KGANYAGO
When you look at me, do you have any idea who I am?
��������������������������������������� by society’s narrow expectations �����������������������������
I savour my life’s story like I do ������������
I challenge the narratives that dictate everything ‘a woman must...’
“A woman must keep an eye on her biological clock, a woman must make money but not too much money, a woman must not be too hungry for success.”
I don’t believe in pressure. I am not driven by anyone else’s ambitions, other than my own. My life is already rich. A symphony of abundance and love.
Truly, when you look at me, do you have any idea who I am?
“A woman must learn to wait her turn, to trust the process, to smile, to watch her weight. A woman must defy the odds.”
My success has been meticulously crafted. Every decision I make is intentional.
“A woman must” NOTHING.
I am the author of my own narrative.
I am not just great.
I am the architect of my destiny.
I embrace the art of living, I’ve seized control of my destiny, sculpting a life that echoes my deepest desires.
I boldly reject conformity.
I am the founder of my fate.
To what degree? I decide.
I’ve designed it this way.
photographer : LETHABO MACHELE
“I’m the king of the world!” I want to stand in the middle of a crowded room, arms stretched outwards, and yell it from the top of my lungs, like Jack in Titanic. I’m in love AGAIN. It’s a love so sweet I want to jump on a couch and treat it like a trampoline, à la Tom Cruise on The Oprah Winfrey Show before declaring his love for Katie Holmes.
It’s my most intense love affair — destructive, overwhelming, exhilarating, and passionate. The occasional butterflies in my tummy unleash a fluttering feeling of desire that I never thought I would encounter again. Cupid, the Roman god of love, and his arrow have struck. Sleepless nights, check! Inexplicable joy, check! Make You Feel My Love by Adele on repeat, check! The attraction is so strong that Venus, the Roman goddess of love, has me wearing her fave colour — red — for this Ed’s letter. I guess you want to know their name? Fashion.
I’ve fallen madly in love with fashion again and it’s because menswear, at long last, is speaking a feminine language, fluently. Sure, retail is still playing catch-up but, over the past two years, runways and red carpets have challenged what it means to be a man by embracing
From the
feminine cuts, lightweight fabrics, ruffled details, flowy trains, and platform heels. The soft and gentle touch of sheer fabric on my skin has left an unexplainable feeling. I feel sexier and more comfortable — that soothing breeze from wearing skirts while overheating on hot days is summertime magic. All of this has reignited my wardrobe and style to make it fun, chic, and fresh.
The road to finding this love was not easy. Sure, I’ve always regarded gender as socially constructed. But my real awakening happened over a year ago on an SMag photoshoot. In a conversation with stylist Sahil Harilal he suggested that I stop shopping by gender, after we’d bonded over our frustration with the uninspiring men’s section in retail. This approach excited me as much as it petrified me. The truth is that the gendering of clothing is one capitalist tool that benefits profit and creates impossible body standards.
Finding the courage and confidence took more time. My self-image had also taken a knock. I was uncomfortable with how my body looked, so in the same period I had moved more towards loose-fitting and boxy cuts to cover up. If I was going to play with halternecks, crop tops and short-shorts, I needed to serve body. The gym was the next stop.
Fashion in the 2020s has turned into a joke, with meme-worthy and gimmicky theatrics dominating runways. What fashion is getting right is menswear tapping into inherent femininity. Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent has been a revelation. The Saint Laurent men’s spring 2024 show blurred the line between its mens- and womenswear collections. I adored that fluidity, which inspired my Durban July look last month. It was love at first sight when I found — in the women’s section of my fave online store — a 3D floral halterneck top with an organza bow. It was well received by the attendees, mainly because many found me brave for pushing boundaries.
A woman, presumably in her 40s, called me to her table (it was that time of the day when everyone was lit). She asked to take a picture with me, but what warmed my heart was when she proceeded to give me a motherly pep talk. “You are amazing, don’t ever stop being you and don’t let the world change you,” she said, staring into my eyes as though she could see into my soul. I swear, she didn’t blink. I’ve no choice but to continue on this contrarian journey. Check it out online in episode two of SMag’s newly launched vlog 5Ws + 1H.
Relax, I’m not campaigning for the erasure of binary fashion and masculine style. I’m calling for more fashion choices for men that go beyond what is the traditional men’s dress code. No, men do not wish to become women. Let’s embrace some tenderness to challenge the idea of “manliness”. How does a man in a skirt threaten masculinity? Ten points to anyone who can answer this.
While I wait for a response, welcome to our third annual Women of the Year issue. The six great women handpicked to anchor this edition capture and reflect the power of femininity. That is not to say powerful women can’t exude masculine qualities — and vice versa. Through their wisdom, passion, drive, and being their authentic selves, they inspire us. They are Lerato Kganyago, Itumeleng Monale, Lulama Wolf, Nombulelo Sepeng, Babalwa Latsha, and Nompumelelo Nkosi.
