Advertise on podcast: Womanity - Women in Unity

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA). From a township childhood and an unexpected start in nursing to international teaching and academic leadership, her journey reveals the power of education, determination and lifting others along the way. The conversation explores women’s voices, the social purpose of the humanities and embracing technology without losing touch with African roots. When a Change of Direction Becomes a Calling Professor Nkosi’s early ambition was to become a medical doctor, but her school did not offer mathematics. She then considered teaching, only to find that a lack of university accommodation redirected her towards nursing. What began as an alternative became a passion for caring for people and understanding their experiences. A nursing diploma, a degree through UNISA and postgraduate studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal opened the way to education, research and leadership. Learning Beyond Borders – and Bringing It Home Her first teaching role took her to the United Arab Emirates, where she spent three years teaching preventive and promotive health and contributing to curriculum change. Beyond the classroom, the experience deepened her appreciation of cultural differences, religious respect and new ways of living. Yet her commitment to South Africa drew her home: having benefited from publicly supported nursing training, she wanted to give back to the communities that had helped shape her. Human Sciences with a Human Purpose For Professor Nkosi, the humanities are not removed from everyday life; they help us understand people in their fullness. She describes a college spanning arts, humanities and social sciences, bringing together language, spirituality, health and the forces that shape society. Ubuntu runs through this vision: respect, care and mutual support matter as much as knowledge. Excellence means involving students in learning and encouraging experienced and emerging academics to learn from one another. Moving Beyond the Ivory Tower The conversation turns to what universities can do about challenges such as gender-based violence, poverty and health. Professor Nkosi emphasises community partnerships, safety campaigns, health education and skills that support self-sustainability. She also highlights collaboration across disciplines: nutrition can draw on agricultural expertise, while discussions about consent and rights benefit from legal knowledge. Her message is that meaningful engagement means working with communities on solutions, rather than simply delivering knowledge to them. Women’s Voices at the Centre Discussing feminist, womanist and Bosadi theorizations, Professor Nkosi calls for women’s experiences to shape the questions we ask and the decisions we make. In her account, women should have space not only to participate, but to initiate ideas, lead activities and benefit from their outcomes. From household decisions to economic discussions and control over their own lives, women’s perspectives deserve to be heard. This is not about excluding men; it is about changing whose voice sets the agenda. Lift as You Rise Mentorship is a deeply personal commitment for Professor Nkosi. Having received guidance when she entered academia, she resolved to offer that same support to others. Her nursing background taught her the value of helping newcomers connect theory with practice; her academic journey strengthened her desire to support others towards their doctorates. For her, lifting as you rise means making time, setting clear objectives, offering regular guidance and helping people grow into independence. Know the Criteria – and Put Yourself Forward Asked about barriers facing women in academia, Professor Nkosi offers a practical perspective rooted in her own journey. She describes studying the requirements for each next step, building a checklist and working deliberately towards it. When encouraged to accept a lower academic rank, she pointed to the evidence that she met the advertised criteria. Without dismissing challenges beyond an individual’s control, she encourages qualified women to apply, compete and claim their place rather than hold themselves back. A Digital Future with African Roots The Advancing African Digital Humanities Ideation Hub brings another dimension to the discussion: how technology can enrich the humanities without replacing their identity. Professor Nkosi describes introducing academics to digital tools through boot camps and seminars, while retaining a commitment to Africanisation, decoloniality and indigenous knowledge. Her enthusiasm lies in combining new possibilities with the perspectives of historians, linguists and other humanities scholars. Progress, in this vision, does not require departing from one’s roots. Education That Fits Around Life Distance learning is more than an institutional model in Professor Nkosi’s story; it enabled her to earn a degree while working as a nurse and supporting her family. She reflects on the importance of that flexibility for women balancing study, work and other responsibilities. The conversation also touches on affordability, regional support and assistance for students with disabilities. Access becomes meaningful when opportunities to enrol are matched by support that helps people participate and succeed. A Message to the Next Generation Professor Nkosi honours the family members who protected her time to study, her mother’s community activism and her grandmother’s strength as a matriarch. Their influence connects her achievements to a wider story of care, resilience and opportunity. Her closing advice to girls and women is both hopeful and practical: dream big, align your daily work with your ambitions, enter difficult spaces and take your seat at the table. Above all, lift as you rise, so that your progress creates a pathway for others. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Helené Basson, an orthopaedic surgeon in private practice at Life Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria, founder and CEO of Operation Healing Hands, and the driving force behind the Amici community choir. From restoring movement through surgery to opening doors to healthcare and bringing people together through music, her story reveals how a passion for people can shape a rich and purposeful life. A Calling Inspired by Her Father Dr Basson’s path into medicine began with watching her father, an orthopaedic surgeon whose enthusiasm for his work left a lasting impression. By the age of sixteen, she knew she wanted to follow in his footsteps. He encouraged her to explore medicine before committing to a speciality, and she later worked alongside him for seven years. Her advice to young people is simple: choose a career because it genuinely excites you and you are passionate about it, not merely because others believe you have the academic ability to pursue it. Restoring Movement — and Quality of Life Orthopaedics offers the variety that first drew Dr Basson to the profession: treating conditions affecting the spine and limbs, from fractures and ligament injuries to joint problems. Having initially specialised in paediatric orthopaedics, she went on to develop a practice combining spinal and general orthopaedic care. She finds fulfilment both in the precision of surgery and in getting to know patients, accompanying them through treatment and recovery. The Person Behind the Procedure One of Dr Basson’s moving reflections concerned an elderly patient whose severe complications prompted difficult conversations about surgery and palliative care. The experience reinforced a lesson that has stayed with Dr Basson: medicine is not simply about what can be done, but about what is right for the person receiving care. Knowing when to stop, recognising professional limits and seeking guidance are as important as knowing how to operate. Sometimes no treatment is treatment. Above all, patients and families need honest communication and a sense that someone is walking the journey with them. Women’s Bone Health: Looking Beyond the Fracture The conversation turns to osteoporosis and the importance of paying attention to bone health after menopause. Dr Basson highlights the danger of treating a fracture without considering an underlying bone-health problem, and encourages women to discuss assessment and treatment with their doctors. She also emphasises regular, manageable physical activity, including walking, as part of caring for bones, muscles and joints. Her message is to take prevention seriously rather than wait for another injury. Finding Her Place in Surgery Asked about gender barriers in surgery, Dr Basson offers a personal perspective: she did not experience gender-based obstacles during her own training. She recalls a team environment centred on caring for patients and lasting friendships with colleagues. The discussion also considers how greater representation can shift perceptions of women in the workplace. Her experience adds an encouraging voice to the conversation about women entering surgical specialities, without suggesting that every woman’s journey is the same. Operation Healing Hands: Small Contributions, Life-Changing Results Operation Healing Hands grew from the frustration of seeing a young mother living with the consequences of delayed fracture treatment and being unable to afford further surgery. What began as a Mandela Day initiative in 2016, helping around fourteen patients, became a full-time charity. Ten years on, Dr Basson reports that OHH has helped more than 1,700 patients. Its philosophy is that everyone does a little, and together they do a lot: doctors donate their expertise, while hospitals, suppliers and donors contribute to making surgery possible. Bridging the Gap in Access to Surgery The charity matches eligible patients with surgeons across different specialities, focusing on relatively low-risk cases that can be addressed through a single surgical procedure rather than ongoing treatment. Referrals and a partnership with the Atterbury Trust’s free clinic help connect patients to assessment and potential surgical support. Yet funding remains a constant challenge. Even with donated professional time and supplies, consumables and implants carry costs, and the need for surgery far exceeds the charity’s capacity. For Dr Basson, additional funding means the opportunity to help more people. Amici: Friendship, Music and Food for the Soul Beyond the operating theatre, Dr Basson finds joy and renewal in Amici, the community choir she started with friends when she was nineteen. Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, the choir welcomes singers without auditions and performs in churches, retirement homes and its own concerts. As the group grew, she pursued courses and learned from experienced musicians to develop her conducting skills. Music, friendship, faith and community come together in an activity she describes as food for the soul — a reminder that fulfilment need not be confined to a single profession. A Message to the Next Generation: Never Say Never The conversation closes with an invitation to girls and young women to find what they love and pursue it with commitment. Whether that passion lies in work, study, a hobby or helping others, Dr Basson believes it can provide the energy to keep going through difficult years. Her own journey shows how unexpected possibilities can emerge through learning, hard work and openness to change. Her message encapsulates hope fused with practical steps: never say never, follow your path, and live with passion. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Naadiyah Sterianos, a specialist trauma surgeon, academic and healthcare leader.  She serves as Trauma Director and Surgeon at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital, having previously worked at Netcare Alberton’s Level I Trauma Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Lectures at Wits and she is also the Deputy Secretary of the Trauma Society of South Africa.  From an under-resourced school education and an indirect route into medicine to leading a trauma service, her story is defined by purpose, perseverance and a refusal to accept that difficult beginnings determine final destinations. Purpose, Persistence and the Long Road into Medicine Dr Sterianos did not enter medicine directly after school. After initially being turned down, she completed a BSc and an honours degree before gaining admission. She also failed early in her university journey and later failed her first medical examination. Instead of treating failure as a verdict, she learned to see it as information: change the study method, adjust the mindset and find another route to the same destination. What sustained her was not simply career ambition, but a clear sense that medicine was her purpose. Lessons from the Shop Floor Working part-time as a salesperson while studying taught her patience, humility and how to deal with people who may be demanding or dismissive. Those lessons became unexpectedly valuable in trauma care, where patients can be frightened, intoxicated, disoriented or aggressive. Her experience reinforces a central idea in the interview: every part of a difficult journey can develop qualities that later become professional strengths. Choosing Trauma: Becoming the Calmest Person in the Room Dr Sterianos originally imagined becoming a pulmonologist, partly because of her own experience with asthma. Her direction changed after discovering that she preferred practical, hands-on medicine. A defining moment came while she was an intern at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, where she watched a trauma surgeon calmly repair a stab wound to the heart while the rest of the theatre worked under intense pressure. She decided that she wanted to become the person who remains composed when everything is in crisis, gives direction and steadies the team. The Trauma Surgeon as Captain of the Ship Trauma care, she explains, is far more than repairing an injury. A severely injured patient may need neurosurgeons, orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgeons, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation teams and support from employers. While each specialist focuses on a particular injury, the trauma surgeon focuses on the whole patient and coordinates the journey back to the person’s pre-injury life. Public and Private Trauma: Different Worlds The interview reveals striking contrasts between sectors. Public hospitals encounter high volumes of penetrating trauma, including gunshot and stab wounds, while private care more often sees blunt trauma from vehicle crashes, workplace incidents and falls. Dr Sterianos recalls that a month-end Saturday night at Baragwanath could bring as many as 100 patients, about 30 seriously injured; in private practice, five patients can constitute a busy night. The differences in volume and injury profile are profound, but both settings demand coordination and sound clinical judgement. Treating the Person Behind the Injury One of the most memorable insights concerns an agitated patient waking after a serious accident. Staff initially saw aggression and non-cooperation; the patient later explained that his last memory was trying to escape the vehicle that struck him. Dr Sterianos realised that he was still responding to that remembered danger. Calm reassurance and psychological understanding could therefore be as important as medication or restraint. For her, holistic trauma care must address fear, distress and post-traumatic stress because mental wellbeing directly affects physical recovery. Women in Surgery: Beyond Limiting Stereotypes When Dr Sterianos began surgical training, women were less visible and were often pushed into one of two stereotypes: dependent and in need of rescue, or fiercely self-sufficient and difficult. Neither allowed a woman simply to be recognised as a capable surgeon. She sees encouraging change in the growing number of women entering surgery and leadership, but stresses that visibility matters. When younger doctors see women leading, they move from thinking “perhaps I can” to knowing “I will.” Leadership Means Taking People with You Teaching, mentoring and teamwork sit at the heart of Dr Sterianos’s approach to leadership. She believes a legacy cannot depend on one person; juniors must be empowered to continue the work and eventually surpass their mentors. Her late mentor, trauma surgeon Dr Vicky Jennings, modelled this by recognising her teaching ability, creating opportunities, introducing her to international colleagues and drawing her into a wider professional network. Dr Sterianos now aims to extend that same generosity to others. Building South African Trauma Knowledge Alongside clinical work, Dr Sterianos is committed to research and to strengthening South Africa’s academic voice. The country carries immense trauma experience, yet much clinical guidance still comes from American and European contexts. She argues that South African clinicians should publish what they see, shape locally relevant guidelines and share their expertise internationally. Her longer-term vision includes developing more trauma specialists and widening access beyond major metropolitan centres. Networks, Societies and Collective Influence Professional networks and societies provide belonging, collaboration and a route to larger influence, including policy and prevention. They connect people with shared purpose, but Dr Sterianos also values those who challenge familiar thinking. Conferences, professional societies and multidisciplinary relationships have helped her understand not only clinical medicine, but also the business, stakeholder and organisational dimensions involved in building a trauma service. Staying Grounded in a Demanding Career Trauma surgery involves long calls, emotional strain and a real risk of burnout. Dr Sterianos draws strength from family, purposeful time management and honest debriefing. Medical colleagues provide professional reflection and constructive feedback; her husband, who is outside medicine, offers perspective on what matters beyond the hospital. She describes both kinds of support as essential to remaining grounded. A Message to the Next Generation Her advice to young women considering surgery is direct: do it. Find a mentor, build a community of supportive and like-minded people, and do not allow setbacks to create lifelong regret. The conversation closes with a broader call to women and girls: no dream is too large or too small, and “no” need not be the end of the road. Turn dreams into action, take others with you, protect your peace and pursue the life you want with faith, resilience and persistence. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Stephanie Eichstadt, a psychiatrist who works with adolescents and adults and has a special interest in women’s mental health. Coming shortly after World Mental Health Day, commemorated annually on 10 October, the conversation looks at how biology, social pressures and life stage shape women’s mental wellbeing, from puberty and the menstrual cycle to pregnancy, motherhood and perimenopause. It also makes a clear case for why women’s symptoms deserve to be taken seriously rather than dismissed or simply endured. Treating the Whole Person Towards the end of her final year of medical studies, Dr Eichstadt realised that her passion lay not in “fix and go” medicine, but in helping people change the path of their lives. Psychiatry allows her to treat the whole person, including their brain chemistry, life story and relationships, and to watch patients grow over months and years. She describes her role as one of facilitation: the patient does the work. The greatest reward is seeing hope return to people who arrived believing that nothing would ever get better. The Three Layers of Women’s Mental Health Her interest in women’s mental health began with her own experience of hormonal changes after having her children. She describes three interacting layers. The first is biology: reproductive hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone affect mood, with especially vulnerable windows at puberty, in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, after childbirth and during perimenopause. The second is epidemiology: women are twice as likely as men to experience depression or anxiety, and that gap opens at puberty. The third is social load, including