This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to by Ms. Masefako Clarah Dikgale, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development in the South African Parliament, representing the African National Congress. Ms Dikgale unpacks the critical role of portfolio committees in parliament as constitutional entities tasked with legislating, monitoring, and overseeing executive activities to drive national development goals. One of the mandates of the Department of Small Business is to create 11 million jobs by 2030.

The government has committed to placing small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) and cooperatives at the heart of economic growth and job creation. With approximately 3 million entrepreneurs supporting 13.4 million jobs in South Africa, the potential for growth is immense. Ms Dikgale highlights transformative initiatives like the ratification of the amended Small Enterprise Bill, which combats unfair practices and strengthens the economic inclusion of small businesses. Another initiative is the creation of a one stop shop to give SMMEs access to finance and business support through amalgamation of the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Cooperative Banks Development Agency (CBDA) to form the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA).

As a champion for inclusivity, Ms. Dikgale underscores the prioritization of businesses owned by women, youth, persons with disabilities, and those in rural and township areas. She shares her belief in the power of education, both as a pillar in her own career development and as a tool for empowering women and youth in her community. Through free training programs and resources, the department has supported women in achieving financial independence.

Ms Dikgale’s entry into politics stemmed from her dissatisfaction with political campaigners’ empty promises to develop her village, which led her to taking action and orchestrating meaningful developments in her village that serve the people. We also discuss the African National Congress’s (ANC) policies supporting gender equality, including its 50:50 representation, and the collaborative efforts of the Multi Party Women’s Caucus in Parliament, where women across party lines unite to advance gender equality, uphold human rights and dignity.

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Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, join us for our new year broadcast with a compilation of voices from female leaders in politics, the judiciary and medicine talking about aspects of their journeys.

Our first guest in this feature is South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, who shares her passion and vision for transforming education in South Africa, impacting the lives of 13,500,000 learners. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in a typical South African household, raised by her grandmother, Minister Gwarube reflects on her grandmother’s influence as a trailblazing feminist whose relentless pursuit of quality education shaped her life. Many South Africans straddle multiple worlds, such as living in a village and schooling or working in a city.

Our next guest, High Court Judge Jacqueline Henriques demonstrates how law and policy can be used to drive change that supports and protects the rights of women. She highlights some of the recent amendments to domestic violence legislation, such as stricter bails imposed on persons charged with domestic violence offences and harsher now prescribed for offences related to gender-based violence. The Act has expanded its definition of what constitutes domestic violence, encompassing physical abuse, spiritual abuse, economic abuse, controlling behaviour, harassment, intimidation, elder abuse, and related person abuse to name a few. The Act now also requires the community to play an active role in stopping the scourge of domestic violence it is mandatory for the public to report incidences or reasonable suspicions of domestic violence, and also criminalises the failure of a person to report such abuse.

Closing today’s programme is orthopaedic spine surgeon Dr Lusanda Bomela (women account for just 5% of all orthopaedic surgeons in South Africa). Dr Bomela shares how her interest in the spine, coupled to the fact that few women take up this area of specialisation motivated her to pursue her studies in this field. One of her hopes is that she sets an example to encourage other women to take up orthopaedics and specifically spine as a specialisation.  Medicine can be a demanding career choice, but this profession does not preclude women from having a family life. Dr Bomela notes how having the right support structure in place enables her to be a spine surgeon, mother, wife, mentor and teacher. She reflects that it is not possible to be everything to everybody all the time but with a team ethos and good communication everything is doable. Dr Bomela is passionate about learning and has a deep desire to share education with others, which is part of her maternal philosophy, she believes that if we have a skill it must be passed on or used to better someone else. We have a responsibility to empower the next generation by imparting what we know to them, both in terms of skills and enlightenment. She tells us how her grandmother used to walk her mother to school 20km away for the sake of education, and years later part of her grandmother’s legacy was establishing a school 500m from her house, so no children in the village had an excuse not to be educated.

Happy New Year from Womanity wishing you peace and prosperity in 2025.

Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, for our special compilation of select programs over the last year. We hope to inspire you through the words of three remarkable female leaders who have succeeded in their respective fields.