Satin blazer, R11 490; satin shorts, R7 490, both Karl Lagerfeld; socks, stylist’s own; Easy Rider sneakers, R1 999, Puma
PUMA SETS THE PACE
The streets are clamouring for the iconic Puma Easy Rider in its new iteration. Nothing says everlasting classic like retro drip showcased in a new way. After revolutionising the jogging craze of the 1970s with its innovative shockabsorbing outsole, the Easy Rider became a fashion staple.
Back for another lap on the track, the brand has launched the new Rewrite the Classics series, dedicated to celebrating Puma’s classics and bringing them into a new generation, with the Easy Rider Vintage introduced in a fresh range of clean colourways designed for every day and everyone.
The evolved Easy Rider is made of fine mesh and suede with a contrasting white formstrip, in the tonal colour schemes Archive Green, Royal Blue, and Puma Red.
Now, the biggest question to answer for those who run their hometown fashion streets is, which team are you? Archive Green, Royal Blue? Or does the Puma Red speak to your soul like it does to the boys of the BROKE Collective (pictured)? Don’t want to choose? That’s okay, because we’re obsessed with all the colours and have the outfits that go with them.
The shoes are comfortable, stylish, and versatile, allowing you to switch to different aesthetics, while also remaining a statement piece. It all depends on how you choose to wear this reimagined classic.
So, stylish people, on your marks and get set to run the streets your way in the new Puma Easy Rider Vintage.
The
remixed Easy Rider has the town ablaze
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMMANUEL TJIYA (SMAG@SOWETAN.CO.ZA)
CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANNA LINEVELDT
FASHION DIRECTOR SHARON ARMSTRONG
FASHION STYLIST YOLISWA MYALUZA
BEAUTY EDITOR NOKUBONGA THUSI
SUBEDITOR IOLANDI POOL
DESIGN INTERN SIMPHIWE MBANA
PATIENCE TSHABALALA
CONTENT PRODUCERS NOMBUSO KUMALO & MASEGO SEEMELA
FINAL EYE HELEN SMITH
SOWETAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NWABISA MAKUNGA CEO PULE MOLEBELEDI
ADVERTISING
ACCOUNT MANAGER
CAPE TOWN: SAMANTHA PIENAAR 082 889 0366 pienaars@arena.africa
BUSINESS MANAGER: LUXURY CELESTE KHUMALO (KHUMALOC@ARENA.AFRICA)
SMag is available with all copies of Sowetan newspaper, five editions a year PRINTED by Novus Print for Arena Holdings, Hill on Empire, 16 Empire Road (cnr Empire and Hillside roads), Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193
ENTS CONT-
MAKEUP: GIRL THERAPY IN THE YEAR OF GIRL DINNER AND GIRL MATH, EMBRACE YOUR FEMININE ENERGY WITH THESE RUNWAY TRENDS FROM BOWS TO A BOYFRIEND BLUSH, ADORN YOURSELF WITH THE PRETTIEST TRENDS THAT PROCLAIM, “I’M LITERALLY JUST A GIRL”
Try: Revlon ColorStay Xtensionnaire Lengthening Mascara in Black,
Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette on Nude Medium, R665
text : NOKUBONGA THUSI
1. Golden goddess
The silver and chrome popularised by Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour take a backseat to a new metallic obsession. As seen at Thom Browne, Chanel, Peter Pilotto, and Christian Siriano, it’s all about the golden-goddess treatment, with flecks of gold over the eyes, lips, and hair by way of gold leaf on sleek buns and molten-gold pigment swiped across eyelids.
R250;
PETER PILOTTO
2. Bow mania
Halfway through the year and we’re still not over bows — and with good reason: the ways to wear them keep getting better and better! At Simone Rocha, bows were used as “makeup”, with models sent down the runway in ribbons tied into bows and fixed to the cheeks. The mandate is clear — one bow is never enough. It’s about going big and having fun.
Try: Satin bows 4pk, R180, lovisajewellery.co.za; Duo Eye Lash Adhesive
3. Pop-star flush
Take inspiration from singer Sabrina Carpenter for an unapologetically girly and super-glowy way to wear your blush. Using an iridescent, blush-highlighter hybrid formula, layer two to three pink blush shades in varying undertones and textures for a multidimensional, high-shine finish. Sweep them across the entire cheek area, from the side of the nose, over the apple of the cheek and up to the cheekbone.
Try: Fenty Beauty Hot Cheeks Velour Blushlighter in Baked Peach, R640; Nars Blush in OrgasmX, R760
BEAUTY ROAD TEST: BOYFRIEND BLUSH. TAKE YOUR CUE FROM RUGBY BOYS’ POST-MATCH FLUSHED CHEEKS FOR THIS SEASON’S ULTIMATE GIRLY-GIRL LOOK
Female-gaze makeup
Sultry and designed for the “gworls”, this TikTok trend is about women doing makeup to please themselves, rather than male-gaze makeup that favours a more natural, innocent look. Pair fresh-faced, sculpted coverage with defined, feline-looking eyes. Apply a small, sharp, winged liner and tight-line eyes by running black kohl liner along the waterline of both lash lines.
