Tag: Equality

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Dr Asive Luningo, a veterinarian and lecturer in veterinary toxicology at the University of Pretoria, whose journey into animal health is rooted in rural life, cultural tradition, and an unwavering commitment to community wellbeing. Growing up in a royal rural household where animal care was considered “men’s work” and veterinary professionals were virtually unknown, Dr Luningo’s path into veterinary science was neither obvious nor easy. With limited exposure, strong cultural gender roles, and financial barriers, her entry into the profession was shaped by resilience, chance encounters with inspiring teachers, and a determination to prevent the unnecessary suffering of animals she witnessed as a child. What began as a detour into agricultural science became a life-defining calling into veterinary medicine. Dr Luningo reflects on her diverse professional journey,from welfare clinics and state veterinary services in remote, mountainous regions, to academia, research, and public health. These experiences reveal the stark inequalities in animal health services, particularly in rural and communal farming areas where distance, poverty, poor infrastructure, and environmental factors limit access to care. She offers rare insight into how geography, climate change, and toxic plant outbreaks intersect with food security, livelihoods, and public health. Dr Luningo specialises in veterinary toxicology, an often overlooked but critically important field. She unpacks how poisonings, ranging from toxic plants, mycotoxins, snake envenomation, chemical exposure, and malicious poisoning, affect both small and large animals, with devastating consequences for farmers, pet owners, and ecosystems. Her work highlights the growing impact of climate change on toxic plant proliferation and the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and research. The interview also confronts gender and cultural dynamics within veterinary science. Dr Luningo speaks candidly about moments where her presence as a woman was restricted or questioned, particularly in traditional farming contexts, and how professionalism, confidence, and competence became her tools for navigating bias. She reflects on leadership, caregiving responsibilities, and why women’s career trajectories often look different—not lesser—than men’s. As a lecturer and mentor, Dr Luningo raises important concerns about how young veterinarians, especially women, are prepared for real-world practice. She describes the safety risks, emotional demands, and resource constraints faced during community service, calling for support, mentorship, and training for work in under-resourced settings. The conversation culminates in a powerful reflection on why women in veterinary science are vital to South Africa’s food security, animal welfare, and public health, not only as clinicians, but as researchers, inspectors, educators, policymakers, and advocates. Dr Luningo shares the wide range of career paths available in veterinary science, from wildlife and pharmaceutical research to diagnostic laboratories and animal nutrition. With humility and honesty, she shares what she would do differently, the importance of early specialization and knowledge transfer, and the personal values, such as discipline, responsibility, and perseverance have shaped her success. Dr Luningo emphasises perseverance, continuous learning, mentorship, and community as key drivers of success, reminding listeners that their dreams are valid and their contributions essential to building healthier, more equitable societies. Tune in for more…

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January 22, 2026

Dr Asive Luningo – Veterinarian, University of Pretoria – You Count

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Dr Asive Luningo, a veterinarian and lecturer in veterinary toxicology at the University of Pretoria, whose journey into animal health is rooted in rural life, ...

Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, for our special compilation of select programs to inspire the new year. In this episode, we hear from successful women in engineering, wine research and diplomacy. First, Professor Sara Grobbelaar from the Department of Industrial Engineering, in the Faculty of Engineering, at Stellenbosch University has an unmistakable sense of purpose and multi-faceted journey in the world of engineering, charting an inspiring path that blends technical expertise with human-centered innovation. She discusses opportunities for women in STEM and emphasises that we should never be deterred from studying further. Next, Professor Mathabatha Evodia Setati, who is with the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute at the University of Stellenbosch emphasises the role of education in her career and her motivation to study, driven in part by her parents. She shares insights into the invisible world of micro-organisms which are present everywhere. Lastly, the Swedish Ambassador to South Africa, Anna Karin Eneström, offers powerful insights into the importance of empowering women to make decisions over their own bodies, the role of economic independence in gender equality, and Sweden’s progressive policies, from free childcare since the 1970s to shared parental leave, that have propelled the country to the forefront of global gender-equality rankings. Additionally, revising legislation to tax individuals rather than combined spousal income resulted in individuals taking home more money. It makes economic sense for women, who make up 50% of the population, to contribute to any country’s workforce. Here’s to a new year of courage, connection, and collective progress. Womanity rises because women rise, together.