caregiving, the invisible “mental load”, gender-based violence and economic insecurity, all of which are highly relevant in South Africa. Labelling women as simply “more emotional,” she says, is a gross oversimplification. The Double Shift – and a Society Still Catching Up Women’s roles in the workplace have changed significantly, but in most households they remain the primary caregivers and run the home. Dr Eichstadt notes that many men “assist” at home, while women carry a full-time career and a full-time household. Women also still have to prove themselves at work and face short-sighted assumptions about pregnancy and children’s sick days. Society, she argues, has not yet caught up in valuing both the family and a woman’s contribution at work. Supporting mothers during their most vulnerable periods can positively affect the next generation and help break problems that have been passed down through families. PMDD: Not Just “Bad PMS” Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a recognised psychiatric diagnosis that affects approximately 3% to 8% of menstruating women. It causes severe mood and physical symptoms in the week or so before menstruation, which typically resolve once a period begins. Symptoms can include intense irritability or anger, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and, rarely, psychotic-type symptoms. The cause is not abnormal hormone levels; rather, the brain is unusually sensitive to normal hormonal shifts. Its impact can be profound. Family members describe meeting “a completely different person”, some of her patients have had engagements broken off, and the condition can lead to guilt, absenteeism, conflict at work, misdiagnosis as a personality or bipolar disorder, and even suicidal thinking. Diagnosis relies on tracking symptoms for at least two months. Treatment often involves SSRI antidepressants, sometimes taken only during the luteal phase, and oral contraceptives can also help. Her rule of thumb is that something becomes a disorder when it is persistent, consistent and disabling. Beyond the Myth of Effortless Motherhood Peripartum mental health is the area closest to Dr Eichstadt’s heart. She believes the myth that motherhood is effortless and instinctive is the biggest barrier to women getting help, because so many mothers believe they are the only ones struggling. Up to 80% of women experience the “baby blues” in the first two weeks after birth. If low mood, negative thoughts or disconnection from the baby or family continue beyond that, it may signal peripartum depression, which affects about 10% of women. Peripartum anxiety, OCD and intrusive thoughts are also common, and frightened mothers may stay silent because they fear their baby will be taken away. Drawing on her own experience of crying through her baby’s paediatric appointment without being asked whether she was okay, she calls on clinicians to look after mothers as well as babies. She also involves fathers and family members in preparing for the postpartum period, because society has moved away from the “village care” that once surrounded new mothers. Perimenopause: More Than Stress or Ageing Many women reach midlife feeling unlike themselves. Dr Eichstadt explains that declining oestrogen and progesterone affect serotonin and dopamine and can trigger a first episode of anxiety or depression. In very rare cases, they can even trigger psychosis. Perimenopause often starts earlier than women expect, sometimes in the mid-40s or earlier. Blood tests can be unreliable because hormone levels fluctuate so much, and the transition often coincides with peak life pressures such as raising teenagers, caring for ageing parents and managing career demands. Night sweats, early-morning waking, brain fog and changes in body shape and metabolism can all affect mood and body image. Reassuringly, brain fog clears after menopause, unlike dementia. Her advice is to track your cycle, keep a sleep diary and find a doctor who takes perimenopause seriously, so that this stage can become a positive transition into what are often called the best years of life rather than the “change of life”. Don’t Accept “It’s Just the Change of Life” Too many women are told to simply push through. Dr Eichstadt asks why women should have to “just cope” with changes that men might not be expected to tolerate. Medicine used to be paternalistic: “Here’s your tablet, go home.” She sets aside time to discuss treatment with her patients because, as she says, if you are putting something in your body, you need to understand it and feel comfortable with it. She encourages patients to ask questions, read up on their condition and even send her studies to review. She also acknowledges that a 15-minute appointment cannot answer 15 questions. However, if a doctor is unwilling to explain a treatment plan, it may be time to find one who will. A System Under Strain South Africa has an estimated 850 to 1,000 practising psychiatrists, about 80% of whom work in private practice. In the public sector, there is roughly one psychiatrist for every 100,000 people, and rural provinces are hit hardest. Dr Eichstadt speaks candidly about leaving the public sector, where under-resourcing meant she could only help patients “to the best of the ability of a broken system.” A grieving patient who can see a psychologist only once every two months, she notes, is unlikely to get the help they need. Although she is now in private practice, she hopes to find a way to contribute to the public sector again. Is Psychiatry a Female-Friendly Profession? In her experience, it largely is. Psychiatry offers better hours than many specialities and suits empathetic people, and she had strong support through both of her pregnancies during training. Challenges remain, however. The demanding call and registrar years often coincide with women’s reproductive years, women are still under-represented in psychiatric leadership, and the emotional load carries a real risk of burnout. Her solution is that every psychiatrist should see a psychologist and maintain firm boundaries, so that work ends at work and is not taken home to the family. Technology: Paperwork Off the Desk, People in the Room Looking ahead, Dr Eichstadt is excited by advances in genomics. Because there is no blood test or scan that can diagnose most psychiatric conditions, she believes the field is moving towards genotyping and phenotyping to predict which treatments will work for which patients. She values AI most for involving patients in their own care and for reducing administration and documentation, which gives her more time with patients. As she puts it, technology should “take the paperwork off our desks, not take the people out of the room.” Making Your Own Luck Dr Eichstadt credits her success to dedication and hard work. When she once described herself as lucky, her husband replied, “No, you make your luck.” She is equally quick to acknowledge the foundation she started with: a loving home, a good education and opportunities that many South African women do not have. She was telling people she would be a doctor from about the age of three, and she always imagined working with children. That ambition was shaped by visits with her mother to Edith Benson’s children’s home throughout her school years. A pivotal moment came during her studies, when she chose psychiatry over her lifelong plan to specialise in paediatrics. Her greatest role model is her mother, whose caring, nurturing and empathetic nature reflects the qualities she believes matter most in her field. She also credits the doctors a few years ahead of her in training who took the time to guide and support her. A Message to Girls and Women The conversation closes with an important reminder that mental health is health. It is not a weakness, not a luxury, not separate from physical health and not a Western idea foreign to Africa. Women are allowed to need help and to put themselves near the top of their own list of priorities. If something feels wrong, or someone close to you seems to be struggling, reach out. Her message to young girls fascinated by the human mind is simple: Africa need

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Mercy Kazima, Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Malawi. From a lifelong fascination with mathematical logic to a career devoted to helping others experience the breakthrough of “now I understand”, Professor Kazima’s journey shows how education can build confidence, widen opportunity and contribute to national development. Her story brings together teaching, research, leadership and a determined commitment to ensuring that girls and women can claim their place in mathematics, science and academia. She has led major international research projects, served as President of the Southern Africa Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, and is a passionate advocate for girls’ participation in mathematics and science Refusing the Ceiling on Women’s Ambition As a girl and young woman, Professor Kazima repeatedly encountered the message that mathematics was too difficult for girls and that she had already achieved “enough”. Instead of accepting those expectations, she chose to pursue an honours degree and deepen her mathematical expertise. Her experience reveals that the most powerful barriers are not always ability or talent, but the social ceilings placed on women’s aspirations. Believe in Your Potential Before Others See It A central lesson in her story is the importance of defining your own dream. Professor Kazima urges girls to listen thoughtfully to advice without allowing other people’s fears or limitations to become their own. Perseverance, self-belief and clarity of purpose enabled her to continue when others questioned her choices, and remain the qualities she recommends to anyone pursuing an ambition that challenges convention. When the First Woman Opens the Door In 2009, Professor Kazima became the first woman Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Malawi since the university’s establishment in 1965. She describes the appointment as both a proud personal achievement and a significant public responsibility. Knowing that women and girls were watching, she wanted her leadership to