FOR years the terms ‘defenseless’ and ‘weak’ were synonymous with femininity… However, there is a new generation of young women from the South Coast that embody the words – strength, determination, passion, drive and dedication.
This women’s month, people pay tribute to thousands of women that marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
Since that eventful day, women from all spheres of life have proved that they are capable of achieving anything they want to. In that same spirit of celebration, the South Coast Herald has compiled a list of South Coast’s top 3 most influential unknown Women. These are women who make us proud of being from the south coast.
Nomalanga Shozi hails from Bhobhoyi, outside Port Shepstone. In May 2015 she joined the Durban-based radio station Gagasi FM. Nomalanga’s breakout year was 2016, when she beat more than 5,000 other auditionees to the role of Nomalanga on Rhythm City.
In October 2016 she landed her first presenting job, as one of the hosts of the long-running Mzansi Magic entertainment magazine programme All Access Mzansi. She now hosts Mtvbase’s fashion show uMsenko.
Another pioneer is Thandazile Tender Mavundla. She was born in Kwanositha near Margate. In 1997 she won SABC 1’s Jam Alley Megastar Competition which is where she realised that she should pursue a singing career. She later moved to Johannesburg where she entered for the Gospel Star show where she made it to the Top 5.
In 2001 she was diagnosed with HIV and decided to move back to Port Shepstone. In 2007, she was one of the hopefuls that were voted out of the Top 4 in the singing competition Idols. In 2009 she released a solo Afro Soul album titled ‘Tender Moments’.
Tender has appeared in many documentaries where she speaks about her life as a Musician and on the stigma that is attached to HIV Positive people.
And in 2017, she made it to The Voice SA’s top 8; this women sure does look at a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink.
Lastly, Pretty Ncayiyana was born and bred in Gamalakhe. She played the much-loved Ayanda on Skeem Saam on SABC1. She now plays the role of Phindile on e.tv’s Scandal! And her Instagram, confirms that she is currently busy doing a theatre play called Distant Faces which is being showcased in theatres in Johannesburg.
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