeded. Any advice for other women aspiring into farming? If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Farming was a white, maledominated industry but nothing should ever stop you from following your dream. Yes there will be challenges, as with any other career, but God is in control of everything. So have patience.
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INSPIRING female entrepreneurs
Lebo Lion is the co-founder of Lutcha Africa, a South African podcast network that aims to change the African millennial narrative. It provides a platform where young African creatives and professionals produce and distribute digital content.
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business person Lebo is also a marketing consultant, digital strategy whizz, and the founder and editor of Full Cream Figure, an online magazine for plus-size women. She believes that a business is only as small as the minds that run it. As a content creation junkie, she believes that Africa is the new epicentre of youth content creators and digital innovators. She currently creates impactdriven podcasts at Lutcha Media and provides South African entrepreneurs with resources and networking opportunities on her show, Lessons with Lion.
Text by Sonwabo Macingwana. Courtesy images.
Can you tell us more about yourself and career background? I’m a podcast pioneer and marketer who finds inspiration in Africa and her people. I studied marketing management without being too sure how I could use it. I knew that I didn’t want to take the usual route and work in corporate like my peers. I have always had a huge appetite for taking risks and learning new things, so becoming an entrepreneur felt like the natural thing to do. I have started several businesses since I was 23, from a tech startup where we made tablets and designed educational apps for underprivileged schools, to starting the first night market in Soweto. Some of these ventures failed even though I made healthy profits at certain points. What matters to me is that each failed venture catapulted me to a higher level of thinking, of risk taking, of entrepreneurship. You founded Lutcha Africa, a South African podcast network. How did this come about? Lutcha is a response to the challenges that African innovation faces. It was founded on the basis of being anti-establishment and pro real value, which empowers the youth to create more and re-imagine a better future for themselves and future generations. I believe that the future of content consumption is online and we want to be at the forefront of that revolution.
You’ve also founded Full Cream Figure, an online magazine for plus-size women. What’s the ethos of this digital platform and how has it worked out for you? Full Cream Figure (FCF) is very close to my heart as a marketer, as a fellow plus-size woman, and as a digital disruptor. FCF is more than just a magazine, we are a safe space and a movement primarily for plussize women where they can express themselves, share their pain, and gain support from a community of like-minded people. When I created FCF, I wanted to prove to the business world that marginalised groups and positive content can make for powerful markets that generate greater profits than prejudice, exclusionary, or self-hating content. Instead of telling women how to be, we encourage them to write their own narrative. Our magazine has managed to gain 2 000 subscribers within the space of a year, and close to 20 000 followers on social media without any advertising. How important is documenting and advancing youth entrepreneurship in Africa? Historically, African people have not had the dignity of owning their creations or received the adequate recognition for their work. Living in the digital era allows African people to be the masters of their own narratives. It allows us to keep a digital paper trail of our entrepreneurial journeys, own our milestones, showcase our achievements for the world to see and for industry players to collaborate with. Youth entrepreneurs have the drive and the talent to continuously innovate, and it is up to African leaders, corporates, and industry stakeholders to ensure that the correct infrastructure and support are in place to make this a reality.
What are your thoughts on African Renaissance and women on the continent? I think we underestimated the work that would be required to make the African Renaissance more than a concept. Although overt oppression has been minimised to a large degree, I don’t feel that our African leaders and society-at-large have been given the adequate climate, resources, or catharsis to truly propel Africa to where it needs to be. Women suffer the most from the consequences of a stalling African Renaissance. However, I am very proud of African women for still being persistent in their individual and group efforts of making Africa a fruitful environment for all. African women are strong, incredibly intelligent and resourceful. Any advice for other aspiring female entrepreneurs? Don’t be afraid to be selfish and never forget to play. Women tend to take business too seriously, and the patriarchy has the tendency of pushing great women into administrative roles. I want women to know that they don’t have to subscribe to the limited stereotype of being the reliable mother or sister figure. Entrepreneurship is about being yourself. Knowing when to be selfish and giving yourself room to experiment and be creative as a woman will allow you to harness the power of being yourself.
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Spreading light From a qualified ballerina who danced for the Duchess of Kent, to a successful celebrity stylist and radio personality, Bernice van Eck has done it all. Author of a vegan cookbook and host to a first-of-its-kind television show, she credits determination and ambition as the two key drivers that propelled her to reach her goals.
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Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Lizl Sheridan.
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Conversation is effortless as I sit across from this blue-eyed blonde in a cozy coffee shop in Cape Town. I immediately notice that Bernice has a way of making one feel so relaxed and at ease, her smile inviting, her eyes reassuring. I ask her about her journey and the significant moments in time that led her to this point. “Determined to have my dream job, I was driving a luxury car within the first year of my new venture as a fashion buyer. I traveled the world extensively to all the top fashion trade fairs in cities like Milan, Paris, Florence and Dusseldorf. “However, my life changed in an instant some years ago while I was having lunch at a well-known restaurant in Cape Town. A canopy
tent pole, about three and a half meters high, fell on the back of my head, resulting in a concussion and causing damage to my vertebrae and spine. The doctors administered various forms of medication, but instead of helping, it made me bedridden and extremely ill. During this time I landed in a coma three times and my heart had stopped. As a result of my ensuing debilitating condition, I lost my car, my house, my dignity, everything I thought defined me.” Because of these dire set of circumstances, Bernice says she was forced to take inventory of her life and find a solution to her current situation. “I did extensive research and studied alternative healing modalities and found more tools and ways in this teaching, which helped me survive this trying ordeal. “You become quite humbled when you lose everything that you think defines you,” she says. “The ironic thing was that the doctors could not heal me. Instead, I healed myself – using my will to live and the healing modalities.” After surviving this tragic ordeal, Bernice vowed that she would dedicate her life to the service of others, helping them regain their joy and purpose in life. When asked about her biggest challenges and successes, she credits this very traumatic time in her life as being both. “If it wasn’t for this battle I had to face, I never would have ended up where I am today; helping people heal both physically and emotionally, and encouraging them to be their truest self. “I help people to awaken who they are. If you think about the saying ‘you should be the change you want to see in the world’, change comes from inside. The answers can’t be found on the outside. We are all the architects of our own lives.” As our meeting draws to a close, I find myself so inspired and reenergised, silently begrudging that I couldn’t spend another few minutes with this remarkable woman whose sole mission is to spread light to others.