Try: Avon True Glimmerstick Eyeliner in Blackest Black R89 Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Whiskey Business, R170
Start with fresh-faced, luminous coverage that creates the ideal base for this super-flushed look Perfect for round or oval face shapes, this blush technique creates the illusion of fuller, more youthful-looking cheeks. Placement is crucial, so concentrate on the area where one would naturally blush — on the lower part of the cheek, along the jawline. Ditch the usual higher blush placement, along the temples and cheekbones, which is used to create a sculpted, lifted look. Focus placement lower on the face, in line with the nostril and hollow of the cheek, and blend blush down towards the jawline, in an almost triangular shape. Intensify colour payoff by applying a cream blush as a base and layer with a powder blush in a similar shade family.
ASHLEY WILLIAMS
LUISA SPAGNOLI
BEAUTY & HAIR
HAIR:
locks
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN AS THIS SEASON’S HAIR CHANNELS PLAYFUL AND UNBRIDLED FEMININE CHARM
EDITOR’S CHOICE:
1. Tiara tresses: Queen for a day? Don’t mind if we do. We love a good hair accessory and, thanks to another Bridgerton season and the global lean towards a softer, more feminine energy, tiara-like accessories are having a cute little moment. As seen at Givenchy and on celebrities such as H.E.R and Jodie Turner-Smith, accessorise your favourite hairstyles with a touch of regality, opting for sparkling, crown-like headbands, dainty star clips dotted through wispy strands, or gem-embellished chains draped around updos.
2. “That “90s girl” pixie: Take your cue from 1990s and 2000s It-girls and sport a pixie cut that mixes tomboy edge with girl-nextdoor energy. Look to Halle Berry, Toni Braxton, Nia Long, and Lebo Mathosa’s iconic S-curl and relive the nostalgia of this supersleek and short style. Whether you choose to cut your natural hair or opt for a wig, the key is to keep the sides and back as short as possible and focus texture and length at the crown of the head, with short fringe pieces to frame and soften facial features.
3. Cool-girl scarf: The girlies are taking their inspiration from the DJs of German electronic-music label Keinemusik’s way of wearing a scarf and, honestly, we don’t care if it’s borderline impractical. Spotted on celebrities and street sartorialists, this look provides both fashion and sun protection — you’re wearing a cap and then folding a vibrantly printed headscarf in a triangle before wrapping it over the cap, tying it under the chin. 5.
1. Hair scarf, R270, lovisajewellery.co.za 2. Hair clips, R80, woolworths.co.za
3. The Body Shop Jamaican Black Castor Oil Intense Moisture Mask 240ml, R310 4. Ghd Mini Professional Slim Plate Styler, R3 100
5. Moroccanoil Frizz Control Intense Smoothing Serum 50ml, R670 4.
Greatness
can’t be rushed and dreams come with no expiration date, of this Lerato Kganyago is living proof. Now in her 40s, she is energetic and on top of her game — and she doesn’t have to choose between love and career.
A day before her cover photoshoot, she calls with a lastminute request — she can’t do a four-hour shoot, as initially arranged, but she can do three hours and come with her makeup already done. Deal. Her diary is packed and she has to hurry to another set. When I pout about lack of sleep owing to my busy calendar, she tells me to toughen up, pointing out that, on top of her weekly Metro FM show with Proverb and Melanie Bala, she has also been shooting two TV shows, one of them being the Miss SA realitycompetition show Crown Chasers.
The shoot runs smoothly a day before the weekend of the Durban July. The following day she has a morning flight to Durban where she has lined up a number of appearances and DJing gigs. Rushing out of her shoot, we arrange to meet in Durban for her cover interview. Fastforward to Monday, that plan has bombed over our failure to coordinate schedules — too much partying. After a
number of failed attempts and both of us almost giving her poor assistant Vanessa Mazabane heart palpitations, our virtual coffee date happens. It’s worth the wait, however, as she doesn’t hold back and gives one of her most personal interviews yet, opening up about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
“Since some artists plateau or reach the ceiling at this age, in the beginning I thought the same would happen to me. But I realised that society makes you feel that way,” she says. “The world has evolved so much — women are not sitting in the kitchen, baking. Now they are making their dreams come true at any age; whether 40 or 50. My life is unfolding again in my 40s.”
Kganyago’s career, spanning more than 20 years, started in beauty pageantry when she was crowned Miss Jam Alley in 2001 and then Miss Soweto in 2005. Soweto TV would later launch her TV career, first with Open Door Policy and then the popular The LKG Show. Until this day, The LKG Show still has a special place in her heart and she hopes to revive it eventually. “When I did the Julius Malema interview, that’s when people started taking notice of me. He was the
text : EMMANUEL TJIYA
NOW IN HER 40S, THE TV AND RADIO PERSONALITY HAS HIT HER CAREER STRIDE, EARNING HER THE HONOUR OF BEING OUR WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN ENTERTAINMENT
me and proposed a campaign to me. I agreed — it was good money — but then they came back with that excuse and I was so disappointed that people still did that. That broke my heart because I thought we had moved on. It would affect me a lot of times, but right now I’m not bothered by it. It affected me because I was always trying to prove that I’m not that person.”
