Activating a Thought Leader In Me

The Freedom Charter As adopted at the Congress of the People, Kliptown, on 26 June 1955  We, the People of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know: that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people; that our people have been robbed of their birthright to land, liberty and peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality; that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities; that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birthright without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief; And therefore, we, the people of South Africa, black and white together equals, countrymen and brothers adopt this Freedom Charter; And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing neither stren...

The feminist movement seems to have so many deferent sub-movements that it may seem to someone who is not fully aware of what feminism is, there is a split within the feminist movement itself , a lack of cohesiveness.  The term black feminist has been used by many African women from all over the world. A question of why they would want to define themselves as black feminist, not referring just to there skin colour but rather to their ideologies of the feminist movement, they argue that sexism, class oppression and racism go hand in hand.   The African population, that includes African American, African European, Afro Brazilian etc.. or “black” women have a bigger fight then their white counterpart.  Alice Walker wrote this definition of feminism in her book, Feminist Theory, From Margin To Center (2000):  “ Feminism is the struggle to end sexist oppression. Its aim is not to benefit solely any specific group of women, any particular race or class of wome...

Africa is changing, but it seems as a continent it is taking longer to get women involved in higher decision making tables and governance. The transformation of the African economy has not made enough space for its female counterparts. Young female Africans need to awaken a generation that will not fear to take up positions that are in the forefront of African leadership and of decision-making in their countries and on the Continent. Woman like Nkosazna Dr Zuma, Fatou Bensouda, Joyce Banda,Ellen Johnson, Catherine Samba-Panza, Thuli Madontsela, have opened up new possibilities for women in politics in African economics, education and business, but we cannot only have a few prominent females in critical positions of decision making in Africa. In the history of Africa, the continent has only had three female presidents and that is something that needs to be challenged by a new generation of young African females, who have something to say and contribute to the welfare of Africa. T...

Politics, Women and the Media As part of a revolutionizing world, the idea of women taking over countries and running states has become both an alarming and celebrated idea. The main focus of media and politics in Africa has always been the idea of patriarchal leadership and ideology. While women have fought for political revolutions, the credit of their fights has always been attributed to men. How do we as the media give fair coverage and praise to women in politics, without reverting to their fashion or the fact that they stuck by their husband’s side, if some of their husbands stray, rather than reporting on what they have accomplished and what they are doing? Media reporting on female leadership has been used in a manner that undermines women in politics and may cause society and the institution of politics to have low confidence and trust in female leadership. On Monday 29 October 2014, Boikelto Mongoato from CANRAD spoke on Madibaz Radio about how women have been re...

 Africa has more then just the African woman to fight for, it has to fight for the African boy, who has to become the African man. However with no one making sure that the African boy is freed from the hegemonic ideologies of the continent, women like myself will still have to fight for the African woman and the woman in general.

Opinion piece Malaika Wa Azania Memoirs of born free My take: by Sinazo Mtshengu On Tuesday 19 August 2014, Canrad hosted a book launch “ Memoirs of a born free” by   Malaika Wa Azania. A socialist activist who is fighting for issues affecting the African continent. I am impressed by Malaika, she is confident in her views and she knows what she is fighting for. At the age of 22 many young people are still trying to figure out what their course is. She seemed very secure in her views and unapologetic. She is firm in her ideals of blackness, fighting for the majority that is black, poor and African. Malaika seemed radical to me, but she is fighting for a cause she believes in and her cause is economic freedom for Africa, for the deconstructing of western ideologies in African minds and the freedom to be black for Africans. In a country that is torn apart by economical hierarchy and class, Malaika is challenging the institutionalised county of South Africa and the African...

a woman's body in South Africa is a battle field. Who fights for the rights of African women in our governments. When we still have hegemonic ideas and men within our own government, thinking they have the right to control and constitute how a women should dress.

ok, so my friend was telling a story where her little four year old sister was being naughty, to scare her, she told her that she would take her to a black school, she used the idea of being in a black school to scare her four year old sister!. When did being with black people become a scare tactic for little kids, the irony is that my friend is also black, so her four year old is also black sister is being i ndirectly told black schools are for bad people. I don't understand how we as black people started looking at each with ideas that there are those who are less, because of where one goes to school or is from. These ideas that the past government has installed in our minds need to be erased. The only reason i could afford to get out of the so called "black schools" is because my parents were blessed enough to have had jobs and an education. I think of my two older sisters who too started at what we call "black schools" and many others who are in my classes...

We as women need to start taking up leadership positions and start leading everywhere we are. I was sad when i was in a conversation with some of my colleagues, and they told me that they where not ready for a female president in our university, on the bases of gender alone. A good leader is not based on gender rather her abilities and capabilities. A soon as we as a society move away from making leadership gender base, we can see a new wave of leadership rising, a type of leadership that is chosen on merit of their potential and ability to lead. That is why i am an advocate for great leadership and i am an activist for women to not be afraid of taking leadership positions, that are stereotyped  as male positions. there is no male position when it comes to leadership, rather there is a leadership position, that needs to be filled by someone who is capable.

A leader is not simply someone who has been given a leadership position, but rather a leader is someone who inspires people to believe in what she/he believes. A leader is someone who can inspire people to be the best they can be and who is able to motivate a team of people or an individual to do beyond what the team or individual believes they can do. It is never about what the person is doing, rather the why the person is doing what they are doing that separates a leader and a leadership position. When the leaders has clear vision of why he is leading, what he is leading, then people follow, because they to believe in the vision.  Some of the greatest leaders i have come to know, have never been defined by the position, but they have aways been defined by why they are in that position.  A successful leader is a visionary and someone who is innovative who can use ideas that exist  and make them better for the better of society. Successful leaders never look at h...

Hard work pays off. Building a brand does not come with a day dream, it comes with action. My African women foundation W.O.T Africa hosted another successful event, " Made for Greatness" was the theme topic. Amazing speakers and we had the Privilege of having one of the most successful business woman in the Eastern Cape. Mrs. Nomsa Mazibuko owner of the biggest recruitment agency in the EC.   Thank you to all who where involved. We can only grow from here.

Reconciliation, according to google dictionary is defined as 
”the restoration of friendly relations, " 



 or “the action of making one view or belief compatible with another”. I was watching the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Council) sessions, from the SABC YouTube channel where they had the old archives tapings of the sessions. Listening to some of the stories, made me cry, both white and black came with their own stories, of the pain caused by the system of Apartheid in South Africa. I could not help but focus on the white people more, I listened to some of their stories, of how they lost their loved ones as well. My heart bled as I listened to their stories, but I didn’t shed a tear, instead I questioned the motives behind those killings. Black people had suffered so much loss, pain, hurt, hatred and anger. They turned and did the same to the man who was oppressing them and killing them. Was the black mans killing justified?  I watched a movie called “I...

Woman Of Tomorrow Africa Seminar On the of 15 March 2014 at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Vertas Residence study centre South Campus. Woman of Tomorrow Africa foundation hosted their first Seminar in the Port Elizabeth. There were three speakers, each amazing in their own right. There were 40 young women in attendance. Amongst them we had a young  feminist, who is a Television and radio personality, who gave the young women who were in attendance a talk about knowing themselves and how to “brand” themselves and to move in spaces women have not yet moved in. The Second speaker Kurula Mhlaba is a young leader and business woman, who is the founder KingsRule seminar, she spoke to the young women about raising above the standard, ” refuse to appear to disappear” Mhlaba said. We had our third speaker, who was a spiritual speaker Sisi Phali from Rucc PE, speaking about the role of a woman in their walk with God. The venue was filled with 40 young leaders from Melodi and ...