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Africa | South Africa | Activism

Revealed: Meghan told entrepreneurs in Cape Town that she’s determined to ‘fulfil her heart’s desires’ and refuses to let her own needs ‘fade away’ amid her royal duties

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Meghan Markle is determined to 'fulfil her heart's desires' and not let her own needs 'fade away' now she's a member of the Royal Family - and wants to be a role model for young boys as well as girls. The Duchess of Sussex, 38, reportedly made the remarks during an event for inspiring female entrepreneurs at Woodstock Exchange in Cape Town earlier this week during her tour of South Africa with husband Prince Harry. Woodstock Exchange, the UK-SA Tech Hub, focuses on skills development and access to markets by assisting entrepreneurs, particularly women, to acquire skills, resources and
Africa | South Africa | Politics

South Africa makes history as women make up half of cabinet for first time

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Women will now make up half of South Africa's new cabinet for the first time in the country's history. President Cyril Ramaphosa who announced the move on Wednesday said the decision was to create a line of leaders that would advance the country's future. "For the first time in the history of our country, half of all the ministers are women," Ramaphosa said in a televised press conference.
Africa | South Africa | Crimes

The all-female patrol stopping South Africa’s rhino poachers

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As rhino deaths have soared across South Africa, in Balule reserve the Black Mambas patrol of local women has achieved a 76% reduction in poaching since 2013. Now there are plans to extend the award-winning scheme. “The Black Mambas are winning the war on poaching,” insists Siphiwe Sithole. “We have absolutely zero tolerance for rhino poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. The poachers will fall – but it will not be with guns and bullets.” Sithole and Felicia Mogakane are members of South Africa’s Black Mambas, the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit that has capt
Africa | South Africa | Business

Meet the first black woman to own an airline: Fly Blu Crane’s Siza Mzimela

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In September of this year, Siza Mzimela became the first black woman to start her own airline. Fly Blu Crane started up its business in O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg as a low-cost airline offering flights domestically within South Africa. But Mzimela’s dreams extend far beyond South Africa. “We hope to expand our flight destinations to Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We currently have two 50-seat ERJ 145s. The airline will aim to keep its current rates in order to make flying affordable for both business and leisure
Africa | South Africa | Politics

South Africa’s first female president could be president Zuma’s ex-wife

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At 66, Dlamini-Zuma is a seasoned South African politician. She served in Nelson Mandela’s 1994 cabinet as health minister, eventually landing up as foreign affairs and home affairs minister in Thabo Mbeki’s cabinet. She is renowned for turning around the home affairs portfolio, which was plagued by administrative inefficiencies and corruption. Over the past months, debates have been raging in the ANC about the need for a woman president in 2019, and Dlamini-Zuma’s name has enjoyed preference. In response to these calls, Dlamini-Zuma has been more forthcoming about her presidential amb
Africa | South Africa | Crimes

Mostly Female Anti-Poaching Group Honored by UN

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South Africa’s Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, a mostly female ranger group, received the Champions of the Earth award, the United Nation’s (UN) highest environmental prize, on Tuesday, according to the UN. The 26-member unit patrols the Balule Private Game Reserve, which lies within the Greater Kruger National Park. The 2 million-hectare national park is home to leopards, lions, elephants, cheetahs, and hippos, as well as the highly endangered black rhino. The Black Mamba Unit works to stop bush meat and rhino poachers, which has become increasingly difficult in South Africa
Africa | South Africa | Corruption

She’s the boss: Jiba’s stunning comeback

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Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba this week cemented her position as one of the most powerful people in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) – even, some critics argue, emerging as its de facto boss. Shaun Abrahams, the 39-year-old prosecutor appointed by Jacob Zuma to succeed Mxolisi Nxasana as the national director of public prosecutions (NDPP), on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of perjury charges against her and a “reshuffle” of the NPA executive. Although he refused to be drawn on the details, the NPA has not denied reports that Jiba has been appointed to lead a new division combin
Africa | South Africa | Business

Women engineers quit over men’s attitudes

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The South African engineering sector has evolved to become more gender-balanced, as employment equity measures increasingly ensure equal opportunities for men and women. That might be the long-term goal of the engineering sector, but it is certainly not the current reality. In 2013, the Engineering Council of South Africa said almost 11% of the total number of engineers registered with the council were women, but that professional women engineers totalled only 4%. Is it that women aren’t pursuing careers in engineering, or is there an underlying issue that challenges the opportuniti
Africa | South Africa | Media

Really Bic? South Africa sends mixed messages to women, even on National Women’s Day

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When it's National Women's Day in South Africa and you're a multinational corporation trying to reach, well, South African women, you might be advised to focus on women. But that's not how Bic South Africa went about it. A controversial ad on their Facebook page tried to graft a stereotypical Y chromosome onto a stereotypical X chromosome: A beautiful, young, smiling woman in a suit gazes out. The accompanying copy: "Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss." "I did a double-take," says journalist Pearl Boshomane of The Sunday Times in South Afri
Africa | South Africa

Why black women in South Africa don’t fully embrace the feminist discourse

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There are at least two aspects to consider in understanding the reluctance of many black women to fully embrace women’s rights discourse and make violence against women a matter of political importance. Firstly, this has to do with the historical context of the discourse and how black women joined it. Secondly, black women have different perceptions of current pressing needs and priorities in their struggles for basic survival and broader communal liberation. This reluctance has not stood in the way of women being active in South Africa’s struggle against racial oppression. The country
Africa | South Africa | Business

South African female miners break ground for their gender

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Deep underground, where huge conveyer belts haul rocks to the surface, 33-year-old mother of two Bernice Motsieloa represents the quiet revolution transforming the macho culture of South African mining. Motsieloa is a shift supervisor at Anglo American's Bathopele platinum mine -- one of several thousand female miners employed in a difficult and often dangerous environment traditionally dominated by men. Despite an apartheid-era ban on women working underground only being lifted in 1996, 15 percent of all employees in the mining sector are now female, exceeding the government's own targe
Africa | South Africa | Business

Meet the woman who will steer Facebook’s first African office

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Facebook has taken a bold stride towards making its mark in Africa by appointing a South African advertising veteran to spearhead its first African office in Johannesburg. The appointment has certainly received a nod of approval from those championing equality, but Nunu Ntshingila-Njeke is not a quota placeholder. Facebook will look to penetrate the African market fast and furiously – it’s not personal; it’s business. Ntshingila-Njeke has got the goods to make it happen. Earlier this week, Facebook announced her appointment as the new head of Africa.
Africa | South Africa | Activism

UN Women Executive Director to co-chair World Economic Forum during visit to South Africa

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UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will travel to Cape Town from 1-5 June to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa 2015, which she will co-chair this year, visit UN Women programmes in the field, take part in a joint workshop for female entrepreneurs, and engage with a range of stakeholders. On Monday 1 June, in the Khayelitsha Township, Cape Town, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka will meet with local partners Grassroots Soccer, a grantee of the United Nations Trust Fund and visit a primary school to see first-hand the impact of sports in fostering girls’ empowerment and addres
Africa | South Africa | Culture

What about what women want, Zwelithini?

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The South African Women Lawyers Association (Sawla) responds to King Goodwill Zwelithini’s call for a review of marriage law. In his latest round of controversial statements, the Zulu king has called for a review of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 in consultation with himself and other traditional leaders. He does not mention or even consider the rights of women affected by cultural practices such as polygamy. Should these women not be consulted as well? Do they not have any say in issues that may profoundly affect their lives? As fellow Africans, we deeply

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