Our first guest in this feature is Maryana Iskander, the Chief Executive Officer of the Wikimedia Foundation, the global nonprofit that supports Wikipedia, one of the most visited sites in the world with 15 billion visits every month. Content has an impact on people’s perspectives, yet globally less than 10% of news stories featured women as a central focus. Ms Iskander shares some of the initiatives that Wikipedia applies to increase the contribution of women’s stories on Wikipedia. She shares her views on how to improve the throughput rate of women into leadership roles, and how intrinsic drivers help fuel success.

Moving from one CEO to another, our next guest is Val Nichas, the CEO of the Spur Corporation, who shares some of her journey as a woman working in the corporate world and some of the experiences that shaped her. She talks about leading with vision and intent.  The Spur Corporation operates 10 brands in the casual dining sector, as well as virtual kitchen brands, and physically has over 700 restaurants across the group in 13 countries.

Our final guest in today’s feature is Julia Gillard who is best known for serving as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, and notably being the first, and so far, only woman to have held this role. Ms Gillard shares her journey navigating the challenges of being a trailblazer in high-profile leadership. She reflects on the double-edged nature of her historic appointment, where her gender was both a novelty and a target. She candidly discusses the intensifying gendered attacks she faced, offering invaluable advice to aspiring women leaders on how to confront sexism and misogyny, build networks of allies, and remain focused on their vision for change.

We hope this compilation encourages you to lead from wherever you are.

Warm wishes for the festive season from Womanity.

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to by Ms. Carol Mokgadi Phiri, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure in the South African Parliament, representing the African National Congress. Ms. Phiri shares her insights into the transformative role of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in shaping South Africa’s future through job creation, durable infrastructure development, and innovative projects that benefit all citizens.

Ms Phiri discusses the department’s collaborative approach with various entities and other governmental departments, as well as initiatives aimed at creating awareness and exposing young learners to opportunities within the construction and infrastructure sectors. Special emphasis is placed on empowering women to excel in traditionally male-dominated industries by fostering support networks and creating spaces for women to succeed. On the latter point she remarks that women must support and assist other women in their respective industries.

Ms. Phiri reflects on her political journey, from being appointed mayor of Musina at the young age of 26, to leading critical national committees. In this role she narrates the story of the premier leaving an important present for her – books on policies and rules for the job at hand – and whilst he supported her, he did not spoon feed her, she rose the responsibility of the position and took ownership and accountability for her role. She underscores the importance of leadership, discipline, decisiveness, and mentorship in navigating the challenges of politics. As a woman in leadership, she shares personal experiences of overcoming societal prejudices, standing up to disrespect as soon as it arises, and developing resilience to thrive in the face of adversity.

Ms Phiri has an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of South Africans through infrastructure projects, her dedication to community upliftment, and her belief in going beyond limits to achieve personal and professional growth. Every time you make your target stretch further – we have no limits.

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This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Dr Lwanga Elizabeth Nanziri, Director of the Africa Centre for Development Finance at the Stellenbosch Business School, Stellenbosch University. Dr. Nanziri, a renowned economist, holds a doctorate from the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town and advanced degrees in Economic Policy and Planning from Makerere University in Uganda.

Dr. Nanziri unpacks the critical role of development finance in addressing Africa’s socio-economic challenges. Unlike traditional finance, development finance focuses on funding high-risk, low-revenue projects—such as infrastructure (roads, hospitals, schools) , small businesses, and agribusiness. She explains how development finance complements government and private sector efforts by reducing investment risks in projects that are essential for improving the quality of life in African communities. One of the projects she was involved in at the World Bank was the Think Africa Partnership, which was established to ensure that Africa does not lag behind.

We explore innovative financing models emerging across Africa, such as project finance frameworks that lower barriers to entry for initiatives with long lead times. Dr. Nanziri highlights the work of the Africa Centre for Development Finance, including capacity-building efforts to equip policy advisors and leaders with the tools to drive sustainable growth in the region.

The conversation also focuses on women’s economic empowerment, a recurring theme in development finance. Dr. Nanziri emphasizes the economic consequences of unequal access to financial resources for women and offers insights into how tailored development finance initiatives can dismantle barriers, foster entrepreneurship, and promote gender equality.

Dr. Nanziri shares some of her lived experiences and how her success has been guided by setting new targets, applying discipline to achieve these goals (no matter what), being humble and having a willingness to learn.

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This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Meagan Chauke-Adonis, who is a Member of Parliament representing the African National Congress (ANC). She serves on the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation; and Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies.