make visible what had previously seemed impossible: that a woman could occupy the role, excel in it and expand the ambitions of those coming behind her. Representation Must Become Opportunity Visibility matters, but Professor Kazima cautions that representation alone does not automatically advance other women. Women in leadership must actively support growth, create opportunities and keep doors open, while women around them should also support those who step forward. Her international experience reinforced the power of seeing women lead, and the responsibility to turn individual success into collective progress. Research That Changes Real Classrooms Professor Kazima’s research moves beyond theory into the realities of multilingual classrooms, early numeracy and mathematics teacher education. One of her strongest findings is that lasting improvement cannot come from simply telling an individual teacher to teach better. Teachers need strong subject knowledge, sound pedagogy, appropriate resources and structured opportunities to observe one another, reflect together and develop as a professional community. Equality Means More Than Getting Girls Through the School Gate The conversation explores the many layers of educational inequality, including differences in resources, qualified teachers and learning opportunities between rural and urban schools. Professor Kazima argues that access is only the beginning. Genuine equality means asking whether girls are participating, building confidence, progressing, remaining in school and discovering what their education can enable them to become. Making Mathematics a Space for Everyone During eight years coordinating the Malawi National Mathematics Olympiad, Professor Kazima saw how powerful it was for schoolgirls to encounter a woman leading in a field still widely associated with boys. Bringing finalists onto a university campus helped young participants imagine a future beyond the competition itself. Her presence delivered a message as important as any mathematical solution: girls belong in this space and can lead within it. Leadership Built on Purpose, Discipline and Integrity Professor Kazima identifies discipline, persistence, resilience and a strong sense of purpose as the foundations of her success. For her, leadership also requires continuous learning, listening to disagreement, building shared vision and understanding the policies that govern an institution. Integrity means living by those standards, setting an example and using leadership not simply to advance oneself, but to help others grow. A Message to Women and Girls Professor Kazima closes with a challenge: do not let other people’s limitations define your dreams. Girls should identify what they want, believe in their potential and work to reveal it. Women should not be afraid to take up positions of responsibility, and when they succeed, they should inspire others, create room for them to grow and never close the door behind them. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Malini Bhana, a specialist general surgeon focused on hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery, one of medicine’s most intricate and demanding fields. From an early interest in research to discovering the practical, problem-solving power of surgery, Dr Bhana’s journey reflects curiosity, discipline and a commitment to helping patients through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Finding Her Place in the Operating Theatre Initially drawn to the academic and research side of medicine, Dr Bhana could not imagine herself in clinical work. That changed during internship. Despite warnings that surgery would be gruelling, she found a field that matched the way she thinks: assess the problem, plan a solution, act decisively and help the patient recover. The hands-on nature of the work made everything fall into place. The Precision and Challenge of HPB Surgery After being captivated by the speed and adrenaline of trauma surgery, Dr Bhana was drawn to the deeper planning and technical precision of HPB procedures involving the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts. These complex operations demand detailed anatomical knowledge, meticulous preparation and sustained concentration. For her, that difficulty is precisely part of the appeal. A Defining Whipple Procedure One patient remains unforgettable: the first person on whom Dr Bhana performed a Whipple procedure independently during her fellowship. The six-to-eight-hour operation for pancreatic cancer involves removing several structures and performing a complex reconstruction. Guiding that patient from diagnosis through surgery, recovery and discharge marked the moment she felt she had achieved a long-held professional goal. Laser Focus, Stamina and Humanity Long operations require both physical fitness and an extraordinary ability to focus. Dr Bhana explains that when a life is in her hands, the patient on the table becomes the only priority. Yet she does not see emotional investment as a weakness. Caring deeply must be balanced with clear decision-making, perspective, trusted colleagues, opportunities to debrief and a life beyond medicine. Women’s Health: Symptoms That Should Not Be Dismissed The conversation offers an important health message for women. Dr Bhana discusses women’s greater susceptibility to gallstones and certain liver adenomas, and cautions against dismissing persistent upper or right-sided abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Her message is simple: listen to your body, seek medical advice and do not ignore symptoms that continue. Rethinking a Profession Built Around Extreme Hours Although more women are entering surgery, Dr Bhana is candid about the structural obstacles that remain. Training, on-call duties and unpredictable operations do not fit neatly around family responsibilities, while extreme fatigue can become unsafe for clinicians and patients alike. Flexible programmes are emerging, but the challenge is to create sustainable pathways without depriving trainees of essential experience. Representation Changes What Women Believe Is Possible For Dr Bhana, gender equality is about more than equal numbers. It means a workplace where gender does not limit opportunity or diminish the value placed on someone’s contribution. Seeing women perform complex surgery, lead professional bodies and speak on international platforms can expand other women’s sense of what is possible. Opportunity should be open to all, with achievement grounded in skill and merit. Mentorship Opens Doors Mentors played a decisive part in Dr Bhana becoming an HPB surgeon. To her, mentorship goes far beyond teaching technique: it is having someone who believes in you, helps you navigate difficult decisions and encourages you to pursue opportunities you may not recognise in yourself. Her involvement in teaching, the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association and the HPB Insights podcast allows her to pass that support forward while connecting with a wider international community. Bringing Specialist Care Closer to Home Establishing her own practice at Mediclinic Limpopo has given Dr Bhana the opportunity to shape care around meticulous preparation, continuity and individual attention rather than volume. It also brings scarce specialist services closer to patients who previously had to travel to Johannesburg or Pretoria, allowing them to remain nearer to the families and support networks that matter during treatment. Define Success for Yourself Dr Bhana credits a supportive family, inspiring women, hard work and the freedom to follow what she loves. Her closing message to girls and young women is to take opportunities, resist other people’s limitations and define success on their own terms. A meaningful life can hold ambition and personal fulfilment together and when no one like you is visible in the room, sometimes the task is to become the first and open the door for those who follow. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with neurosurgeon Dr Lauren Ford, whose work spans traumatic brain injury, neurosurgical oncology and spinal surgery. From a childhood fascination with medicine to a career operating at millimetre-level precision, Dr Ford shares the experiences, relationships and determination that shaped her path. The conversation moves beyond the operating theatre to explore women’s neurological health, compassionate patient care, the realities of a demanding surgical career and the importance of perseverance. When the Speciality Chooses You Dr Ford says she always wanted to be a doctor. Early encounters with serious illness; her own childhood medical emergency and her younger brother’s recovery from multi-organ failure and a stroke, gave that ambition a deeply personal foundation. Her fascination with the brain and nervous system began early, and by Grade 9 she was already imagining the seemingly impossible. In her words, neurosurgery ultimately “chose” her. Where Millimetres Matter Neurosurgery demands extraordinary accuracy: a deviation of one or two millimetres can have catastrophic consequences. Dr Ford explains how magnifying loupes, microscopes, careful positioning and steady hands support delicate brain procedures, while spinal surgery calls for a different kind of physical endurance. Across both, technical excellence must be matched by calm judgement and an acute awareness of what is at stake. “Time Is Brain” Working in high-volume public hospitals exposed Dr Ford to severe trauma and unforgettable emergencies, such as men walking into casualty with bottles in their heads or knives in their necks. She describes the urgency of treating brain bleeds, where every delay can worsen the outcome, and recalls an 89-year-old patient who survived after an emergency procedure and still returns to visit her. These cases capture the intensity of the field, and the profound reward of seeing a patient walk out of hospital when there was once very little hope. Patients Are Never Just Numbers For Dr Ford, medicine is as much about connection as intervention. She speaks movingly about a young patient whom she operated on three times, making sure the child, not only her parents, understood what was happening. Their