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January 8, 2026

2026: A Prosperous Year

Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, for our special compilation of select programs to inspire the new year. In this episode, we hear from successful women in engineering, wine research and diplomacy. First, Professor ...

Welcome to Womanity Women in Unity, for our special compilation of select programs to open the new year. We hope to inspire you through the words of three remarkable women who have succeeded in their respective fields. Our first guest in this feature is Dr Sarah Babb, who is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science. She discusses embracing change by unlearning and learning, and she also sheds light on the underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of neurodivergent traits in women. She reminds us to Keep stepping into the new version of your shiniest, noblest self; because there’s always more. Our Next guest, Dr Colinda Linde, is a clinical psychologist and chairperson of  the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, who talks about modern women navigating today’s world and the importance of keeping your options open. Our final guest in today’s feature is Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele, the Deputy Judge President of the Free State division of the High Court, who emphasises the transformative role of education in her life and how nothing is impossible We hope that this episode encourages you to pursue your best.  Warm wishes for the New Year from Womanity

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January 1, 2026

2026 Happy New Year – Nothing is Impossible

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

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Dr Nonhlanhla Vilakazi who specialises in palaeo-herpetology and heritage management in the Zoology Department at the University of Johannesburg. Her work uncovers stories from fossils that contribute to new ways of seeing ourselves and our future. Dr Vilakazi takes us beneath the Earth's surface to explore forgotten ecosystems, rare fossil snakes, and the secrets embedded in rock formations that stretch back millions of years. Through her African-centred lens, she explains how ancient species help us understand climate change, biodiversity loss, and the alarming possibility that humanity may be in the midst of a mass extinction event. Beyond the science, Dr Vilakazi is a powerful advocate for reshaping human relationships with misunderstood creatures like snakes, blending scientific insight with Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural narratives. Her storytelling transforms fear into understanding, reminding listeners how deeply interconnected life truly is both past and present. The conversation also highlights her commitment to transforming STEM education. Dr Vilakazi discusses the importance of integrating indigenous worldviews with scientific methods to make STEM relevant and inclusive, especially for young women and learners from under-resourced communities. She speaks candidly about breaking stereotypes in paleontology, the challenges of being one of the few women in fieldwork, and the vital need for family-friendly policies in academia. From groundbreaking discoveries in South Africa, Namibia, and Uganda to cutting-edge AI collaborations that are modernising fossil analysis, Dr Vilakazi’s work pushes scientific boundaries while inspiring the next generation of African scientists. Despite her trailblazing contributions, Dr Vilakazi reminds us that paleontology remains a male-dominated field. One still shaped by the lingering stereotype of the “Indiana Jones” adventurer. She speaks openly about the subtle and overt barriers women face, from doubts about their physical capability to the practical challenges of fieldwork environments that have never been designed with women in mind. Often the only woman on excavation teams, she has had to carve out space. Yet her presence is transformative: her visibility has inspired many of her former undergraduate students, particularly young women, to pursue postgraduate studies in paleontology. Her journey powerfully demonstrates that representation is not symbolic, it's catalytic. When women see someone who looks like them thriving in STEM, entire career pathways become imaginable. The episode culminates in a relatable message to young women across the continent: science is not distant or exclusive; it is present in everyday life, fueled by curiosity, resilience, and the stories we choose to tell about ourselves. Tune in for more.

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December 12, 2025

Dr Nonhlanhla Vilakazi – Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg – Unearthing the past for the future

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Dr Nonhlanhla Vilakazi who specialises in palaeo-herpetology and heritage management in the Zoology Department at the University of Johannesburg. Her work uncov...