Digging up more skeletons, I remind her of the drama when Matheba abruptly departed Metro FM in 2017 after an on-air-personality reshuffle. Kganyago was scheduled to co-host Front Row with Matheba, but she left the station instead. Kganyago doesn’t shy away from it. “It is what it is, let bygones be bygones,” she says. “I was offered an opportunity that I don’t think any of us would have declined. I love radio and TV — if a great opportunity is given to me, there is no way I would say no to it.”
Next, I read Kganyago a quote she gave to me in 2018 after winning a South African Film and Television Award (Safta). It reads: “One lesson I’ve learned in this industry is that every man is for themselves and not everyone will love you. The higher you go, the [lonelier] it gets. It’s cold in here.”
production : YOLISWA MYALUZA
president of the ANC Youth League then and there was a lot of drama around him. People got to see the human side of him,” she remembers. She went on to host Project Runway SA, The Link, Live Amp, and Moments South Africa. She even had a stint on SABC Sports.
“I was engaged to a footballer [Katlego Mashego],” she laughs. “He got me to fall in love with football. I remember there was a time I stood in for Minnie Dlamini on SoccerZone and people were blown away by the amount of knowledge I had.”
When I remind her of her turn as soap-opera diva Masebotsane in daily drama Muvhango, she screams and laughs until she starts choking up. While she will most likely never act again, the offers keep coming. “I respect actors because I thought it was going to be easy, but it required a lot of time, attention, and commitment. I remember thinking when my contract ended after six months, ‘Acting is not my thing,’” she says.
Kganyago admits she has endured a lot of bullying over the years, especially on social media. She has often been compared to others, particularly Bonang Matheba, although she doesn’t mention her by name.
“I remember there was a deal that I was going to get with a beauty brand two years ago — this is how much this thing has followed me,” she says. “They had approached
Is it still cold at the top? “I wouldn’t say cold, because I’m married now… the higher you go, the colder it gets, I still stand by it,” she replies.
Kganyago married Thami Ndlala in 2020, a month after they first met. She calls it the biggest highlight of her life.
“I thought I would never get married. That was the last thing on my mind. All I wanted to do was to chase money and be successful. My career peaked late in my life — in my late 30s — so I was playing catch-up,” she says. “It was nerve-racking in the beginning. A lot of negative things were said about my marriage, which affected both of us. Right now we are having the time of our lives because we have become each other’s friend. Now we’re just waiting for our baby.”
His romantic gestures have left social media shook. On Valentine’s Day in 2021 he booked out FNB Stadium with songbird Zonke serenading Kganyago over a candlelight dinner. “I like simple things in life. His love language is completely different,” she says. “His love language is doing big, dramatic things. When that happened, I was shocked.”
Close to Kganyago’s heart is educating the public on fertility struggles and minimising period poverty. “I want to document my life and my surrogacy journey. I want to document and teach South Africans about adopting, surrogacy, and IVF [in-vitro fertilisation] — the different options that we have, especially those who have struggled with fertility,” she says. “I want to be a mom. As Black women we have been taught that we can’t have children after a certain age, but I want to teach both women and men that we have other options.”
photography : STEVE TANCHEL
FOR
FLYING THE SA FLAG HIGH INTERNATIONALLY, THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST IS OUR WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN FASHION & ART
THE LULAMA WOLF
text : EMMANUEL TJIYA
oised,
cool-headed, and serene are the three words that best describe the self-sufficient spirit, beauty, and confidence of Lulama “Wolf” Mlambo. She moves with a graceful sophistication and ease. A woman of few words, when she speaks she makes every word count. On the style game she is enchanting, having mastered quiet luxury long before it became a trend with her minimalist fashion, sleek tailoring, and chic wardrobe. On the set of her SMag shoot, her energy is no different, bringing that swift sneak — you don’t see her coming.
When we find a quiet corner to chat, she lets out a low, bubbling laugh when I accuse her of being unapproachable.
“I’m goofy as hell, but people always think I’m so serious. I love laughing, good jokes, having fun, and being free,” she corrects me. “I’m just intentional about where those things happen. So, I’m selective about where I can twerk,” she chuckles. “I never go with the flow, really — I’m a Capricorn, so everything is planned. Everything is thought out. I’m very conservative by nature. So, when I’m risqué, it’s because I want to be. I’m very intentional.”