continuing bond reflects her belief that good care means walking a path with patients and families, including through the uncertainty and grief that can accompany brain tumours. A Female Lens on Neurological Health The interview highlights neurological conditions that may affect women differently or more frequently, including meningiomas, aneurysms, carpal tunnel syndrome, prolactinomas and benign intracranial hypertension. Dr Ford encourages women to pay attention to new or unexplained symptoms such as changes in smell or vision and severe pressure headaches, while stressing that symptoms and treatment depend on the individual and the location of the condition. Women in a Demanding Surgical World Neurosurgery is becoming more inclusive, but its long hours and relentless demands still create particular pressures for women balancing professional and family responsibilities. Dr Ford reflects on entering a field with very few female specialists and seeing more women now qualify each year. She also argues that women bring valuable dimensions to medicine, including empathy, communication and a willingness to sit with patients through difficult moments. Success Is Built on Support Behind Dr Ford’s achievements is a strong network: a supportive partner, a close-knit family, faith, mentors and accomplished women who model purposeful lives. She protects her own balance through exercise, singing in a community choir and making room for interests beyond medicine. Her experience in private practice has also required her to learn new skill sets of leadership, finance and business management, without losing the compassionate heart of a doctor. A Message to the Next Generation The conversation closes with a simple, powerful message: do not give up. Dr Ford was not accepted into medicine in the first round, but she kept applying, kept working and stayed true to the career she wanted. For girls considering science, medicine or surgery, her advice is to choose subjects carefully, pursue excellence, seek practical exposure and work hard. Passion may open the door, but perseverance carries you through it. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Madinatu Bello, a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. Her work explores indigenous cultural traditions, gender dynamics, theatre, performance, heritage, peacebuilding and sustainability, revealing how the arts can preserve memory, challenge exclusion and help communities imagine more equitable futures. Where Art Becomes Memory Dr Bello traces her artistic journey back to a childhood shaped by communal rituals, performance and cultural festivals. For her, drumming, dance and theatre were never simply entertainment; they were the ways communities remembered their histories, negotiated power and transmitted identity across generations. This early immersion in living culture shaped her path through the humanities, theatre arts and music education. Culture, Gender and the Politics of Exclusion A central theme in the conversation is how culture can both sustain communities and reproduce gendered barriers. Dr Bello explains how indigenous drumming traditions have often excluded women through spiritual and ritual explanations, positioning men as custodians of authority while women are expected to sing, clap or dance in support. Her research asks what happens when women refuse the margins and claim the master drum as a space of leadership. The Resilience of Female Master Drummers Rather than confront tradition only through open resistance, the female master drummers Dr Bello studies use discipline, excellence and presence as strategy. They practise extensively, outplay expectations, draw on family and community networks, and enter spaces where their skill can no longer be denied. One insight from the interview is that cultural expectations shift not only when someone shouts the loudest, but when someone refuses to disappear. Arts as Social Change, Healing and Peacebuilding Dr Bello argues that the arts become transformative when they function as mirrors, memories, mediators and foundations for development. She reflects on decolonial practice as the reclamation of indigenous forms, on performance as a peacebuilding space where rival groups can share rhythm before agreement, and on culture as a basis for sustainability. In her view, when culture dies, something vital in the community dies with it. Navigating Academia as a Woman The conversation also turns to Dr Bello’s own experiences in academia, where she worked for many years as the only woman in her department. She speaks candidly about the quieter forms of bias women can face: having to prove they were not favoured, encountering sarcasm about their achievements, and navigating delays or resistance in professional progression. Her response has been to let the quality of her work speak, to outperform her own previous standards, and to draw strength from supportive male colleagues who understand her vision. Education, Opportunity and Confidence Education has been a defining force in Dr Bello’s life. Coming from a family where her father ensured that his six daughters had educational opportunities, she used schooling as a foundation for intellectual confidence and professional growth. Fellowships such as the ACLS African Humanities Program and the SSRC Africa Peacebuilding Network expanded her research, helping her move from viewing culture as a subject of study to understanding it as an instrument for policy, conflict transformation and social imagination. Girls’ Education and Breaking Cycles of Poverty Reflecting on Ghana, Dr Bello notes that access to schooling has improved, but completion remains a crucial challenge for girls, especially in rural and poorer communities. Financial pressure, pregnancy and early marriage can interrupt education, yet she also sees signs of transformation as women and families increasingly understand education as a deliberate mechanism for breaking cycles of poverty. Educated girls and women create ripple effects that strengthen families, communities and future generations. Women Who Opened the Way Dr Bello honours the women who shaped her path, beginning with her mother, whose academic excellence inspired her own ambition. She also credits influential teachers who nurtured her love of English, literature and the arts, as well as the late Antoinette, the female master drummer whose presence at university helped open an entirely new research direction. Their example has inspired Dr Bello to become a support system for younger women building their own creative and academic journeys. A Message to Girls and Women The interview closes with a strong reminder that every girl and woman has the right to be the main star of her own story. Dr Bello encourages young women to trust their instincts, be disciplined, build meaningful networks and refuse to let others define the limits of their lives. Through learning, creating and questioning, women generate impact that extends beyond themselves into their families, communities and the continent. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Emeritus Professor Jill Adler from Wits University, an internationally acclaimed mathematics education scholar whose career has been shaped by teaching, research, activism and a deep commitment to social justice. From studying mathematics and psychology at Wits and seeing herself first as a teacher, to becoming an A-rated researcher, academic leader and international voice in mathematics education, Prof Adler’s journey shows how education can become a powerful instrument for transformation. From Classroom Teacher to Social Activist Prof Adler reflects on the formative experiences that shaped her early commitment to education and social good. A year in the United States during the Vietnam War and student protest movements changed how she understood politics, race and justice. Returning to South Africa, during her university vacations, she became involved in voluntary service work in rural communities, building schools and clinics and beginning what she describes as a life of social activism. Breaking Barriers in Mathematics Education Her career unfolded in a landscape marked by apartheid, gender inequality and entrenched assumptions about what counted as serious academic work. As a woman mathematics educator working in a science faculty, she had to challenge scepticism about education as a research field. One defining moment came when she applied for a professorship to develop mathematics education at Wits, deciding that she was “as good as these guys” and stepping into a role that would help build the field. Creating Pathways for the Teachers We Have A prominent theme in the conversation is Prof Adler’s insistence that systems must respond to real people and real conditions. She describes establishing a new honours programme for mathematics teachers who had come through colleges of education and needed a different route into postgraduate study. Her goal was not to design for an idealised system, but to develop leadership among the teachers already working in South African schools. Maths Is for Everyone Speaking to stereotypes that discourage girls from seeing themselves as mathematicians, scientists or engineers, Prof Adler argues that the problem begins with wider perceptions of mathematics itself. Mathematics is abstract, but it is not a closed world reserved for a few. It can and should be made meaningful for all learners through better teaching, richer classroom activity and a shift away from memorising rules towards understanding mathematics as a way of thinking, proving and acting. Opening Doors for Girls in STEM Prof Adler acknowledges that gendered barriers remain, where women still encounter invisible ceilings. Yet she also offers an encouraging message: mathematics opens doors. For girls who enjoy mathematics, she urges them to push further, ignore limiting noise and recognise that strong mathematical capability can create opportunities not only for themselves, but for others who follow. Language as a Resource, Not a Problem One of the most compelling sections explores Prof Adler’s influential work on teaching mathematics in multilingual classrooms. Her research challenged deficit views of bilingual