In the spirit of women’s month, we count down 10 of the best phenomenal women who are game changers in the community and in their careers.
1. Thuli Madonsela
She was named in Times magazine’s annual list of the most 100 influential people in the world. An exceptional women who fights for what she believes in and ensures that the constitution becomes a bible to the government.
Her work on protection of human rights and equality speaks volumes and she is not afraid to dig deeper to find results – a powerful speaker and a role model to many.
2. Zoleka Mandela
Her journey in life has not been an easy ride – lost two children, her daughter Zenani was killed in a car crash on the eve of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and her son Zenawe was born prematurely and lived for just two days.
Zoleka has also battled and beaten breast cancer, and late last year released an autobiography, When Hope Whispers, in which she tells of her challenges and addiction. She recently won a humanitarian award at the Fabulous Women Awards held in Gold Reef City.
3. Sindi van Zyl
Helping people is what she does best. She works with non-profit organisation Anova, and travels the country teaching and communicating broadly on diseases such as HIV/Aids.
Van Zyl’s major innovation is to educate communities and to make herself available whenever necessary.
She engages with people through her blog where she answers Aids-related questions and she is in constant contact with those who need her expertise on social media.
4. Shirley Tebbutt, Delta Park’s chief volunteer and publisher of deltadamcleanup.com
Delta Park has become one of the most beautiful and well maintained parks in Johannesburg because of Tebbutt’s contributions.
Since the last decade, she has rallied the community to turn it from a crime-ridden and mess of a park to a destination that is admired by people – with Parkrun attracting up to a thousand runners. Her hard work speaks for itself and many people look up to her and volunteers to keep the place clean.
5. Khanyi Dhlomo
Beauty, brains and success is how one can describe Dhlomo.
At age 20 she made history by becoming the first black newscaster at the SABC and at 22 ,she headed True Love magazine.
Within a year the magazine’s circulation doubled from 70 000 to 140 000 and became the most widely read in the country.
In 2007 she founded her own company called Ndalo Media, which publishes Destiny magazine and Destiny Man, her latest adventure, includes a high fashion retail company called Luminance in Hyde Park.
6. Zelda la Grange
She was Nelson Mandela’s secretary for many years and her unique exposure and the experience gained during this time provided her with the skill and expertise to learn more about helping the less fortunate. Her career adventures includes serving as patron for the First for Women Insurance Trust since 2010. The trust advocates for women’s issues which includes action against abuse, cervical cancer awareness. La Grange has dedicated her time in supporting care centres for rape victims in South Africa.
7. Joan van Niekerk
Joan van Niekerk is a social worker at Childline and remains passionate about helping children in need. She continues to make a difference in a lot of children’s lives in South Africa through the promotion of their rights and protection. Van Niekerk has become more involved in using information from the Childline network to motivating changes in law, policy and implementation, heading up the SA Law Reform Commission Project Committee on Sexual Offences.
8. Dr Carol-Ann Benn
Dr Carol-Ann Benn is arguably one of the top breast-cancer experts in South Africa. Her commitment and determination to the field has seen her help many women during their life-changing struggle – she understands women and their battles. The Breast Health Foundation that this phenomenal woman has started is a national body with the purpose of educating both patients and medical practitioners through the means of forums and outreach programmes.
9. Basetsana Khumalo
Basetsana Kumalo is a phenomenal businesswoman, and philanthropist – her career began in 1990 when she was crowned Miss Soweto and Miss Black South Africa at the age of 16. She continues to rise against all odds. Her philanthropic efforts include the Basetsana Kumalo Family Foundation which empowers children, especially those orphaned by Aids and other diseases. This elegant woman, has 50 per cent share of Tswelopele Production which produces some of the SABC’s shows such as Top Billing and Pasella and continues to be the best in the game.
10. Melinda Ferguson, publisher, editor and writer
A phenomenal and powerful public speaker, after writing Smacked which is an autobiography about her battles with drug addiction, her amazing determination and energy has seen her releasing two more books, Hooked and The Kelly Khumalo Story, Ferguson is an inspiration to many, she conquered against all odds and continues to shine. She is features editor of True Love magazine.
Do you know any phenomenal women in your community? Please tell us about a woman who works towards improving lives of others in their community by following us on twitter at @randburg_sun and facebook randburg sun.