Mrs. Chauke-Adonis shares her compelling journey into politics and activism, highlighting the transformative life experiences that shaped her purpose and drive to advocate for a more inclusive society. At just 23, Mrs. Chauke-Adonis was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which led to blindness. This life-changing event pushed her to reevaluate her purpose and ignited her passion for advocacy. She discusses how she channelled this challenge into an opportunity to create meaningful change, particularly for persons with disabilities and marginalized groups. Her focus is clear: dismantling barriers of discrimination and exclusion to build a future where equity and inclusion are the norm.

Mrs. Chauke-Adonis shares her passion for technology and innovation, which propelled her into the entrepreneurial space. As a 2021 Global Young Innovator, she developed solutions to enhance accessibility, including applications that enable real-time document editing and interaction. Her ambition extends to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that transformative technologies are affordable and accessible, especially for women and persons with disabilities. As a member of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Mrs. Chauke-Adonis explores the department’s mandate to enable South Africa’s digital transformation. She highlights how digital technologies can be leveraged to advance accessibility and inclusion, allowing persons with disabilities to live independently and empowering people with access to information and opportunities.

Beyond her political and technological pursuits, Mrs. Chauke-Adonis advocates for greater representation of persons with disabilities in leadership roles. She aims to destigmatize disability, emphasizing that with an enabling environment, people with disabilities can thrive, lead, and contribute to national development. Her mentor’s powerful words resonate: “Disability is not about physical attributes; it’s about how society disables you from opportunities, your environment, and your rights.” She passionately asserts that disability is a human rights issue.

From the 3rd of November to 3rd December (International Day of Persons with Disabilities), South Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month. This is a period for people to be cognisant of lifting impediments and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities for a more equitable society.

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This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Julia Gillard, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia and the first woman to hold this office. Her groundbreaking tenure (2010–2013) paved the way for a deeper dialogue on women’s leadership, gender equality, and the role of education and politics in societal transformation. Currently, she serves as the inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Chair of the Wellcome Trust, and Patron of CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education), among other significant roles.

In this engaging episode, Ms Gillard shares her journey navigating the challenges of being a trailblazer in high-profile leadership. She reflects on the double-edged nature of her historic appointment, where her gender was both a novelty and a target. She candidly discusses the intensifying gendered attacks she faced, offering invaluable advice to aspiring women leaders on how to confront sexism and misogyny, build networks of allies, and remain focused on their vision for change.

Drawing from her book, Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons, co-authored with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ms Gillard delves into global patterns of gender bias in leadership and practical strategies for women to overcome these barriers. With insights from women leaders like Jacinda Ardern and Erna Solberg, the books shares lessons for women who are either in or are embarking their leadership journey.

In 2012, Ms Gillard delivered a powerful speech on misogyny, Not Now, Not Ever… and reflecting on changes since then she highlights how some societal attitudes towards women leaders are evolving, particularly within traditional media, while acknowledging the persistent hostility on social media platforms. She underscores the importance of engaging men and boys in the gender equality movement, advocating for inclusivity to achieve lasting change.

This episode also sheds light on Ms Gillard’s advocacy for education as a powerful tool for societal transformation. As Patron of CAMFED, she shares inspiring stories of how educating girls creates ripple effects that uplift entire communities. She emphasizes the critical role of law enforcement, community support structures, and sustained education in addressing gender-based violence and fostering equality.

Through her work with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Ms Gillard is advancing research to accelerate progress toward gender equality in politics, business, and beyond. She shares practical advice for women in leadership, from preparing for inevitable gendered attacks to leveraging clarity of purpose and mentorship to stay the course.

As an optimist, Ms Gillard firmly believes in the collective power of individuals to create a fairer, more inclusive world. Tune in to this inspiring episode to hear her vision for a gender-equal future and her unwavering commitment to empowering women through education, leadership, and action.

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This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré. In a candid and inspiring conversation, Deputy Minister Graham-Maré shares highlights from her first four months in office, including launching the South African Renewable Energy Master Plan, which is a bold initiative that not only advances South Africa’s decarbonization strategy but also positions the country as a global leader in green hydrogen and renewable energy.