learners and showed that the languages learners bring are resources for learning. Teachers constantly manage tensions between English, home languages, everyday experience and the specialised language of mathematics. The challenge is not multilingualism itself, but how language is harnessed to make mathematical meaning accessible. Building Bridges Between South Africa and the World Prof Adler’s career also demonstrates the importance of intellectual exchange between the Global South and Global North. Through her joint appointment with King’s College London and her leadership in international mathematics education, she worked to ensure that South African research entered global conversations on its own terms. She argues for bidirectionality: knowledge should not simply flow from North to South, but should move both ways, shaped by the realities and insights of different contexts. Recognition That Changed a Field Her A-rating from the National Research Foundation was personally meaningful, but Prof Adler frames it as something larger than individual recognition. Becoming the first A-rated researcher in education in South Africa helped affirm that educational research could meet international standards and make a global contribution. For her, the achievement broke a barrier for the field itself. Legacy, Mentorship and the Work That Follows Looking back over 45 years of teaching, research, leadership and mentoring, Prof Adler hopes her legacy is twofold: knowledge and people. She points to the postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and colleagues who continue the work, as well as the impact of research on language, resources and teacher professional development. Her story suggests that lasting influence is created not only through ideas, but through the people equipped to carry them forward. Doing It All, But Not All at Once The interview also turns to ambition, family and the choices women are often required to make. Prof Adler’s advice is clear and generous: you can do it all, but not all at the same time. She reflects on working part-time while her children were young, sharing priorities with her husband, relying on support networks and making deliberate career choices. Her perspective reframes balance as pacing, selection and recognising that every path has trade-offs. A Message to Girls and Young Women The conversation closes with a message of possibility and perseverance: dream big, believe in yourself and act on your ambitions. Prof Adler encourages girls and young women to find mentors, build communities, nurture their networks and do the work. Meaningful careers are not built alone, but through courage, discipline, support and the willingness to keep going. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr Melody Sun, a general ophthalmologist and refractive surgeon in private practice. Dr Sun’s career brings together medicine, technology and the precision of delicate surgery, driven by a deep interest in the human body, a commitment to problem-solving and a passion for restoring vision. Her path into medicine began with curiosity and courage. Growing up in a family where illness was often associated with fear, Dr Sun wanted to understand how modern medicine can treat disease. For her, medicine encompasses the body’s intricate systems, the people it treats, compassion and helping patients overcome uncertainty. Finding Her Way into Ophthalmology Although ophthalmology was not a major focus during her medical training, a suggestion from her father helped open the door to the speciality. What began as a recommendation became a field she embraced fully. Dr Sun describes the eye as both a world of its own and a window into the rest of the body, making ophthalmology a discipline that combines medical insight with surgical precision. The Precision and Impact of Restoring Sight As a refractive surgeon, Dr Sun works in an area of ophthalmology focused on reducing patients’ dependence on glasses or contact lenses. She explains procedures such as laser vision correction, implantable contact lenses and modern cataract surgery in accessible terms, showing how advances in technology and surgical planning can transform daily life. Cataract surgery, in particular, can restore independence and dignity to patients who may have lost the ability to navigate, groom themselves or recognise their loved ones clearly. Women in a Specialised Surgical Field The conversation explores the realities of building a career as a woman in a demanding surgical speciality. Dr Sun reflects on the importance of kindness, encouragement and mentorship, recalling how supportive colleagues helped build her confidence as she learned cataract surgery. She also speaks honestly about pregnancy, motherhood and training, noting that women often have to navigate career milestones alongside family decisions, and that support within the workplace can make a profound difference. Women’s Eye Health Matters Applying a gender lens to eye health, Dr Sun highlights conditions that may affect women more frequently, including dry eye linked to hormonal changes, pregnancy-related vision changes and eye complications associated with autoimmune disease. We discuss the relatively low allocation of research funding towards women’s health, which emphasises reproductive health, and we argue that women’s health should not be reduced to reproductive health alone. Greater awareness, advocacy and research funding are needed to understand how different conditions affect women across the whole body. Building a Practice and a Life with Purpose Beyond clinical work, Dr Sun is also building her own clinic, a process she describes as humbling, uncertain and outside her comfort zone. Yet it also represents freedom: the freedom to shape patient care, build something of her own and bring her personal vision into practice. Her reflections on balance are grounded in realism rather than perfection. She emphasises organisation, prioritisation and the need for women not to neglect themselves while managing career, family and responsibility. The conversation closes with a message of resilience and boldness. Dr Sun encourages girls and women to build strong foundations, especially in maths and science if they are considering medicine, but also to remember that they do not need to have their whole lives figured out early. Her advice is to find your “why”, keep going when the path becomes difficult, appreciate the journey and be audacious enough to ask for what you want, because the worst answer is simply no. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Khosi Hadebe from the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.  Judge Hadebe’s legal career spans decades, tracing a path of perseverance and public service that began in 1979 as a court clerk and interpreter before progressing to prosecutor, legal planner, magistrate, and ultimately High Court judge. The Spark That Lit the Journey Her passion for the law was ignited in her youth while listening to radio court scene dramas on radio like Springbok Radio’s Consider Your Verdict. Despite financial constraints that delayed her initial studies, these broadcasts cemented her determination to pursue no other path than law. Defying Hostility with Student Militancy Entering the University of Zululand during apartheid, Judge Hadebe faced outright hostility from lecturers who questioned why women were studying law instead of nursing or social work. Driven by a militant youth spirit and a shared commitment with peers, including activists connected to Robben Island political prisoners, she refused to back down, viewing her degree as a vital weapon to fight systemic social injustices. Protective Legislation and the Limits of Implementation Reflecting on South Africa’s legislative framework, Judge Hadebe highlights that while strong laws exist to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and protect vulnerable individuals, true progress relies on the people executing them. She emphasises that while police awareness and specialised units have improved, law enforcement must act as a true extension of justice rather than allowing poor attitudes to hinder survivors. The Lived Realities of GBV Victims In discussing matters like the S v Ndlovo gang rape case, Judge Hadebe points out the severe socio-economic vulnerabilities of women and child-headed households living in informal settlements without security resources. She addresses the painful reality that post-judgment, victims are largely left to figure out trauma recovery on their own due to a lack of accessible counselling and support services in underserved communities. Social Context and Integrity on the Bench Having served as a regional court magistrate and worked with the Law, Race, and Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town, Judge Hadebe brings a vital social context to her rulings. She stresses that judges must maintain impeccable personal standards of uprightness and fairness to ensure the public can trust the judicial system implicitly. Overcoming Bias and Proving Competence Addressing the unique struggles faced by African women entering the High Court bench, Judge Hadebe reflects on overcoming deep-seated institutional skepticism. She notes that women must constantly prove their qualifications at higher thresholds, asserting that female judges must stand their ground firmly and demand to be judged solely on their competence. Faith, Family, and Community Support Attributing her resilience to the "school of poverty," Judge Hadebe shares how her background fostered empathy rather than bitterness. Her strength and grounding stem from strong family support, inspired by a courageous late aunt, as well as her active involvement in her church community, where she directly assists impoverished families. A Message to the Next Generation In celebration of Women’s Month, Judge Hadebe encourages young women to step into male-dominated fields with unwavering confidence and challenge authority whenever necessary. She calls on senior women leaders to actively hold the hands of the younger generation, demonstrating that adversity should never stop them from achieving their potential. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy Women’s Month.