QUICK - FIRE Q&A Who or what inspires you? To know that I can help someone change and heal. My dog, Bella, who has been there for me in times of need and who continues to show me unconditional love. What makes you jump out of bed in the mornings? Knowing I’ll get the opportunity to spread my light and awaken people. Favourite getaway destination? Italy and the Seychelles Favourite food? Oyster mushroom steaks and avo
QUICK FACTS ABOUT BERNICE • She’ll soon have her own TV show called The Bernice van Eck Show, produced by Kyle Swart, who produced and worked on The Trevor Noah Show. • She’s the author of a vegan cookbook called Beauty of a Vegan Lifestyle. • She has met and dined with Prince Harry. • She has shared a stage with well-known businessman and philanthropist, Michael Bloomberg.
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Mother and entrepreneur, Dudu Feleza, struggled to make ends meet. Starting off as a paper and cardboard recycler, Dudu “cleaned up her act” and today owns a buy-back centre in Kempton Park, where she’s actively helping to alleviate unemployment in her community.
Born and raised in rural Eastern Cape, Dudu moved to Johannesburg to further her studies. While going through hard times, a chance encounter with an old friend led to her developing an interest in recycling. Dudu started collecting recyclable materials on
weekends to make some extra money. When the Mpact branch in Midrand ran a competition some years ago for the most recyclables collected, Dudu never thought she stood a chance. “I could only collect on weekends, but I did win a prize – a
Text by Elske Joubert. Courtesy image.
Recycling as a vehicle for women empowerment
course in business management.” Attending the business management course led to a eureka moment for Dudu. “I wanted to find a place in my community where people without access to transport could bring their recyclables. I later realised that type of place is a buy-back centre. I investigated further and found space for my operation near the railway line in Kempton Park.” Dudu had a mere R600 to her name and was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to fund her business. “Mpact Recycling assisted me with scale. My plan was to pay the people I didn’t know well immediately, and ask those who knew me to wait until the end of the week to get paid. I made sure I kept meticulous records.” Surprisingly, people and businesses started dropping off recyclable material without expecting any payment. “By selling this material to Mpact Recycling, I received the capital I needed to get my operation up and running.” Fast forward 18 years and Dudu now employs eight people, six at her work premises and two outsourced to clients. “I see myself as a businesswoman who has been empowered by the recycling industry. I have 25 trolleys at my premises, allowing the collectors to earn an income and support their households.” Dudu’s advice to other aspiring female entrepreneurs: “Sometimes it’s the smaller things that provide the most incredible opportunities. Look to what you know and what you’re capable of doing. Look at opportunities that benefit society and make you proud. It cannot only be about the money, it must also be about leaving a legacy.” She concludes, “I am proud to be part of an industry that makes a difference by providing work for unemployed people and preserving our environment by reducing waste to landfill. Every day I am amazed by how recycled material can be transformed into so many different products. I’m also grateful that so many people can make a living and support their families through recycling.”
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Adding value where opportunities exist Nolukhanyo and her business partner came up with the idea of an outsourced financial services company in early 2013. They both wanted to leave the corporate world to focus on their dream of starting their own business.
Can you unpack some of the challenges you’ve faced in establishing and running your own business? We started our business from home in order to limit our overheads, occasionally meeting clients at restaurants. We were then fortunate enough to be offered office space by an IT incubator where we could meet clients for a limited period. By the time we had to move out, we had enough clients to lease office space. We had to do without salaries for prolonged periods in order to fund the capital and operational requirements of the business. Are there any specific challenges you’ve faced as a woman in starting your own business? The biggest challenge for me has been balancing work and family life. As a mother of three young children, I have struggled with the guilty feeling that I am neglecting them, whereas sometimes I feel I am not spending adequate time in building the business.
Text by Elske Joubert. Courtsey image.
How important is investing in SMMEs for the South African economy? SMMEs are the driving force of any economy and this is where I believe future job opportunities will be created. It is easier to build 100 companies with 10 employees per company than to build a single company with 1 000 employees. Both the government, in terms of funding and skills, and big business, in terms of market opportunities, must provide support in order for SMMEs to be successful. With the unemployment rate in South Africa at almost 27%, this should be the government’s priority.
The core offering of CN Outsourced Finance is providing SMMEs access to skills and expertise in the form of outsourced finance at a fraction of the cost – skills and expertise they would not normally have access to.
They also believed that this was the least serviced sector by accounting firms. Their offering was initially accounting, tax and payroll services, but they now offer business advisory services as well.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? You must learn to paddle your own boat and tell your own story. Do this with focus and diligence. As Paulo Coelho writes in The Alchemist: “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” It might take a while, but things do work out in the end.
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From garage-operated startup to
PROFITABLE BUSINESS A combination of naivety, luck and determination enabled Dale Hefer to reach her goal of having her very own business.
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“Having my own business was like an itch I had to scratch,” says Dale Hefer, co-owner and CEO of IMC Conference. According to Dale, she tried any manner of harebrained schemes until she managed to stumble upon advertising. She built an advertising agency called Chillibush from a garage-operated startup into a fully fledged business, with a turnover of more than R100 million a year. Dale eventually sold Chillibush in 2014, and in October 2018, she re-entered the world of marketing with the purchase of Africa’s largest marketing conference: the Integrated Marketing Conference.
