It’s International Women’s Day today. Read more about the spectacular South African women who have done or are doing inspirational things in sports, beauty, and business.
SHUDUFHADZO MUSIDA
Shudufhadzo Musida was born on the 18th of July in 1996 in Limpopo, South Africa. She completed her Bachelor of Social Science degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Pretoria. She proceeded to graduate with her Honours in International Relations at the University of Witswatersrand. Musida was crowned Miss South Africa 2020 and will be representing South Africa at Miss World 2021. Shudufhadzo admitted to having been bullied because of her Venda heritage while she was at school, yet despite that experience, she is still proud of her roots and culture. She believes that the Miss SA platform will aid in amplifying her social activism work. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and the economic empowerment of women and children.
SUZANNE ACKERMAN-BERMAN
Suzanne Ackerman-Berman received her undergraduate degree from the University of Cape Town. Whilst studying, she was the first woman to chair the University Students Fund Raising Committee and was also elected as vice-chair of SHAWCO. Suzanne has a passion for supporting small businesses and is the founder of the Pick n Pay Small Business Incubator that seeks to address the social and economic inequalities of the past, by providing access to the formal market for small and previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs. She has represented Pick n Pay and South Africa at National Retail Federation conferences in New York, USA and Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Currently the Pick n Pay Transformation Director, Suzanne is also the chairman of the Ackerman Foundation. More recently and notably is her Europcar Women in Leadership Award at the SA Jewish Report Achievers Awards in recognition of the leading role she played in feeding the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic. She’s the founder and trustee of Feed the Nation Foundation, a PBO dedicated to providing meals to those in need. Suzanne Ackerman-Berman is a woman we admire because of her compassion and willingness to help and mentor young people whilst doing incredible work through the charitable projects she’s involved in.
DESIREE ELLIS
Desiree Ellis was born on the 14th of March 1963 in Salt River, Cape Town. At that time, there were no women’s football clubs, so she played football with boys and her cousins growing up. She subsequently found herself playing at Athlone Celtic and then at Spurs Ladies club. After her football playing career she took the reigns as interim manager for the SA Women’s National Football Team in 2016. She was appointed as head coach two years later and was ranked 50th in the world. Desiree led South Africa to a second-place finish at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. Ellis was awarded as the Confederation of African Football Women’s Coach of the Year.
SHABNIM ISMAIL
Shabnim Ismail was born on the 5th of March 1988 in Cape Town. Ismail began playing cricket at school in a mixed-gender team and made her debut for Western Province at the tender age of 17. In 2007, at only 18 years of age, she made her international debut for South Africa. Ismail is a practising Muslim, making her the only Muslim woman to have played international cricket for South Africa. She’s one of the fastest female bowlers in the world and was named Women’s T20 Player of the Year at Cricket South Africa in 2020. Her record-breaking skills and passion for the sport is an inspiration to young and aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen.
MAJOR MANDISA NOMCEBO MFEKA
Major Mandisa Mfeka was born in Ntuzuma in KwaZulu-Natal. Her love for flying started when she was just five years old. She joined the military after high school to pursue her dream of becoming a combat pilot. She made history by becoming the first black woman combat fighter pilot in South Africa. During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, she was part of the celebrations when she flew over Loftus Versveld Stadium In Pretoria In one of only five SA Airforce Hawk Mk 120 aircraft. Major Mandisa Mfeka serves as an inspiration to young women everywhere that dreams are attainable if you set goals, work hard, and nurture your passion.
CASTER SEMENYA
Caster Semenya was born on 7 January 1991 in the village of Ga-Masehlong in Polokwane but grew up in Limpopo. In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Semenya won a silver medal in the 800m which was later reallocated as gold after the initial winner was disqualified. She carried the country’s flag for the opening ceremony of those same games. In 2016 she became the first person to win all three titles (400m, 800m, 1500m) at the South African National Championships. This two-time Olympic gold medalist has faced numerous challenges with the IAAF and the athletic world over testosterone levels but despite the adversity she has faced, she remains an iconic sportswoman known for her perseverance. Caster Semenya was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2018 and we shine a light on one of the world’s most incredible sportswomen.
Sources:
https://xtraordinarywomen.com/xtraordinary-woman-of-the-month-suzanne-ackerman/
http://www.1000women.co.za/2020/08/19/ambassador-suzanne-ackerman-berman/
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jul/06/caster-semenya-iaaf-clearance