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane from the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane’s career mirrors South Africa’s own journey of transformation. From growing up under apartheid and becoming involved in student and workers’ rights activism, to studying human rights law as a Fulbright Scholar in the United States, her path into law was driven by a deep commitment to public interest and social justice. Breaking Through a Male-Dominated Profession Returning to South Africa in 1994, Judge Kathree-Setiloane entered a legal profession where women faced significant barriers. At the Johannesburg Bar, she encountered gender discrimination, limited access to briefs and expectations that women lawyers would gravitate towards particular areas of law. Rather than being defined by those expectations, she deliberately pursued constitutional, administrative, competition and telecommunications law, while also becoming involved in transforming the Bar itself. The Power of Confidence – and Saying Yes One of the most compelling themes in her story is confidence. Judge Kathree-Setiloane reflects on learning to take risks, overcome perfectionism and accept opportunities even when she did not feel completely prepared. Her experience offers an insightful lesson for women: sometimes you have to say yes first, then trust yourself to learn, grow and deliver. Law as an Instrument for Social Change Her career has placed her at the centre of cases with profound implications for human rights, dignity and equality, including challenges concerning reproductive rights and the constitutional recognition of same-sex relationships. These experiences demonstrate how legal practice can become part of the broader project of transforming society. From Advocate to the Bench Judge Kathree-Setiloane describes deliberately broadening her experience before moving into the judiciary, including gaining commercial exposure outside the traditional advocate pathway. Today, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, she brings that breadth of experience to an appellate court that deals with matters ranging from criminal and commercial law to administrative and constitutional matters. How Far Have Women Really Come? Looking beyond legislation and formal equality, the conversation explores the gap between women's constitutional rights and their lived realities. Judge Kathree-Setiloane highlights the continuing influence of power, patriarchy, cultural and religious norms, particularly within homes and communities, and the need for deeper structural change if women are to experience genuine equality and safety. Women, Agency and the Future of Leadership There is also an encouraging story of progress. Judge Kathree-Setiloane points to the growing representation of women in leadership across the judiciary and the emergence of a new generation of confident women lawyers. But representation alone is not enough: she argues that women must bring intellectual leadership to the institutions they lead. The Meaning of Empowerment For Judge Kathree-Setiloane, empowerment goes well beyond a title, position or professional success. It requires ethical, courageous and intellectually grounded leadership. A judge must be fearless, independent, fair and willing to express a dissenting view when necessary, while also remaining open to being persuaded by others. A Message to the Next Generation The conversation closes with an inspiring message to girls and young women: every woman has the potential to become a leader and to contribute to transforming society. Success does not mean sacrificing personal wellbeing or financial achievement; rather, women can build full, successful lives and use their position and resources to give back to society. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy Women’s Month.

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Judge Sandiswa (Mickey) Mfenyana from the North West Division of the High Court.  For Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana, the journey into law began unexpectedly at just 12 years old, when her father, an English teacher, took her to watch The Merchant of Venice. Fascinated by Portia’s ability to use the law to resolve a seemingly impossible situation, young Sandiswa concluded that lawyers must be “such smart people”. What began as childhood fascination became a lifelong calling. A Career Defined by Service Judge Mfenyana’s legal career has crossed remarkably diverse terrain, from Legal Aid South Africa and the South African Human Rights Commission, through the intelligence environment and private practice, to the High Court bench. Yet she describes her career not as a carefully mapped trajectory, but as a series of doors that opened; and opportunities for which she was prepared. The common thread has been service, particularly to vulnerable people. Her early experience at Legal Aid taught her a fundamental lesson that continues to shape her: law is not about the lawyer; it is about the people being served, and lawyers are people’s channels to access the law. The greatest reward was seeing a client leave happy, knowing that she had helped someone navigate a system they could not navigate alone. Building a Law Firm from the Ground Up In 2009, Judge Mfenyana took a leap of faith and established her own practice with commercial, administrative, aviation and energy law expertise. Entrepreneurship brought a different set of challenges. As a Black woman building a business in a traditionally male- and white-male-dominated profession, she knew she had to demonstrate not only that she was qualified, but that she could perform at the same level as, or better than, her male counterparts. She built her practice organically, starting small, relying on faith, discipline and a clear definition of success. For her, success was never about building the biggest firm. It was about making an impact on the lives of her clients, and earning their trust and loyalty. Her emphasis on personal service and quality meant that she retained the clients she acquired. Being a Black Woman in a Traditionally Male-Dominated Profession We explore the gender and racial assumptions Judge Mfenyana encountered throughout her career. She recalls moments when colleagues questioned her capabilities or made assumptions about her education and background based simply on her being a Black woman. Her response was not to shrink herself. Instead, she developed the confidence and assertiveness necessary to operate in a demanding profession. She reflects on the additional expectations placed on Black women lawyers and challenges the historically entrenched idea that weakness or imperfection should be associated with women. Rejection Is Not the Same as Failure Perhaps one of the most important lessons from the conversation is Judge Mfenyana’s story of reaching the judiciary. Her path to the bench included two unsuccessful Judicial Service Commission interviews before her eventual appointment in 2023. Rather than seeing those experiences as rejection, she viewed them as opportunities to learn and grow. She describes her first interview as an excellent experience and believes the lessons from both interviews contributed to her eventual success. For her, the issue was not failure but timing: sometimes, “it was not my time.” “Empowered Women Empower Other Women” For Judge Mfenyana, empowerment is not simply about personal achievement. An empowered woman is one who “pours onto others without fearing that they’re going to run empty.” She speaks passionately about mentorship, knowledge-sharing and giving time to the next generation. She challenges successful women to move beyond being busy and make space to support others, even if it is only five minutes with a young woman seeking guidance about her career. Her message is clear: empowerment becomes meaningful when it is multiplied. The Village That Taught Her to Serve Some of Judge Mfenyana’s most formative lessons were learned long before she entered the legal profession. Growing up in a village with parents who valued education and service, she witnessed her father helping children from disadvantaged families pursue their education and her family assisting people in the community. These experiences shaped her belief that education should never separate you from others. Instead, education creates a responsibility to serve. That principle of service has remained embedded in her professional life. A Message to Women and Girls: Find Someone Who Believes in You Judge Mfenyana’s closing message for women and girls: look beyond your circumstances and find people who believe in you. She rejects the idea of the “self-made” person, emphasising that every individual is shaped by people who have invested in them. Her advice is to look beyond the boundaries of your immediate surroundings, seek out mentors and actively find people who can help you see possibilities beyond what you currently know. Sometimes, she says, if the people around you do not believe in you, go and find them. Special thanks to Lusanda Ntuli the Deputy Director: Communications at the Office of the Chief Justice who makes our annual series showcasing female judges possible. Happy Women’s Month.