Next, I confess that I’m far from an expert on art — I’m more of a dilettante. The 30-year-old multidisciplinary creative is now more relaxed and laughing at my silly jokes as though we are BFFs — I hope she can’t tell that I’m fanboying so hard.
fashion & art :
production : YOLISWA MYALUZA
photography : STEVE TANCHEL
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
“I’m an abstract and neo-expressionist fine artist,” she says. “I would like to say I’m an Afro-modernist painter. I like painting, so painting is my first medium. I express myself through self-interrogation. I interrogate a lot of issues that people go through, including mental health, offering introspection and identity — things like those that have to do with the physical body and spirituality. I paint according to those themes and I also explore art through the lens of creating beauty and not just pain all the time. I’m a woman and I love beautiful things. I like encompassing that beauty in my work. It’s important to create that kind of balance.”
Now that I understand her even better, the friendship that I’ve built in my head is totally happening. Mlambo is polite, welcoming, and friendly, but she’s not entirely into chit-chat — that’s my biggest observation.
Mlambo moved around a lot growing up in the Vaal, but her family found tranquillity in the small Free State town of Parys, which is the place she calls home. She always knew art was her calling. As early as primary school there were art exhibitions and at after-care she had art teachers.
After high school she enrolled at the University of Johannesburg to study fashion and art. Two years later
she dropped out when her father discovered that she had gone behind his back to switch majors — she was supposed to be studying law. That’s when she took off as one of the country’s most celebrated content creators in the mid2010s. She notes that, back then, she identified as a blogger before it became known as content creation.
“At art school you are taught to document and make your life a journal. That was what I was doing on Facebook — we had cameras and used the resources we had,” Mlambo says. “We also liked things, so we documented the things we liked. My first brand affiliation was Fiat and I didn’t know how to drive. They offered me a car and I called my dad to help me get a driver’s licence.” Mlambo was booked and busy. Then, on a trip to Paris Fashion Week, it dawned on her that art needed to be her priority.
“I was with the stars and I was doing content creation for Paco Rabanne; they were treating me so beautifully,” she remembers. “We were having dinner with all these incredible people and a lady next to me asked me, ‘What do you actually do?’ I said, ‘I’m an artist, I paint.’ When she asked to see my work, I didn’t have anything to show. Maybe a few pieces here and there, ne ke draw fela [I was just drawing].”
She came back home and made art her priority. She worked vigorously at it in the years leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, which was when her art career took off in Europe.
“I had a lot of time to prepare. It was just me and my work. I was even telling my mother that people are complaining about the pandemic, but I’m doing fine. As an artist, you can imagine that is not an easy task,” she says.
Her biggest highlight so far was last year in Copenhagen with “Common Efforts - Intaka Yakha Ngoboya Benye”, her exhibition in dialogue with Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, the late Danish avant-garde sculptor. She also mentions her collaboration with Swedish retailer H&M Home as being a game-changer for her.
Cover 2: Pichulik earrings, R1 850, Preview Accessories; handwoven cotton scarf, POR; dress, POR, both Uniform
Previous page: Pichulik earrings, POR, Preview Accessories; Motherboard slip dress, R9 500; apron dress, R28 000, both Viviers; Schutz heel, R3 990, Europa Art Shoes
This page: Pichulik earrings, R1 250, Preview Accessories; bralet, R4 500; blazer, R8 000; trousers, R5 500, all Uniform
Stockists
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“The art industry is not cute, it’s not easy at all, in general. Then, obviously, we are of colour, there are also politics. But what I’ve decided to do is to not make the politics of art my life,” she says. “When the work speaks for itself, that’s when I know I’ve done my part. For me, the end goal is [to have] young kids open books in the same primary school I went to — in art school there is a book of mine that is part of that curriculum. In order for them to get that message I have to work hard. That on its own is a form of activism.”
If there were one piece of advice she could offer her younger self coming into the industry, it would be to be more audacious. And what about young women wanting to follow in her footsteps?
“My girls, if you believe this is something you want to do, you first have to be decisive about it. The second step is to do research about the thing you want,” she says. “The third thing is to practise — you must practise your craft every single day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. There is a lot of power in resilience and allowing yourself to conquer the smaller, daily hurdles. If you give yourself enough time and opportunity to do that, you will eventually get to the other side. It’s not about the destination but the processes and decisions that you make to become that.”
THE ART
Netflix romcom Lobola Man is SMag’s top movie selection to watch this Women’s Month.
Why? Because SMaggers love a queen of mjolo and Zandile, played by Kwanele Mthethwa, is the hun that she thinks she is. We are also obsessing over Mthethwa as one of our fave rising stars. With a promising resumé that includes appearances in Umakoti Wethu, Entangled, and Umkhokha: The Curse she is ready for her leadinglady era in Lobola Man — love it for her.
Mthethwa is joined in Lobola Man by a star-studded cast, including Lawrence Maleka, Sandile Mahlangu, Thembsie Matu, Obed Baloyi, Sello Ramolahloane, Nimrod Nkosi, Themba Ndaba, Sthandile Nkosi, Letuka Dlamini, and Primo Baloyi.
Lobola Man is produced by sibling trio Rethabile, Katleho, and Tshepo Ramaphakela of
Burnt Onion Productions. They have helmed a number of other hit Netflix titles, including How to Ruin Christmas, Miseducation, and How to Ruin Love. It is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Thabang Moleya, noted for helming Soon Comes Night, Happiness Ever After, and its predecessor, Happiness Is a Four-Letter Word.