In this episode of Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Darelle Van Greunen Director of the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) at Nelson Mandela University, this year’s recipient of the Science Diplomacy for Africa Award. We explore how the CCT drives social development through smart, needs-driven technology in low-income communities. A Personal Journey to Purpose Professor van Greunen’s journey began in 1990, when she introduced one of South Africa’s first school computer literacy classes amid scarce resources. Her path — from teaching to leading global user experience at SAP Research — revealed the deep divide between tech creators and users, shaping her belief that technology must serve people, not the other way around. This conviction led to founding the CCT in 2014. Co-Creation and Community Impact The CCT builds solutions with communities, not for them. Needs-driven design: Teams spend time in the field listening, learning, and co-developing. Ownership and empowerment: Communities shape the design, language, and look of tools — making them “their solutions, not ours.” A powerful example is the School Health Assessment Tool, a mobile app that digitizes screenings for learners in rural Eastern Cape. It replaces paper forms, enables offline use, and has transformed care — even helping detect a child’s serious hearing issue early enough to change their learning journey. For Africa, By Africans Professor van Greunen champions the philosophy “ICT solutions for Africa, by Africans in Africa.” CCT designs tools adapted to Africa’s realities — from low connectivity to linguistic diversity. She stresses that technology designed elsewhere cannot simply be "copied and pasted" due to the continent's unique context, including intermittent connectivity, limited infrastructure, and linguistic/cultural diversity. Contextual relevance: Offline-first systems, visual and voice interfaces, and multilingual support. Respect for Behaviour: The aim is not to make people change their behavior to use a tool, but for the tool to adapt to the behaviour of the people.(part of in Africa, for Africa by Africans – design for inclusion of real people) Empowerment: Building local capacity and innovation instead of importing solutions. Opportunities for Women in Science Professor van Greunen believes it’s an exciting time for women in ICT — diversity is now seen as a strength. Yet, barriers remain: funding gaps, limited mentorship, and a weak school-to-industry pipeline. She calls for intentional ecosystems, targeted mentorship, and early confidence-building for girls in STEM. Legacy and Motivation Professor van Geunen's vision is for women to be seen not as an exception, but as an essential part of science. She hopes the next generation will lead research that transforms communities. For her, success equals impact—not titles or awards—and her desired legacy is one of hope and possibility for young women to dream and have an impact as scientists. Her final message to women is: "Don't wait for the moment. Create the moment. Don't wait for opportunity to knock on the door. You create the opportunity. Use your knowledge to make the world kinder, smarter and more just. never underestimate the power of your light as a woman” Tune in for more…

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November 13, 2025

Professor Darelle Van Greunen – Information Technology – Nelson Mandela University – Create Opportunity

In this episode of Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Professor Darelle Van Greunen Director of the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) at Nelson Mandela University, this year’s recipien...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Helen Nabwera, a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and global health leader whose work bridges clinical care, community empowerment, and pioneering research in maternal and child health. Currently based at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya, she works in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Centre of Excellence for Women and Child Health, the Co-PI PRETERM Africa Study, and is a Physician Scientist and MRC/FCDO African Research Leader. Dr. Nabwera shares her personal journey from growing up in rural western Kenya, where exposure to childhood illness and community hardship shaped her calling, to becoming a leading advocate for vulnerable newborns and a mentor to emerging researchers across Africa and beyond. She takes us through the heart of her work in preterm birth and early childhood development, highlighting the systemic and psychosocial factors that affect maternal and infant health in low-resource settings. Hear about her groundbreaking research on mother-to-mother peer support for families with low birth weight babies, and the vital role of nutrition in long-term child survival and development. She emphasizes that sustainable child health cannot be achieved through clinical care alone; it requires integrated community action, maternal wellbeing, and addressing societal misconceptions. We also explore Dr. Nabwera’s experience navigating the complexities of career, motherhood, cultural expectations, and leadership as a woman in science. She offers honest reflections on guilt, balance, and the importance of asking for help, while also advocating for structural changes in academic and research spaces to better support women’s advancement. Her thoughts on the role of culture, family, and resilience reveal a leader grounded in compassion and driven by purpose. Dr. Nabwera also pays tribute to key women in her life including her mother and fellow trailblazing scientists who inspired her journey and now fuel her mission to support the next generation. She leaves us with a powerful message to young women across the continent: “Find your inner peace—your dreams will emerge from there. An then you know you're going to get to where you need to get.” Whether you are in medicine, science, education, or simply navigating your path, this conversation with Dr. Nabwera is a moving testament to courage, humility, and impact. Tune in for more…