Text by Elske Joubert. Courtsey image.
image and story credit
What would you say is the status quo of marketing in South Africa? It is a daily onslaught of new tools and offerings. Technology has effectively destroyed the traditional concept of marketing and new levels of innovation make it a tough job for CMOs to keep up with the pace. South Africa is definitely holding its own on the innovation front. It’s a challenging but exciting industry to be in. Can you comment on the evolution of women’s roles, not only in the marketing industry but society as a whole? Although we have come a long way, the glass ceiling still exists. Many men still automatically presume that it is the role of women to pour the coffee in the boardroom, irrespective of their seniority. Over the years I have been called ‘girly’, ‘my dear’ and ‘sweetheart’ by men, and had male clients automatically turn to any male subordinate in my team. This being said, women are making enormous headway in business and female millennials are pushing back against the old stereotypes. In terms of society as a
whole, I believe we have a long way to go. It is still largely presumed that women will run the home and look after the children while working equal hours to their male partners. You’ve completed a Comrades marathon, Two Oceans ultramarathons and two cycle tours. How do you manage to do it all? My exercise has been my sanity! Although it has become more difficult to find time since my twins arrived. I try to find some balance. As a business leader and entrepreneur, what advice do you have for other women aspiring to be leaders? Persevere. Believe in yourself and work hard. Always do your research before a meeting. Never allow yourself to be bullied. What’s next for you? I love being in the knowledge sharing space within the marketing industry. As CEO of the IMC Academy and IMC Conference, I have the opportunity to work on my passion of uplifting the youth in our industry.
QUICK - FIRE Q&A Who or what inspires you? Fearless women in business, my children, and achievement despite previous disadvantages. Favourite meal? Spaghetti pesto What would you do with an extra hour in your day? Watch the History Channel
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The business of
FASHION When it comes to having influence and foresight in the fashion industry, Kenyan native Diana Opoti is a force to be reckoned with. With a myriad of entrepreneurial ventures under her belt, this industry leader has definitely earned her title as one of Africa’s most powerful ‘fashion connectors’.
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Text by Farah Khalfe. Courtesy image.
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Diana’s career in fashion has been extensive – fuelled by her desire to create products and services that champion the African diaspora, and to uplift and nurture creative talent on the continent. “I am a fashion retailer with my own multi-brand concept store, Designing Africa Collective. I also offer consultancy services in publicity and brand strategy through my agency, Diana Opoti PR. Before venturing into fashion, I worked as a television producer for lifestyle television magazines. Thereafter, I set up my own production company and created the fashion television series, Designing Africa,” she explains. With a background in media and communications, Diana’s entry into fashion was a calculated move. “I definitely defined a strategy that I pursued consistently. The different aspects of my work evolved from listening to the challenges the fashion industry was faced with, and realising which gaps I could best fill.” One way in which she recognises these gaps is through her TV show, in which she engages in informative and hard-hitting discussions with African designers. One thing that she’s learned from the designers on her show: “People often refer to Africa as this singular narrative.” Yet, she stresses, this is furthest from the truth. Each African country is a distinct market segment with unique characteristics that brands need to be aware of. Her PR agency, Diana Opoti PR, seeks to remedy this disconnect. Established in 2014, it is Africa’s first brand strategy and PR agency that focuses exclusively on the fashion industry. “The industry is so fragmented on the continent and we wanted to explore and understand how to create an infrastructure that would be complementary to our efforts,” she says. Through developing effective brand strategies, executing successful
launches and pushing retail sales, Diana then saw another opportunity that she could harness. “I realised that fashion PR wasn’t going to be sustainable or profitable if I wasn’t involved in its distribution. Consumers wanted access to products I highlighted.” Thus, her business evolved into the retail space. Last year, Diana launched her concept store, Designing Africa Collective, in Nairobi. The store houses emerging and premium designers from all over Africa and advocates the #MadeInAfrica initiative. Many of these emerging designers have come through her Young Designers Kenya programme – a mentoring partnership that seeks to link established designers with a new generation of up-and-coming talent. “I wanted to discover new names, and understand and address challenges they would face as they entered the
to the local markets.” Diana reiterates this sentiment when asked about her business philosophy. “I want to shift the narrative around locally made, and the values attached to African design; to show that it can compete in a luxury space and supply a local market.” Of course, locally made African fashion is not only the narrative of her business projects, but also an authentic passion project in the form of her #100DaysOfAfricanFashion social media campaign. Started in 2014 and recently re-emerging for the 2018 version, the campaign showcases Diana’s personal style wearing African fashion pieces from all over the continent. Her aim through the campaign is to inspire people to buy more local fashion – which functions as a core component of her ultimate vision – that is, for the African fashion industry to prosper as a lucrative business hub. “Fashion is a business before it is
“Fashion is a business before it is about creativity, but it doesn’t have a respectable place at the business table.” business side of fashion,” she says. While this is admirable and an incredible effort, Diana has her sights set on a much bigger scale. She plans to take her store, and the proudly African talent it represents, to an international level – particularly New York and London. “Global representation is key for any brand’s success,” she says. “Designers need exposure to more established fashion markets to learn best practices and find ways to adapt
about creativity, but it doesn’t have a respectable place at the business table,” she says. As the continent possesses world-class quality talent and a ready, modern market with immense spending power, Diana Opoti is one of the ‘Women in Africa’ who is spearheading the movement towards a unified and prosperous fashion industry, and boldly conquering her dreams – one fashion endeavour at a time.
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CONSTRUCTING progressive narratives
African Independent chats to Desiree Markgraaff about her passion for storytelling, and how her company positively impacts the African narrative.
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Desiree Markgraaff spends most of her time behind the scenes, heading up a team of highly technical and diversely creative individuals. She has managed to make an undeniable mark in the South African film and television industry. With three decades of hands-on experience in her trade, she embodies and demystifies the allegory about the benefits of starting at the bottom to create an unmovable space in one’s chosen career path.
Text by Levi Letsoko. Photography by Bomb Productions.
How did you get your foot in the door? I started as a runner, fetching and carrying things for production. I self-taught as much as possible, reading and asking questions from more friendly crew members, up until I got a break on a television series called Usenzikile. I worked my way up, doing many jobs from assistant editor to wardrobe and production manager until I got the urge to create content that I cared about. I wanted to work with people who shared my vision creatively and politically. At the time, television was limited to the apartheid era SABC, which was very conservative and narrow. Is that what led you to co-found Bomb Productions? I started a small production company, learning the ropes through producing corporate videos. I then searched for creative partners and stories. One day, I met Angus Gibson and Teboho Mahlatsi. They were looking for a producer to partner with on a TV show they were pitching, Yizo Yizo. It was an exciting time because South Africa was celebrating democracy and the SABC was rapidly changing. Angus and Tebogo came from documentary backgrounds and so their focus was on research and authenticity. We had never done anything like this before. Our passion and desire to make great television led
us to try new things and approach Yizo Yizo in an innovative way. We were adventurous and took risks in style and technique. You seem quite happy to be the engine behind the scenes, but that’s where most of the hard work is carried out, isn’t it? I am the executive producer across all our shows, supporting and driving projects to get made. I am also the managing director for the business side. I think my talent is to crystallise projects; to push ideas and
company for authentic stories in the industry? As a company, we saw the need to stay fresh, take risks and be present. We have a continued interest in the world around us and that keeps us abreast of the television landscape because it changes all the time. We love working with new talent and we listen as much as we can. New talent paired with experience is important. The collaboration between old and young, new talent and skilled talent – this is where exciting things happen.