As South Africa commits to net-zero emissions by 2050, the Deputy Minister discusses balancing the decommissioning of coal-fired power stations with the adoption of sustainable solutions like solar and wind energy, while ensuring job creation in a just and inclusive energy transition. With energy poverty affecting 600 million people across Africa, Graham-Maré emphasizes South Africa’s unique role as the continent’s voice in the G20, advocating for equitable energy access and empowering women who are disproportionately impacted.

Reflecting on her journey from local councilor with the Democratic Alliance to national leader, Deputy Minister Graham-Maré shares insights into leadership, building relationships, and staying grounded in her responsibility to serve. She speaks passionately about uplifting girls in rural communities, enabling them to dream beyond the limitations of poverty, and championing a people-centered approach to governance.

Deputy Minister Graham-Maré shares pivotal moments in her life journey, from persevering for 16 years to attain her LLB qualification, to overcoming breast cancer – twice, to raising her children, to achieving her political aspirations and more. She emphasises knowing and pursuing your purpose. Always put in 100% effort.

Drawing inspiration from innovative leadership strategies, she highlights the importance of fostering ownership and collaboration to achieve sustainable and inclusive outcomes. Join us for a powerful episode that delves into energy reform, women’s empowerment, and leadership lessons that inspire meaningful change.

Tune in to hear how Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré is literally living her best life while shaping South Africa’s energy future and empowering communities.

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Wendy Alexander who represents the Democratic Alliance party in parliament and serves on the Standing Committee of Finance, which overseas the National Treasury and statutory entities.

In 2024 more than 60 countries held national elections, representing approximately 50% of the global population. Ms Alexander highlights the importance of citizens using their vote to shape the direction of the country. She encourages voters to consider their vote as a “loan” to political parties and to hold them to their promises—or shift allegiance if those promises go unfulfilled. There are tensions for politicians operating in a multi-party coalition government because of differences between party manifestos, but there are common driving forces, such as getting the economy to work and decreasing unemployment rates that ensure political parties work together to serve the best interests of the people.

Ms Alexander shares her motivations for entering politics, driven by a desire to stop complaining about issues and rather be a force for change. Politics provides a meaningful platform to exert influence, to change or introduce new legislation that impacts on the trajectory of the country. We emphasize the need for more women to step into political roles and call for foundational programs that equip aspiring women leaders with the skills to influence South Africa’s political landscape.

The conversation also explores her work in the Finance Committee, where she sheds light on the importance of sustainable government spending and debt management. She highlights the progress made in gender-responsive budgeting and the need for data-driven approaches to promote economic inclusivity for women. Thinking creatively helps to identify new solutions, such as blended finance or lower and flexible interest rates. We raise the issue of the need for institutional reform and challenging the status quo, acknowledging that sometimes what was once conventional is now redundant. Ms Alexander is an advocate for inclusivity and outside of her political work she serves on the board of the South African Guide Dog Association and has raised puppies to serve as guide dogs for the blind.

Be the change you wish to see. Tune in for more.

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Dr. Elizabeth Hugo who is a Gynaecologist and Gynaecological Oncologist working in the private sector at Vergelegen Mediclinic in Somerset West.

October is breast cancer awareness month and breast cancer is one of the five most invasive cancers affecting women in Africa, the others being melanoma, colorectal, cervix and uterus cancers. The latter two cancers affect women’s reproductive organs, which fall into Dr. Hugo’s area of specialisation.

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable. The World Health Organisation has initiated a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer through human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccination of girls by age 15, screening and treatment. For example, Australia has seen success with its HPV vaccination drives among girls and boys to eliminate cervical cancer in the population. Endometrial and ovarian cancers can be hard to detect early, but we discuss some of the early warning symptoms. Additionally, if you have a family history of cancers, you carry a genetic risk, for example the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (aka the Angelina Jolie gene) raises the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, through genetic testing you can assess your risk factors. Cancer is not just a physical disease, it impacts people psychologically and emotionally too, and Dr Hugo emphasises that is important to understand these elements and treat patients holistically. Encouragingly, the chances of curing cancer are increasing with advances in new treatments.

Working in this specialisation is demanding but also rewarding. Dr Hugo shares some of the factors have contributed to her success, such as a strong support network, being determined, wanting to help others, enjoying challenges and putting family before work. She motivates us to dream big and not allow ourselves or others to limit our thinking about what is possible.

Tune in for more…