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July 24, 2025

Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Helen Nabwera, a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and global health leader whose work bridges clinical care, community empowerment, and pioneering rese...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Mosadi Mahoko, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon breaking both medical and societal boundaries. As the first Black female plastic surgeon to qualify from Stellenbosch University, and a recipient of the prestigious Jack Penn Medal for the top national exam results in plastic surgery, Dr. Mahoko exemplifies excellence, resilience, inspiration and service. While health and medicine appear to run in her family, with both parents being nurses and her late mother, Professor Sophie Mahoko, serving as Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Venda, Dr. Mahoko highlights that her path was driven by exposure and interest rather than solely genetics. A self-described "sickly child," her early experiences in hospitals sparked a curiosity about healing and the human body. She initially gravitated towards orthopedic surgery due to its visible impact on patient function. However, a pivotal shift, partly driven by rejections from orthopedic surgery training programs, led her to plastic surgery. She emphasizes that this was not influenced by the "glamour of Beverly Hills 90210" but a desire to provide tangible services and improve quality of life for individuals. This personal anecdote of navigating professional setbacks and pivoting to a new specialization offers a powerful message about resilience and finding alignment with one's core principles. The interview sheds light on into the life-saving and life-changing aspects of her work, from reconstructing faces after trauma or cancer, to her greatest passion: cleft lip and palate surgery. Dr. Mahoko takes us into the multidisciplinary world of paediatric facial surgeries, describing the team-based approach that includes speech therapists, social workers, geneticists, and anaesthetists - all working to restore function, confidence, and dignity to children and families. She collaborates with organizations like the Smile Foundation, an NGO that fundraises to enable these crucial operations. She recounts a standout case of a nine-year-old girl with a jaw tumor, where complex microsurgery using bone from the child’s leg restored her facial structure and reintegrated her into school and society; a powerful example of medicine’s ability to transform lives. As a trailblazer, Dr. Mahoko reflects on the pressures of being a Black woman in a male-dominated field, and the deep responsibility of inspiring others. Her journey includes pivotal decisions, personal sacrifice, and overcoming rejection, all grounded in a value system shaped by her late mother’s unwavering standards of excellence. She emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, seeking support from her "tribe" of friends and family, and engaging in therapeutic activities like cooking to cope with overwhelming moments Concluding the interview in Youth Month, Dr. Mahoko shares an inspiring message for girls and young women: to "take charge of this world." She encourages them to be fearless, kind, honourable, and intentional in creating the world they envision, acknowledging that while it won't be easy, they are the ones who will carry the future. Tune in for more

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June 26, 2025

Dr. Mosadi Mahoko – Plastic Surgeon – Stellenbosch University – Kintsugi

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Mosadi Mahoko, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon breaking both medical and societal boundaries. As the first Black female plastic surgeon to qualify from...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Dr Monicca Thulisile Bhuda, who lectures in culture and heritage studies at the University of Mpumalanga. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences specialising in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Dr. Bhuda shares her journey into the field, describing it as a calling that began when she first enrolled in sociology and IKS at Northwest University in 2013. Supported by funding from the Department of Science and Innovation, as well as the Department of Arts and Culture, Dr. Bhuda was part of a pioneering cohort studying ancestral knowledge systems. Focusing on the role of women in society, Dr. Bhuda emphasizes that women have always held significant positions in indigenous communities, even before colonial encounters. She highlights the long-standing influence of African queens, whose leadership and stabilizing roles were instrumental in shaping civilizations. Today, in democratic South Africa, we see a revival of this heritage, with opportunities for women to lead and succeed in powerful roles. The conversation highlights how Indigenous Knowledge Systems, passed down through generations, are as fluid and adaptable as culture itself. These systems are deeply integrated into various aspects of life, including agriculture, health, and community sustainability. Dr. Bhuda elaborates on the diverse methods of knowledge transmission—ranging from oral storytelling to observation, participation, and apprenticeship. Dr. Bhuda reflects on how women's roles have evolved over time but stresses that their contributions to society have always been vital. Education is key, she argues, in shifting mindsets and ensuring that people recognize the unique strengths women bring to leadership and community-building. Dr. Bhuda also shares her thoughts on the importance of two significant indigenous practices in South Africa: the spirit of Ubuntu, which emphasizes compassion and interconnectedness, and the rites of passage that guide individuals through life's stages. She sees these traditions as valuable lessons that other societies could learn from. Closing the discussion, Dr. Bhuda speaks passionately about the power of having a vision and pursuing it relentlessly. She encourages women to dream boldly, envision the person they are meant to become, and work tirelessly toward realizing their potential. Tune in for more.