“We need to fiercely protect women’s rights to be equal, to be heard, to be safe and to be valued as equal contributors to the world.” people together into spaces where they can create. I am passionate about storytelling and so my focus lies in driving compelling stories. I love looking for new and innovative ways to do simple things. Bomb was the first company to start shooting daily TV out of the studio in real locations in a single camera style. What sets you apart from other women in filmmaking? I am a hard worker and I love what I do. I never take my eye off the ball. I always do the best I can to make the product better, even if it means working until 3 am every morning, which I do regularly. It’s that extra effort that counts. I believe in being humble and open, as that always allows me to spot new talent. What is the secret that has kept Bomb Productions as the go-to-
How are you looking to push the boundaries in the African film and TV industry to global heights? I think we have always aspired to this. Between the three partners we have been recognised and awarded accolades from around the globe for our work. Two Sundance awards, an Emmy, Venice Silver Lion, an Oscar nomination and many more. What do you think should be done to ensure that women remain at the forefront of continental developments in Africa, developments that ensure its past doesn’t interfere with its future? We need to fiercely protect women’s rights to be equal, to be heard, to be safe and to be valued as equal contributors to the world. Filmmakers must be brave and never stop shining light on darkness and oppression.
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EMPOWERING AFRICA through its own narrative
From being the first black, African-born woman to host a show on MTV to driving Africa’s most influential initiatives, Mimi Kalinda has dabbled in many notable industries, and now empowers women to reach their full potential.
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Text by Sonwabo Macingwana. Courtesy images.
business person Can you tell us more about yourself and career background? Originally from the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, and raised in South Africa, my career started in front of the camera on Channel O, and later MTV. It was at this point that I took an interest in what happens behind the camera in production. I worked on a film called Inside Man starring Denzel Washington, produced by my then mentor, Spike Lee. Currently, I am the co-founder and CEO of Africa Communications Media Group (ACG), a pan-African public relations and communications agency based in Johannesburg, South Africa. As an advocate of the African continent’s development and growth, I also regularly write and speak about how shaping Africa’s narrative positively is vital for the continent to fulfil its potential. I have written an e-book titled Talking to Africa, which reviews how understanding the cultural dynamics of four major African markets (Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa) can lead to the development and more successful implementation of communications strategies. Previously, I worked as the Director of Communications for the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), a network of centres of excellence incubating STEM education for Africa’s brightest students while searching for the next Einstein in Africa. I also led pan-African business development efforts and managed social impact accounts for another major global PR agency, including the Innovation Prize for Africa, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. How did your passion for telling the African narrative come about and how has it worked out for you? I have been working in the media industry for over 18 years in various capacities. When I was still a content producer, I was commissioned on a shoot in Tanzania where I met a woman who was running the African
office for a global PR company in Johannesburg. We connected, and I learned more about PR. What excited me about this industry was the fact that you could tell the stories of companies and individuals in a way that met their business or personal objectives for growth. You could shape perceptions more tangibly and create tools that would allow you and your clients to measure impact. I joined the firm and focused on social impact accounts, which spoke to my personal fascination with social change and how media contributes to this. I have been hooked on PR ever since. As a communications professional, I believe my responsibility is to empower Africans to tell their own stories, cultivate
What are your thoughts on the African Renaissance? Africa has seen unprecedented economic growth and political stability over the past decade. There is no doubt that the continent is experiencing a shift that will take it beyond mere “potential”. For this to happen, however, we need to create a critical mass of strong female leaders from various fields – critical thinkers and problem solvers – to ensure the continent’s transformation. Africa is at a tipping point and the difference between the continent taking forward strides or regressing into being what The Economist once called “the hopeless continent”, is the quality of thinking of its people and inspirational leadership. As an African woman in business, I face the same challenges as many
“We need to create a critical mass of strong female leaders from various fields to ensure the continent’s transformation.” thought leadership to be able to counter the stereotypical narrative and images of Africa, and eventually contribute not only to the shift, but also to the ownership of Africa’s reputation by Africans themselves. I wanted Africans and global stakeholders working in Africa to have the platform to be able to tell their unique stories. ACG was born out of the conviction that we, as an Africanborn, raised and based company, are interested in, study and understand the social, political and economic dynamics that drive the continent, and each market specifically. We don’t have a “one-size fits all” lens to how we approach communications in Africa.
of my female counterparts. Africa is still largely patriarchal, and women are still fighting for their seat in the boardroom. In some African countries, the challenges are greater as we insist on credibility for our views, businesses and to show that we add value in both the private and public sectors. Culture, too, can be used as an excuse to deny African women their just rights. However, I am still to meet people who are as resilient, driven and determined to succeed as African women. The majority of women on the continent do not see themselves as victims but as changemakers, and that is exactly what they are. We have already moved mountains to get here – we will move many more.
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BUILDING COMMUNITIES, enabling vision, realising goals Janine Basel, founder of Akro Capital, became aware that there was no clear access to structured funding and mentorship that had both the startup and investor’s best interests at heart. So began the journey of Akro Capital, whose aim is to build communities, platforms and networks that will enable their vision of co-working spaces for like-minded individuals, early stage mentoring, seed funding and access to venture capital.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in launching your own business? The biggest challenge with establishing and running my own business has been an internal one. I have struggled to take myself seriously and constantly felt as though I was ‘dabbling’. Obviously the ripple effect is that if you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else will, which reflects in the way people do business with you. I have had a lot of self doubt regarding my own capability. I have great people to call on who are experts in their field, and like any business, my success can only be possible with collaboration. This has been a great lesson for me: I don’t have to have all the answers, yet I still have the right to call myself CEO. Once I found my inner confidence, the difference when dealing with people from a position of confidence and transparency was like night and day.