In Lobola Man, self-proclaimed lobola negotiator Ace (Maleka) has secured the bag by helping grooms and their families negotiate the perfect lobola amount. The chief negotiator has a squad to assist him, including characters portrayed by Matu, Baloyi, and Ramolahloane. But when husband-to-be Duke Maseko (Mahlangu) hires Ace to broker a tricky lobola negotiation for his bride-to-be Zandile (Mthethwa), it gets even trickier than expected — cue Wajellwa by DJ Prince Kaybee. Will his impeccable track record be compromised? Awk!
FOR MAKING HER MARK IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, THE SOWETO-BORN C.O.O IS OUR WOMAN OF THE YEAR
IN BUSINESS
Intentionality,
a willingness to learn, grit, and a lot of hard work are among the traits that got Itumeleng Monale (46) — chief operating officer (COO) at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) — to the top.
Monale spent her school years living with her grandmother, a domestic worker, in the Joburg suburb of Victory Park and her weekends with her parents in Meadowlands, Soweto. This arrangement was due to access — Monale was enrolled at Holy Cross Convent, a short walk away from her grandmother’s employer’s house. Her mother was so determined that she attend the school that, when she missed the cut-off for grade 1 registration, she homeschooled Monale and then enrolled her in grade 2. Monale later studied biochemistry and genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 1999. In 2021, she obtained an executive MBA through the TRIUM Global Executive MBA programme, facilitated by the NYU Stern School of Business, HEC Paris School of Management and London School of Economics.
photography : STEVE TANCHEL
production : YOLISWA MYALUZA
MEET ITUMELENG MONALE THE JSE HOUSE
POWER-
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
In 1999, Monale had hoped to make impactful social change through her biochemistry degree with a special focus on HIV/Aids research. This proved difficult, however, as no company in the country was funding such research.
“The only opportunities for a person who had studied what I did was from FMCG [fast-moving consumer goods] companies. You know, I went to university to try to make a difference to society and have a social impact, but the only organisations willing to hire me for the skills I had, at the time, were the ones that made soap and beer and things of that nature. It didn’t feel aligned,” she explains.
So, faced with the knowledge that she would have to adjust her dreams, Monale had a serendipitous encounter on campus with recruiters for a management consultancy firm.
“There was this one campaign by a company now called Accenture and they were distributing Liquorice Allsorts on campus, with a note saying, ‘We take all sorts,’ which was attractive to me. I applied and I was taken.”
This was the start of Monale’s remarkable career. She worked for the company for six years, starting out as an analyst in the strategy business unit and ending up as a senior manager. Her work involved helping various organisations in different industries solve their business problems.
“I was exposed to very senior people at a very early stage. I almost got to be a fly on the wall in boardroom conversations, [which helped me] understand how captains of industry thought, the types of conversations they were having, the types of problems they were trying to solve, and I participated in finding solutions to those problems. I think that was the best start I could have had,” she says.
Armed with this experience and still hoping to have social impact through her work, Monale was excited about the prospect of joining Standard Bank, as it would mean working to help the broader South African society.
“I ended up at Standard Bank not because I chose financial services but because the role was a strategic one focused on mass-market banking, which aligned strongly with my social-impact principles,” she says. “The prospect of finding financial solutions for the man on the street and for people who were historically marginalised and didn’t have any financial offerings and products available to them really excited me.”
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Her tenure at Standard Bank lasted for 16 years.
Monale, now married with three children, admits that while climbing the corporate ladder she had to be deliberate about having children — at the time, corporate culture was such that a lot of women feared falling pregnant, believing that taking maternity leave would make it difficult to advance career-wise. So, she intentionally timed her pregnancies after receiving certain promotions.
She has been COO at the JSE for three-and-a-half years, where she is responsible for the development and execution of the JSE’s strategy, which encompasses client experience, its sustainability portfolio, and its Public Policy and Regulatory Advisory. In addition, she oversees the JSE’s business operations, which consist of Trading Operations and the Client Service Centre, and she’s in charge of Human Resources.
She juggles her job with being a mom and says that balancing work and family is up to the individual. Even the definition of what that balance is, is up to the individual. “Balance means I can fulfil the roles that I need to, in the manner that I need to. It might mean that, at that moment, something else suffers, but in the more immediate timeframe, I’ve touched everything and feel that I’ve fulfilled those things,” she adds.
It also means taking some alone time so she can recharge.
Monale was an IBM Global Women in AI honoree in 2020 and named one of the top 100 Global Data Visionaries of 2020.
She says being a woman in the corporate space, especially a woman of colour, has its challenges — you have to prove yourself to everyone you meet, whereas men are just assumed to be capable. She advises young women to be very “intentional about [their] own security”, by putting themselves first, taking every opportunity given to them, applying themselves diligently to tasks, and never looking down on anything presented to them.
“Every second is an interview and you never know who is watching,” she says.