This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Linda du Plessis, Vice Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at North-West University. She reflects on the enormous responsibility of preparing students not simply to earn degrees, but to become the people who will shape society. Her portfolio spans academic and curriculum development, student support, learning technologies, quality assurance and ensuring that university programmes remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. At the heart of her work is a deceptively simple question: How do we give every student the best possible chance of success? From Systems Analyst to University Leader Her own career journey is an intriguing example of how seemingly different disciplines can ultimately connect. Professor du Plessis began in information systems, working as a computer programmer and systems analyst, before moving into academia and eventually university leadership. Rather than leaving her systems-thinking background behind, she brought it with her. The focus simply shifted from technical systems to human systems encompassing students, academics, institutions and communities. Her journey also demonstrates that careers do not necessarily follow a predetermined plan. Curiosity, learning and a willingness to embrace new challenges can create unexpected pathways. Education as a Force for Personal Transformation With multiple degrees and two doctorates spanning different disciplines, Professor du Plessis speaks powerfully about education as much more than the acquisition of qualifications. For her, education provided opportunity, confidence, resilience and the ability to think critically. It gave her the confidence to enter spaces where she might once have questioned whether she belonged and enabled her to move across disciplines and into leadership. Her message to girls and women is particularly powerful: education gives you a voice, a voice to say, “I belong here, I have something to offer, and I can keep growing and learning.” Rebuilding Education for South Africa’s Future The conversation takes a broader look at the state and future of education in South Africa. If Professor du Plessis had five minutes with the President, she identifies three priorities: rebuilding the foundations of basic education, creating a sustainable and accountable funding model for higher education, and preparing young people for a digital future. Literacy, numeracy, mathematics and science are fundamental building blocks. At the same time, education needs to develop digital capability, critical thinking, ethical judgement, employability and innovation. Her central argument is that education is a pipeline, and that pipeline must ultimately lead somewhere. Education needs to connect learners with opportunities, skills and the world of work rather than simply moving people through institutions. What Happens When the World Changes Faster Than Education? Professor du Plessis challenges us to rethink what education should look like in a world of information overload, digital learning and artificial intelligence. The emphasis, she suggests, can no longer simply be on delivering content. Students need the disciplinary foundations and critical-thinking capabilities to evaluate information, make sense of it and integrate it meaningfully. With the world of work changing rapidly, young people also need agility, adaptability, lifelong learning and the ability to continually upskill. The university of the future therefore needs to focus not only on what students know, but what they are capable of doing with what they know. Being the First — and Making Sure You Are Not the Last Part of the interview explores Professor du Plessis’s experience as the first female Vice-Rector of North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark Campus. Being the first, she explains, is not simply a personal achievement. It carries a responsibility to make the pathway wider for those who follow. Some of the less visible barriers women encounter include family-care expectations, assumptions about how women should behave, unequal access to networks and the pressure to continually prove competence. One practical example came early in her leadership career, when meetings routinely ran into the late afternoon while she had a young child waiting to be collected from school. Rather than accepting the arrangement as inevitable, she eventually questioned why meetings could not start earlier. The result was a simple but significant institutional change: university meetings were moved to a more practical time. It's an important reminder about challenging the logic behind existing norms and changing the status quo. Sometimes breaking barriers begins by having the courage to question practices that everyone has simply accepted. Leadership Is About Opening the Door Wider For Professor du Plessis, leadership is not about occupying a position or accumulating personal achievements. It is about stewardship, ethical judgement and humility, and creating the conditions for others to succeed. She believes that when you are the first, you must not be the last. Her leadership philosophy was also forged during periods of intense institutional disruption, including the Fees Must Fall movement, COVID-19 and the rapid emergence of generative AI. These experiences taught her that leadership requires both compassion and realism; caring deeply about people while still making difficult and responsible decisions. Her approach is refreshingly human: a leader does not need to have every answer. Instead, effective leadership involves bringing the right people together, asking difficult questions, listening to criticism and making decisions based on ethics, impact, trust and the long-term future. A Message to Women Who Are Waiting to Feel Ready Professor du Plessis has an especially strong message for young women aspiring to leadership: do not wait until you feel completely ready. She argues that too many capable women hold themselves back because they believe they need to be perfect or acquire one more qualification before stepping forward. Confidence, she says, is built through action; taking responsibility, preparing properly, asking questions, learning continuously and being willing to make mistakes. And perhaps most importantly, she challenges women not to confuse humility with silence. A woman can be humble and still speak with authority; she can be kind and still be firm; she can be collaborative and still be decisive. The People Who Help Us Become Who We Are Mentorship has played an important role throughout Professor du Plessis’s journey. Teachers, colleagues, leaders and students have each contributed to her development, sometimes by offering encouragement and sometimes by asking difficult questions that exposed her blind spots. She reminds us that the people who shape us are not necessarily those who always praise us. Sometimes it is those who challenge us, expect more from us and push us beyond what we thought we could achieve. Building a Life, Not Just a Career Life moves through different seasons, and the balance between career, family and personal needs has to be continually renegotiated. Professor du Plessis’s “secret sauce” is purpose, discipline, support and perspective. And her final message to women is one that encapsulates the spirit of the entire interview: build a life, not only a career. Ambition matters, but it needs to be connected to meaning. Success should not come at the expense of health or relationships. Sometimes we need the courage to say yes and the wisdom to say no. Tune in for more…

This episode of Womanity celebrates Africa's Women's Day, which is commemorated annually on 31 July. This week on Womanity, Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Olivia Matshabane is a Neuroethicist and the Principal Investigator of the Africa Neuroethics Research Group in the SAMRC/SU Genomics of Brain Disorders Unit within the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her groundbreaking work is helping to shape the ethical future of neuroscience, neuropsychiatric genomics and artificial intelligence across Africa. Turning Exclusion into Purpose Dr Matshabane shares the moment that transformed her career. While researching neuroethics, she realised there were virtually no African voices represented in the field. Rather than accepting this absence, she chose to become one of Africa's first neuroethicists, creating opportunities for future generations of African researchers and ensuring that the continent has a voice in shaping global scientific debates. Her journey demonstrates how representation can inspire innovation, resilience and lasting change. What Exactly is Neuroethics? Although unfamiliar to many, neuroethics is becoming increasingly important in an AI-driven world. Dr Matshabane explains how the discipline explores questions such as: How should brain technologies be developed and used responsibly? Who owns our brain data? How do we protect mental privacy? Can technology influence our decisions without us realising it? What ethical safeguards should exist as neuroscience and AI become more intertwined? As technologies evolve rapidly, neuroethics is becoming essential for protecting human dignity, autonomy and privacy. Why African Perspectives Matter A key theme throughout our discussion is the importance of ensuring that Africa contributes to global conversations about science and technology. Dr Matshabane explains that concepts such as privacy, consent and decision-making are often understood differently across cultures. Some cultures may place greater emphasis on families and communities rather than purely individual rights, meaning ethical frameworks developed for a different context cannot simply be applied without adaptation. Accessibility is another key issue to consider when trying to create technologies that genuinely serve diverse populations. Building Ethical AI for Everyone Artificial intelligence offers enormous potential for improving healthcare, diagnosis and treatment. However, it also raises significant ethical concerns, like protecting sensitive mental health and neurological data; preventing commercial misuse of brain information; safeguarding cognitive liberty and freedom of thought; ensuring responsible innovation; and designing technologies that benefit society without reinforcing inequality. Arguably ethics must develop alongside technological innovation, not afterwards Research That is Changing Africa Dr Matshabane has several research projects underway, and she highlights one in particular, a multi-million rand, multi-country neuroethics research programme spanning South Africa and Kenya. The project brings together researchers, communities and individuals living with neurological conditions to help shape ethical guidelines that reflect African realities. Beyond the research itself, the project is building a new generation of African neuroethicists through mentorship, collaboration and capacity development across more than twelve African countries. The Power of Mentorship Throughout her career, women mentors opened doors, challenged Dr Matshabane to believe in herself and encouraged her to pursue opportunities she may never have imagined. Today, she is committed to paying that support forward by mentoring students, nurturing future researchers and creating opportunities for emerging scholars. Mentorship is bi-directional; both mentees and mentors benefit from the relationship. You are never too young to mentor someone else. Advice for Young Women Entering Science For young women considering careers in psychology, neuroscience, AI or ethics, Dr Matshabane offers practical advice: Build strong AI and digital literacy skills alongside ethics training. Learn to work across disciplines and collaborate with people from different fields. Understand Africa's development priorities and align your work with solving real societal challenges. Know your strengths, values, purpose, and what gives you a sense of meaning. Protect your time by learning when to say "no." Be bold enough to reach out to leaders, you may be surprised who responds Tune in for more…