What is the Girl Boss Hustle initiative and what led to the founding thereof? The initiative came from noticing that only one out of 10 people asking about funding was a woman, and even then, usually that woman partnered with a man. Secondly, we noticed that only a few women attended our events, even though the events were relevant to everyone. As a woman-led business, it really got us thinking about why women seldom attended events or pitched for funding. We thought we would try a “women-speakers only” event with an emphasis on female attendees.We had such an amazing response that it just seemed natural to branch into specifically assisting women. My experience is that women operate from a different level. I am not sure whether this is a natural, learned, emotional or cultural response. Are there any business challenges you’ve faced as a woman? It takes a certain type of boldness
to think bigger than your regular (and conservative) pond. Without the mentors I have had, I would probably not be thinking as big and boldly as I currently am. I have definitely become a believer in the saying “whether you think you can or you can’t, it’s true”. We hold ourselves back. Although this may not be specific to women, my experience is that generally we as women set a lower bar for success. Even today, as a woman in business, people are surprised this is my business, as is often evidenced by people talking directly and unconsciously to my male colleagues, even though I am right there. Any advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs? Stretch your thinking of the possibilities for your business and take full ownership, psychologically, of your right to be in business Spend time positioning yourself, and remember, it’s just another person (like you) on the other side of the desk.
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Text by Elske Joubert. Courtesy image.
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THE LIFE OF A FIGHTER An interview with Mamokgethi Phakeng, vice-chancellor of UCT
Mamokgethi Phakeng – the newly appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT) – has known since birth what it means to fight for what she wants.
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education
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I leave the office in Cape Town with nervous excitement on a cold and beautiful winter’s day. En route to interview the new vice-chancellor of UCT – someone whom I’ve long admired – I arrive about 30 minutes early for our appointment. Sitting at reception at the university’s Bremner building, I eagerly await my chance to speak to this remarkable woman, a catalyst for change, who is paving the way forward for a vibrant and bright future. Mamokgethi, or Kgethi as she is affectionately known, started her schooling career under a tree in a rural village called Marapyane in Mpumalanga. “My mother was a domestic worker and I grew up in relative poverty. I say ‘relative’ because I don’t want to give the impression that I was the poorest of the poor. I know how poverty works and acknowledge that there are different levels.” Her mother went back to school while she and her siblings were growing up. “My siblings and I lived with my grandmother. I went to eight different schools in basic education, so in the entire 12 years, I never spent more than two years in one school until I went to university. I did my undergraduate at the University of Bophuthatswana (currently North West University), enrolling in a BSc degree. I didn’t do well in botany and chemistry, but I did exceptionally well in mathematics.”
Mamokgethi ended up doing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in mathematics. In her fourth year, she was the only woman in a class of ten. After obtaining her degree, she worked for one year and then went to Wits University where she did her postgraduate qualifications, focusing on mathematics education. The importance of mentorship in reaching success “During most of this time I was working as a teacher, while studying simultaneously. The idea of becoming an academic wasn’t something very obvious to me or something that I chose. But there was this one professor, Professor Jill Adler, who got my attention in the way she interacted with us (and this was during apartheid). She always showed an interest in how we thought, what we thought and what we wanted to do.” Mamokgethi credits her success partially to Professor Adler’s influence on her studies. “I asked her to work with me on my Masters and she agreed. That was the best decision of my life. She thinks I would have ‘made it’ anyway, but I think it’s because of her mentorship and influence. When I finished my Masters degree, I asked her what I could do to one day have her job. ‘Your PhD is your license to practice,’ she said. So, I obtained my doctorate degree and that’s how I got into academia. “What I’ve become as an academic is a result of my mentor.
Chasing challenges, critiquing excellence Mamokgethi says she knew beforehand that her new endeavour as vice-chancellor of UCT would be anything but easy, however, she’s not prone to backing out of challenges. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I had to get the people’s confidence in my leadership. UCT is a completely different environment. I never used to critique excellence because that’s what we strived for, always. But being at UCT, where excellence is the order of the day, you start looking at and critiquing this excellence. I asked myself why there’s so much discontent at a university with such a rich history. I started critiquing the down side of excellence. Of course we need to drive excellence, but on its own it is not sustainable. “For excellence to be sustainable, we need to have transformation. If you don’t have transformation, excellence will always be challenged because it has the potential to exclude, marginalise and box other people.” Mamokgethi emphasises that her vision as the new vice-chancellor is to focus on the three pillars that hold up academia at UCT: excellence, transformation and sustainability. A vote of confidence For Mamokgethi, the overall support of her immediate and extended community has been overwhelming. “The academic sector at UCT has been extremely welcoming. Getting a 75% vote from the senate is not easy. Before, and long after the vote, I received support from academics who said that they are looking forward to the leadership; that
Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Dylan Louw
People ask me today, ‘you are vicechancellor, why even tell us who helped you’. I believe it’s important to acknowledge those that came on the journey with you because nobody makes it to the top on their own. There are people who open the way for you, who guide you and call you to order; who point you to the right people and the right places. I was fortunate enough to have Professor Adler be that for me.”
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education there is going to be a new vibrancy to campus life. I received a very touching email from someone saying, ‘we are glad that you got the job because you represent what will take us forward’.” As much as the overwhelming support continues, she believes that the journey will nevertheless remain challenging. “Leading a university is like leading a country. You lead a very diverse group of people who don’t necessarily say ‘yes’ to whatever you’re planning. A university is a place of ideas – you have to be open to challenging your own ideas; that is what makes the university environment vibrant. “I believe I’m ready to face the challenge because I know I will not face it alone. There is a team here that brings different skills to the table; a team who will make the work doable, but even with a capable team, you still need a leader that is decisive, courageous and humble.”
“I am aware that during my tenure as vice-chancellor, I will make decisions that some students will be unhappy about even when those very decisions are in the students’ best interest. My first priority is advancing the students and making sure they thrive.”
