Girls, Ladies, Women, Mothers.

By Bongiwe Tutu




Caption: A collage with my Mother(left and bottom centre with my brother) and Noeleen (right)

Women have always been inspirational leaders in my life, leaders and groundbreakers who aspired for greatness. Strong and determined women who always attain on doing more than what is expected of them, making history, making a difference and assisting in establishing a better tomorrow. That is the kind of woman I look up to. That is the kind of woman my mother is, that is the kind of woman she has groomed me to become.

That is how I’ve grown to look up to leading women in my future profession, where I’ve seen women such as Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu who are expanding and sustaining the role of women in the country, extending the premise of women empowerment in the world at large. I hold these women close to my heart because they are very driven and push me to attain my goal of being a TV journalist in the near future. Noeleen is a South African woman in Media, Entertainment, Art, born in Umtata in the Eastern Cape, on the 14th August 1967. My mother, Thembela Tutu was also born on the same year, on women’s month, on the 10th day of August 1967. This is the day after South Africa’s celebrations of as National Women’s Day, a day in which great women in our history and our future are acknowledged for their contribution to society.



Noeleen has been the Presenter for 3 Talk in Johannesburg since 2003, she has been the News Reader for Radio Transkei since 1988, this phenomenal woman is also the chair for Tomorrow Trust. She has been amongst other forms of media such as the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) as a presenter in the year 2004, a Talk Show Host for Talk Radio 702 for a year from the year 2002. Above all this, Noeleen has received awards for the Best Global Radio Programme by the Global Population Institute in Cuba, the Chrystal Award from the People Magazine in Johannesburg, the Duku Duku Award by the SABC in Johannesburg, the Mzansi Star TV Presenter by the Mzansi Awards also in Johannesburg. Noeleen, the queen of Talk TV, “SA Oprah Winfrey”, professional speaker, loving, fun, energetic MC, is also a wife and a mother of two daughters and a son. She holds very strong values and inspires me further in my future platforms.


My mother is above all the strongest creature this earth has offered me and I am more than thankful as I’m truly blessed to have her in my life. Her drive is beyond what one can ever imagine. She is ever so hopeful and faithful. I hold her close to my heart, together with her wisdom and courage, her strength and values. She is always assisting me in accomplishing my goals and she is the ultimate hero, by my side every step of the way. I worship her very being and everything I do, I do it with her in my mind.

Women's Month, hmm...?

What began as movement against the legalisation of Dompass for women has now turned into a month of honouring, appreciation, valuating, presenting a women as the compass of the world and life.

Women Now
In this entire month alone I have heard more women news related issues. I have also heard more about what is going on with women that have and that will be making their mark in South Africa as a whole. I find it inspiring that as South Africans women are given the opportunity to voice their opinions, share business transactions and still be loved as mothers and lovers or friends.

The only aspect that still bothers me is that not all men necessary agree with all that is being done. They may smile and clap hands, but we all know how easy it is to put on a facade. My only worry is that may we not forget that there are women who still oppressed by men in the workplace, at home and anywhere else that women venture into.

Caster Semenya
The amount of public humiliation that that young women went through is inexcusable. I agree with the president of Athletics South Africa that the IAAF should apologise for humiliating her, however I must state in the same breathe that what happened at the arrival press conference was just as embarrassing as the accusations the IAAF place against Semenya. How can something about be about uplifting this young women turn into a race row. Yes it is interesting that there were no white people present for the arrival of the athletis, but the conference and the circumstances around Semenya was not the avenue to release such a discussion or negative comments. Not once did Semenya speack during that conference, and one can question whether she was told not to or she chose not to. Even what transpired in that conference was trully a bad reputation of South Africans, making it seem like we are willing to pull the race card whenever it suits us. I understand that the actions of the IAAF would come across as jealous move to stamped black people or should I say Africans, because let us be honest we have white women/European women that look like men.

Finally
And finally to all the girls of Future Journalists Programme and Highway Africa, "Happy Women's Month" and may it be not just about honouring or appreciating but may it be seen that women are powerful atom bombs who explode greatness, love, patience, care and passion. They are the kind of atom bombs that restore and leave a legacy only to remembered by those came close to her heart. May God continually bless all the women of South Africa.