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September 27, 2024

Dr Monicca Thulisile Bhuda – Culture, Heritage & Indigenous Knowledge Systems – University of Mpumalanga – Generational Knowledge

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Dr Monicca Thulisile Bhuda, who lectures in culture and heritage studies at the University of Mpumalanga. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences special...

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Val Nichas, the CEO of the Spur Corporation. Part of her motivation for accepting this role was the challenge of transformation and taking on a role in corporate which has greater purpose. Under her leadership the Spur Corporation became a purpose-led organisation, whose purpose is, “Leading for the Greater Good”. Transformation is about making things better and part of that process includes equality, diversity and inclusion to positively impact the business and communities that it serves. Ms Nichas discusses how leadership strategies go beyond business strategies, emphasizing the importance of diagnosing challenges, gathering facts, and collaborating to find creative solutions. With a visionary mindset, she has evolved Spur’s business model to adapt to changing times while focusing on long-term planning and community impact. Under her leadership, the group has grown to over 700 restaurants with headline earnings in 2024 increasing by 11% year on year. Each new franchise restaurant employs 42 people, demonstrating the multiplier effect of healthy brands on society. 53% of the corporate company and restaurant employees are female. The group has initiatives in place that consider women’s wellness, coaching development, learnership programmes and has a 3.2 work day arrangement where employees work out of the office for three days a week and from home for two. Ms Nichas reflects on how soft skills have become more important in the business world to create sustainable meaningful change. Her success stems from hard work, faith in her team, a strong spiritual foundation and applying lessons learned from growing up in her parents Café, where customer service made all the difference. Listeners will be inspired by Val Nichas’ insights into leading with a vision that has a plan of action, her belief in Africa’s abundant opportunities, and her advice to lead with love and intent. She reminds us that success is rooted in doing good, serving others, and believing in our own worth. Tune in for more...

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September 19, 2024

CEO Spur Corporation – Val Nichas – Visionary Leadership

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Val Nichas, the CEO of the Spur Corporation. Part of her motivation for accepting this role was the challenge of transformation and taking on a role...

Communication is dynamic and multifaceted, influencing everything from activism to personal branding. Prof Benecke shares some of her views on how the concepts of network theory and community influencers intersect in practice, emphasising the interdependency between individuals and their networks to enable issues to be addressed. We consider personal branding for women through a communication lens, which Prof. Benecke distils into three elements; we need to find our own voice, we need to develop our confidence and we need to believe that we are good enough. In building ourselves we establish a space in the world that we can contribute to meaningfully. Prof. Benecke's work also explores the tragic reality of gender-based violence (GBV), described by President Ramaphosa as South Africa’s second pandemic. There are several theoretical arguments about why GBV occurs and possible methods to solve it. In practical terms, victims of GBV or of potential assault need to know who they can contact to help them. Reflecting on the murder of Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, sometimes the struggles that a person deals with are hidden from view, and we should all be more sensitive to the plight of other women and intervening where possible to help. Today’s show is dedicated to the memory of Rebecca Cheptegei, may her soul rest in peace. Tune in for more….

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September 5, 2024

Prof Dalien Rene Benecke – Strategic Communication Department – University of Johannesburg – Power of Communication

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Prof Rene Benecke from the Strategic Communication Department at the University of Johannesburg. Communication is dynamic and multifaceted, influ...

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