The importance of a proactive approach With the ongoing protests at the various academic institutions in South Africa, I felt compelled to ask Mamokgethi about the plans and policies her office has in place to address this important issue. “My approach is to make sure that protests don’t happen in the first place. It’s important to have the proper conversations with different constituencies before protests happen. If you are not going to have open dialogue, the only way students will let you know what’s not working is by protesting. We have to think about what we are doing during times of peace. When we have peace, do we relax and assume the peace will continue or do we build the kind of relationships so that when discontent comes, the constituencies that we lead can come to us and say what they are unhappy about?
are forced to be perfect and every decision you make must be the right one. Nobody cuts you any slack. “I’m a black African woman and I’m small,” she says jokingly. “I put on lipstick and wear earrings. People have perceptions about that. If you are a woman and are put into this position, you have to prove that you deserve the position. You are constantly being judged on whether you qualify for the job and whether you can take it.”
The challenges of being a woman in leadership Being a woman in a position of power is not without its challenges. “There is so much more scrutiny on women leaders. I often talk about the masculinity of power. Men don’t always recognise it. As a woman, you
that I would have been appointed whether a man stood for the job – black man, white man or woman or whatever. It’s not about the colour of the heads that are doing the job – it’s about the fact that the job is being done and it’s being done so much better because you have a black woman at the helm. “Don’t make the fact that you are a woman an excuse for why certain things didn’t happen. When you go to school to support your child who is playing tennis, you don’t do that because you’re a woman, you do that because you’re a parent. If you cry, you cry because you’re a human being and not because you’re a woman. It’s the diversity of our humanity that can impact and change this world for the better.”
“It’s not about the colour of the heads that are doing the job – it’s about the fact that the job is being done and it’s being done so much better because you have a black woman at the helm.”
Being a woman of colour, I asked Mamokgethi about advice she has for other women aspiring to leadership. “Always make sure that when it comes to the professional side of your work, you tick all the boxes and you get it done. I want to tick all the boxes when it comes to the professional side of my job because I don’t want to be seen as an ‘Employment Equity’ appointment. I want everyone to know
And between juggling a strenuous career, family and research, how does she manage to do it all? “I love my job and I love my family, so I find time for both. I’ve also become smarter in how I manage my time. The bottomline of a work-life balance, to me, is ‘work as if you never play, and play as if you never work’. I work extremely hard, but when I play, I play just as hard. It’s not about doing it 5050; it’s about whether you do enough of the things that you love.” Asking her about her one wish for Africa and the legacy she wants to leave behind, Mamokgethi goes silent for a few contemplative seconds. “My wish for Africa is for her to have selfless leaders, leaders with a deep rooted sense of integrity. And the legacy I want to leave behind, is one of hope.” Her simple, yet profound wish for this country and continent echoed my own sense of patriotism and pride. And I indeed left the interview with a renewed sense of hope, encouraged by the inspiring life of this fighter and her story of overcoming.
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through conservation
When Bongi Mafuya started clearing away alien vegetation in her home village, she was yet to realise the economic upliftment the whole community would experience. Bongi, who hails from KwaBhaca, in KwaZulu-Natal, started her career as an executive chef. “I studied tourism and worked in most of the game reserves around Mpumalanga, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. I became more interested in the environment, so I asked if I could start going out into the field where I learned more about the interaction between humans, nature and wild animals.” Some time later, when Bongi visited her home village, she realised the area was not in good condition. “There was a lot of degradation of the soil,” she explains. “The wattle was a problem and the rivers were no longer the same. When I grew up there were huge wetlands, and I realised they were no longer there.”
Bongi decided to take action. She gave up tourism, headed home and formed the NGO, Transkinirha kwaBhaca Development Trust, where she began connecting with other environmental organisations working on clearing alien biomass in the area. Bongi’s NGO began work with schoolchildren. “I spoke to the principals and had an hour allocated to environmental studies every week,” she says. “We also started an envirocorner, which we built and painted, and organised excursions to assess the health of the river and clear the drains.” Next, she set up task groups of young men to clear the wattle and sell it for various uses, as well as forming a livestock association and putting proper rangeland management
Text by Jules Newton. Courtesy image.
UPLIFTMENT
systems in place. “The community had abandoned their indigenous ways to manage rangelands,” she says. “Cattle roamed everywhere, and the wattle was encroaching on the rangelands, so the cattle were declining and the system was getting weaker and weaker – it was a destructive, negative cycle. But when we cleared up the wattle, the water started to flow again, and the land was restored so that the cattle could thrive.” Healthier livestock led to a successful cattle auction. Initially, the idea was met with resistance. “They were reluctant because they didn’t believe that an auction would ever come to remote rural villages – and because I am a young woman. Livestock farming is regarded as men’s territory.” However, once the community saw the prices some of their cattle were fetching, they began to participate. The project started to snowball. Bongi managed to take her initiative to other villages in the area, who then formed their own livestock associations, and began clearing the wattle too. The communities started seeing the fruits of their labour, and soon there were recycling initiatives in place. The communities were making amasi from their cows instead of going into town to buy it, and even the children were involved – cleaning up the river regularly, and admonishing older community members who dumped their rubbish there. Soon Bongi met Jules Newton from Avocado Vision who was looking to set up community-based financial literacy facilitators to bring financial education to rural communities. Together they agreed to set up Bongi as a financial education training partner, running her own training business in her community. Today Bongi not only coordinates the myriad projects that have arisen as a result of clearing the alien biomass in the area, but she’s also an Avocado Vision training partner, training communities in the area of financial literacy and other enabling life skills – all because she started clearing away wattle.
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education
Driving the African education
REVOLUTION
Text by Elske Joubert. Courtesy image.
S’onqoba Maseko’s passion for the youth and education led her to start a revolutionary education group, whose aim is to disrupt the traditional education model. S’onqoba Maseko is an Actuarial Science BSc Honours graduate. She has worked in the financial services industry for six years in roles varying from actuarial analyst, brand insights and analytics manager, to executive assistant to FirstRand’s Group CEO. She then joined the startup space to disrupt education through Sifiso Learning Group. The Sifiso Learning Group, founded in 2016, is a new-age education group that looks to disrupt and impact the entire education value chain through its subsidiaries: Future Nation Schools, Future Nation College, Future Nation University, Sifiso Edtech, Sifiso Publishers and Sifiso Education Properties. The group aims to drive the African education revolution.