She goes on to mention that the JSE focuses a lot on empowerment, and so has many initiatives geared at young people — one of which she is particularly proud is called #SheInvests, which is aimed at women and is held annually in August. It will be in its seventh iteration this year.
OJSE SHINES A LIGHT ON GENDER EQUALITY
South Africa’s economic growth depends diversityon in the private sector
n gender equality, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is leading by example — the JSE’s own governance structure has 56% and 78% female representation on its board and executive committee, respectively. The institution recognises the vital synergy of women in leadership and the importance of gender equality in Africa.
As the continent’s largest stock exchange, the JSE advocates for creating platforms that provide female employees with the same opportunities to grow in organisations as their male counterparts and fostering an open and inclusive environment.
Since 2017, the exchange, as a frontline regulator, has introduced listing requirements mandating that companies have policies that promote gender diversity at the board level and disclose their performance against it.
Through these listing requirements, the JSE has catalysed the enhancement of corporate governance and financial reporting quality for companies listed on the exchange, which require a broad diversity policy encompassing race, gender, culture, age, knowledge, skills, and experience.
Additionally, listed companies are required to report to their shareholders on gender representation at the board level.
The empowerment and inclusion of women in a meaningful manner in the private sector has a real and studied economic effect. Research has shown that companies with gender-inclusive cultures see a 60% boost in product development and productivity, enjoy better reputations, find talent acquisition easier, and experience greater innovation and profits. However, despite these clear advantages, the labour-force participation rate for women in South Africa, for example, stands at 54.3%, compared to 64.9%
for men — a gap of 10.6 percentage points.
While this trend is not exclusive to the country, it is indicative of the systemic barriers that women continue to face in the global workforce. And, since the private sector plays a significant role in the meaningful representation of women in mainstream business, it is here where the change must start.
The JSE, being an exemplary institution in terms of gender equality in the South African private sector, has sponsored the Gender Mainstreaming Awards for the third year this year, recognising their role in promoting women’s representation in mainstream business and celebrating their excellence across all sectors of society. The JSE also hosts the annual #SheInvests conference, an initiative that provides expert insights and practical solutions to educate South African women on financial literacy, investment strategies, and the importance of economic inclusion.
Though significant work has been done to narrow the gap in terms of gender equality, more can be done. Business should continue to make a concerted effort to achieve gender representation in the workplace and to empower women. This will not only benefit the organisations directly but will also boost South Africa’s economic development.
The JSE believes that companies should implement robust policies and practices that promote gender inclusivity, create opportunities for women’s advancement, and address systemic barriers that hinder their full participation in the workforce. This commitment to gender equality will ensure a more equitable and prosperous future for all.
Read about Itumeleng Monale, our Woman of the Year in Business, on p. 16. For more on Fawzia Suliman and Alicia Greenwood (pictured), see sowetanlive.co.za/s-mag/
BY ADDING A TOUCH OF HUMOUR TO HER DISHES OUR WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION HAS FOUND HER NICHE
Nkosi hails from the township of Umlazi, south of Durban, and her passion for food was ignited by her grandmother, who died in September 2018. A closer look at her story reveals she is no overnight success — hard work, God, and an unrelenting will to make it to Joburg set her on course for a better life. “I’ve been in Joburg since 2015, trying and going back home and nothing coming together and staying with friends,” she remembers. “During those stays, the least I could do was to cook and clean for them. You want your friend to come home and not feel that you are a burden. That is how I started. My first five videos were shot in friends’ kitchens.”
“U-petrol?” Nkosi offers a glimpse into how the catchphrase set her apart.
sensation Nompumelelo Nkosi is having her greatest year yet. She is best known for having coined the catchphrase “u-petrol”, a clever play on words whereby a cook takes a liquid-courage break mid-cook to regain their strength. Nkosi has scaled impressive digital heights with her idiosyncratic charm dished up with sharp comedic smarts, along with an entertaining approach to home cooking. The 30-year-old self-taught cook and digital content creator continues to captivate with her video clips furnished with witty one-liners as she plates up hearty, homegrown meals.
“There are so many women in digital — you could have chosen anyone. I’m super grateful to have been chosen,” says Nkosi, still in disbelief at making SMag’s selection of impactful women. “It scares me how my life is moving forward. I want to get to the point where I’m more excited than scared because I’m like, ‘God, there is no way. There is no way this is all me.’ It was amazing that God put me in food because food is love. I come from love and I am love. To be placed in food and be able to merge that with my sense of humour was one of the best things that could have happened to me, as social-media and content creation is all about finding a niche.”
I first interacted with Nkosi over the phone in an interview last November. At the time, her social-media following had just rocketed. Almost a year later, on the set of her first magazine shoot, Nkosi catches me up on her incredible trajectory in the digital space since we last spoke.