You have a passion for youth and education. How important is quality education in ensuring a better future for our youth? My passion for youth and quality education comes from the impact that education has had in changing my own life. Without access and scholarships, I would not have achieved all that I have. As a youth-rich country and continent, education is an imperative tool to ensure Africa’s development and its ability to shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The type of education needed to do this should be aligned with the required skills for this revolution and not just the same, decades-old model that fails to harness our demographic dividend. We need to educate
creators, game changers, innovators, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and overall well-rounded young people ready to take us to the next level. Historically, girls and young women were made to believe that certain careers or endeavours are not for women to pursue. How has this mindset changed in the last couple of years? Sadly, it has not changed enough. There is still heavy lifting work to be done to expose girls to the opportunities that exist, and to support them in realising these opportunities. There are far too many girls and women who see certain areas of work and life as not being for them. There are too many environments where there are no women in abundance to look up to and be mentored by. From the corporate boardroom to construction projects to the energy sector, women can be counted in low numbers. Glass ceilings and barriers need to be continuously broken because of high gender inequality rates. What, according to you, are some of the challenges women face in maledominated industries? The biggest issue is not seeing yourself in these industries. There is no established path to follow that has been laid by someone who you can identify with. It’s an identity issue and it yields questionable self-esteem and a feeling of always needing to prove yourself. This is contrasted by the majority of people in these industries who don’t experience what you experience. Keep imposter syndrome at bay with a bold spirit. These challenges can be overcome as we create a new norm in industries where women are seen, heard and where they lead.
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Fight like a
girl Shana Power, MMA fighter and owner of PHiT gym, talks to African Independent about sexism in the sport industry and what success means to her.
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sport
Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Ross Garret courtesy of Nike SA.
Shana Power has always been athletic, competing in sport throughout high school. After completing her matric, she obtained her diploma in sports conditioning in order to understand the human body better. Her journey has by no means been an easy one. However, she’s grateful for all the adversity along the way, which has tested and ultimately strengthened her character. Shana is currently a professional MMA fighter and the proud owner of PHiT gym. As a girl, you were chosen as part of the boys’ soccer team at school and were discriminated against. Do you think mindsets around women participating in “men’s sports” have changed in South Africa? I think we are definitely making progress with regards to changing people’s perceptions of women competing in male-dominated sports. It definitely has come at the expense of nasty comments, trying to put women down and not supporting them for being unconventional. However, the female pioneers have continued and stayed true to their path, and now it is starting to pay off as they are definitely starting to become recognised in their chosen sports.
What have been some of the major challenges you’ve had to face as a woman in sport and how have you overcome them? When I played soccer in school, there was a lot of discrimination and sexist comments made towards me. It was really tough to continue to play, but my love for the sport outweighed the negativity. I tried not to let it get me down. Today, I am grateful for all the hardships I went through when I was younger as I realise that it shaped me for something much greater. I remained positive through the tough times and continued to do something that made me happy despite what was said to me. My happiness meant more to me than the opinion of others. You are currently active in the MMA space and the first South African woman to beat two international opponents and to have won two fights in a row. What do these achievements mean to you? It means a lot to me. By doing something that hadn’t been done before, I hope it inspires and encourages others to do things that they think are impossible; to go out there and chase their dreams.
Any advice for other women? Don’t be afraid to be yourself. The world would be boring if we were all the same. Do things that make you happy no matter what the world might think. At the end of the day, your happiness is all that matters.
How do you relax? Watching a movie with my wife, eating our favorite food and sleeping. Favourite dessert? Chocolate fondant and banoffee pie Who or what inspires you? My mother is one of my biggest inspirations and I am so grateful to be guided, loved and supported by her.
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Step by step
image and story credit
Cato Louw is the youngest female rugby anchor on SuperSport. We chat to her about her journey and its set of unique challenges.
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Text by Elske Jouber. Photography by Zanyika du Preez.
sport
Cato Louw grew up in Hogsback, a small town in the Eastern Cape. Owing to her curious nature, Cato tried every possible extramural activity at school: from tennis to hockey to waterpolo and drama. Her mother, Anleen, always encouraged Cato and her sisters to try new things: “Al kom jy laaste, solank jy klaar maak” (finish, even if you finish last). It was that very saying that gave Cato the guts to pursue her dreams. Being the youngest female rugby anchor on SuperSport is quite an accomplishment. What does this achievement mean to you? I’m just so glad to be doing what I love. I get to call my childhood heroes my colleagues and I get to see the country and how rugby changes lives. I still ask bucket-loads of questions on productions and learn something new every day. It surely comes with its unique set of challenges as well. Can you tell us more about your challenges and successes? Being a woman in rugby will always come with challenges – like not being taken seriously and frowns from certain people when you raise a point, but I’m lucky to have amazing mentors who guide me through what feels like the rugby wilderness sometimes. By studying and reading a lot, I make sure I have the knowledge to back myself, so even though the frowns and the question marks pop up sometimes, I know what I’m talking about. You just have to believe in yourself, as cliché as that sounds. When did you realise that you wanted to make a career out of broadcasting, especially sports broadcasting? When I was younger, I always listened to sport over the radio, so I lived through what the commentators were explaining and the pictures they
were painting – it was amazing! At that point I didn’t know I wanted to make a career out of it, but I was always drawn to radio because of my childhood. I took a chance in 2011. Supersport was having a “Lady Rugga” competition – they were looking for South Africa’s first female rugby presenter. My mom drove me to Port Elizabeth for the audition. I made it through the first round, which was just a camera test. When I got in front of the judges (I was 19 at the time) I did my rehearsed part and they asked me to do a spontaneous link as if I was in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup... and I choked! I had no idea what to say or do. The judges, being very nice, asked if there was a campus or community station close to where I was studying. I said yes, there is Maties FM (MFM) at Stellenbosch University. They suggested I sign up there and get some experience in the industry. When I signed up at MFM, sports broadcasting was always in the
back of my mind. As I gained more experience, I could add more sports on my show until eventually they created a full time sports show called Halftime, which aired for the first time in 2017. What advice do you have for other women aspiring to be sports broadcasters? Gain as much knowledge as you can by being informed, reading and making sure your foundation is strong. You could start by gaining experience in the industry, like joining a campus station and grafting there for a few years, then you just put your head down and work towards your goal. There is no shortcut. Take it step by step.
QUICK - FIRE Q&A What is the one thing most people don’t know about you? I have a serious obsession with the Royal Family. Who or what inspires you? My mom and dad, each in their own way. They are my biggest motivators and fans. Also, the women in sport who have paved the way before me – big inspiration! Favourite getaway destination? I love going home to the Eastern Cape and any place where we can braai and just relax. Having a wine estate close by is not too bad either.
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sport
Reaching a dream –
one goal at a time Former Banyana Banyana captain, Amanda Dlamini, risked everything in pursuit of a career in football. Today, through her foundation, she encourages girls from rural towns to work hard, get an education and go for gold – irrespective of the odds that may be stacked against them.
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sport
Text by Elske Joubert. Photography by Siyanda Mayeza; Fotoware; Sydney Mahlangu; BackpagePix.
Left: South African Amanda Dlamini during the African Women Cup of Nations 2nd round 2nd leg match between South Africa and Botswana on 12 April 2016 at Makhulong Stadium.
Can you tell us about yourself and your journey thus far? I’m a very reserved and calm individual, passionate about sport, especially football. I risked everything in pursuit of a career in football, and as a woman, you can imagine the challenges I had to overcome to finally succeed. I managed to realise my dreams through education and football, and I always advise the youth to do the same. You started the Amanda Dlamini Girls Foundation in 2012. Please tell us about the foundation and how the idea came about? The idea came about when I started living my dream and
experienced the Olympic Games. It seemed like a fairytale that a girl like me from the deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal could, against all odds, find herself living a dream of being an Olympian. I wanted to tell my story through the foundation. I wanted to motivate the girls back home who are always dismissed for different reasons. Our message is simple: Use your sporting abilities to fight social ills, get ahead where education is concerned, fight poverty and realise your dreams. What, in your opinion, is the status quo of women in sport in South Africa? Women’s football in South
Africa hasn’t changed much, it’s still regarded as amateur level. It’s funny how we jump from amateurs to elite athletes as soon as we don the national colours. It’s a very serious issue that still hasn’t been addressed. Young women sacrifice so much to be part of the national team. Imagine if we had a league that paid us. So much would change where self-esteem and confidence is concerned. As a breadwinner, you can actually get a salary that would help. We still have a long way to go in honouring women in sport in this country, by giving them what they deserve and by taking care of them and supporting them.
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Dr Siona O’Connell Colgate NEH Professor of the Humanities, Africana and Latin American Studies, Art and Art History and Film and Media Studies Programme
‘There is still hope’ There are still countless women and girls fighting poverty and discrimination in South Africa, but their hope and sheer determination to overcome will keep inspiring future generations. “There is still hope” are the words of Margie Januarie in the final scene in Uitgesmyt (cast out) – a film I recently directed and produced as an academic at the University of Pretoria in partnership with the Centre for Curating the Archive at the University of Cape Town. Januarie is one of a handful of elderly women who live in Elandskloof. The town can be found after a long corrugated gravel road from Citrusdal in South Africa’s Western Cape – nestled in the valley between the Cederberg and the Koue Bokkeveld mountain ranges. What makes Januarie’s words significant is that, to all extents and purposes, Elandskloof is an extremely impoverished area, bearing witness to a failure of South Africa’s first successful land restitution case in 1996. Elandskloof residents were evicted from this Dutch Reformed Church mission settlement in 1962, as a result of the land being sold to white farmers. The community, descendants of slaves, who had been living there for centuries, found themselves in abject poverty, sleeping in the surrounding bushes with a handful of their belongings. In 1996, they returned to a landscape that was
both familiar and strange, having to reconstitute as a community that had been shattered, without the necessary support, attendance to trauma or structures that would give the returnees a fair shot of success. When I first interviewed Januarie and another woman, Aletta Titus (also in her late 70s), I was struck by their resilience. In the face of a palpable reality of acute deprivation and hardship, these women were resourceful; resorting to collecting acorns to sell for animal feed and making tourist trinkets, such as dry flower arrangements, to supplement their meagre income. Despite this, it is apparent that these women, like millions of women in South Africa, are bearing the cost of an apartheid and colonial past, having to keep families together, put food on the table and tackle the social ills and conflicts that come with being poor and in many senses, abandoned. Januarie and Titus’s fastidious homes and their warm welcome echo scores of homes that I have visited over the past several years, all of whom are connected to race-based evictions. I have learnt a lot from ordinary women who supported
teenagers who were detained during anti-apartheid struggles. Equally, I have far too many memories of women telling me what it was like to receive an eviction notice in places such as Harfield Village or Newlands, in Cape Town’s now upmarket southern suburbs, and having to carve out a home for traumatised children in the unfamiliar and inhospitable landscape of the Cape Flats. I heard their distress and inability to make sense of the enormity of their loss, extracted only because they were not ‘white’. It is the cost of this loss which their children and grandchildren continue to pay. Women like this urge us to address the lived realities of millions of South Africans who are mired in poverty; consider the multiple meanings of land, loss and belonging; deal with violence on every possible level; invest in education and realise that the strength of this country resides in the power of a nation that knows what it means to come together to achieve the impossible. Their narratives are a call to go back to the moment of 1994 and square-up to the reality of our past – a reality that compels us to grasp that the majority of our fellow citizens have too little, and that limited resources require a shift in our expectations and demands. I have learnt from the tenacity and work ethic of thousands of women in the clothing industry across the country who support entire families; been bolstered by the vision and strength of women who head households, and have been buoyed by the confidence of young women students who imagine being engineers, artists, scientists, lawyers, economists and scholars. If we are able to respond to a call of another way of being in South Africa and grasp that we deserve better, we, like Margie Januarie, will still hold onto hope and imagine a future that does justice to the sacrifices of the past.
Text by Dr Siona O’Connell. Courtesy image.
final say
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