“I am the Aromat brand ambassador and, as part of my ambassadorship, I shot my 100-egg recipe book with them in Cape Town earlier this month,” she says. “I got a three-year bursary to the Guvon Academy to pursue cheffing and I think I’ve found the one I want to send my uncles to in December [lobola]. I’m in talks to take my content outdoors and I have been nominated for the SA Social Media Awards and the DStv Content Creator Awards. Thus far this year, I’ve worked with over 20 brands and I’ve made my first million. I’m overwhelmed by everything happening in my life. I wouldn’t have known to pray this prayer. I don’t think my brain could have processed something this great for me.”
“When I walk into stores the cashiers shout out ‘Petrol!’ and even back in Umlazi, older women recognise me... It’s just to say that you’ve been cooking and you need a little strength. I’ve realised that people who cook with a glass of their favourite drink tend to enjoy cooking and that’s what I want to relay in my videos.”
Nkosi’s deep understanding of the power of personal branding has made her attentive to her own conduct and the uncertain nature of social media. “You can have the clients, the brand, and even me, but who do we sell to if we don’t acknowledge our consumers? It’s for that reason that I wish them light and life at the end of every video, because they give me my bread and butter,” she says. “Everyone who has social media has a choice in the content they consume, and they choose to consume mine. It’s not something I take for granted. There were days when that was not happening.”
Seeking to complement her sharp wit with equally sharp knife skills, Nkosi’s professional culinary aspirations include a creative directorship and up-skilling young people through cooking. “I want to be called a chef by profession; to have the skill and knowledge. When people say, ‘Chef,’ [I want to] turn around as well,” she says, amused.
Nkosi, who identifies as lesbian, stresses the importance of her social-media presence in representation of the queer community. “Before all the titles and designations, I’m me and I’m gay. Representation is paramount to me, in that there are spaces where I won’t go in no matter how high the price tag is, because those spaces don’t accommodate people like me.”
text : NOMBUSO KUMALO
production : YOLISWA MYALUZA
NOMPUMELELO
NKOSI
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text : SANAA MAJA
Living up
to her nickname, Toro, which translates to “dream”, Prof. Nombulelo Sepeng has turned her childhood aspirations into reality. “My late maternal grandmother, Sekgabo Maqungela, believed in me so much that she gave me the nickname Toro,” she says. “I always believed that I would be successful. Most of the people with whom I grew up knew me by that name. So, I currently live in my ‘dreams do come true’ era.”
Sepeng is the first in her family to pass matric and graduate from university. At 36, she is also the first PhD holder and associate professor in her small village of Ga-Mothakga in Mahikeng, North West.
“I am currently the youngest associate professor in the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Pretoria,” she says proudly. “I grew up in a three-room mud house with my seven siblings, my parents, Kesaobaka and Bokie Zulwayo, and my grandmother. My mother worked as a domestic worker and my father was a bricklayer.”
Her love for education and science bloomed during her childhood, when she had to make the most of the few resources available at her school. “I started attending school in grade one at the age of six. I went to school in nearby rural villages called Matlhonyane and Matshepe, which required us to walk a long distance. Sometimes we had to walk to school barefoot,” she remembers. With the support of her family, she focused on her strengths at school — mathematics, physics, and biology — because she dreamed of becoming a scientist.
“My passion for teaching began a long time ago when I would help my younger sisters, nieces, and nephews with homework. At school, I used to teach and assist my friends with mathematics and physical science because most of them felt that those were the difficult modules,” she says. “This passion for helping others and seeing them succeed in life inspired me to pursue further nursing education after completing my master’s degree in nursing science. The two focus areas of health and education complement my personality because I am empathetic, compassionate, and love to learn new ways of doing things.”
NOMBULELO
THE YOUNGEST ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN NURSING SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA IS OUR WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN HEALTH & EDUCATION
DREAM DARES TO SEPENG
In her day-to-day role as an educator and nurse she has to balance many responsibilities, including doing community work and research, teaching, publishing academic articles, and supervising postgraduate students. She describes herself as a multi-disciplinary academic and has a strong interest in working with teenagers, sexual-assault survivors, and people living with HIV/Aids.
Her focus on sexual-assault survivors began after receiving a scholarship funded by North West University through an Atlantic Philanthropies grant to study for her master’s degree. Her supervisor, Prof. Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele, and her collaborators were working on a research project focusing on rape survivors. After much deliberation, they decided that Sepeng’s dissertation would focus on women’s post-rape experiences.
“When I first went into the field, I realised that rape is a serious publichealth issue that can affect anyone. It has a negative impact on the mental health of these women, so I continued studying rape with the aim of developing interventions that can be used to promote access to mental-healthcare services for these women,” she explains. This work has led her to becoming an advocate for sexual-assault survivors on social media and at her church.
Her years in academia have been marked by numerous highlights. “I have received multiple awards at the university. I received Emerging Research Award Winner in Publications in 2019, another mid-Level Research Award Win in Publications in 2022, and overall Award Winner in Publications in the senior category in 2023,” she says.
She was also a finalist in the HERS-SA Emerging Women Leaders Programme in 2022. In addition, she is a board member and director of projects and resources at the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. “I got the Golden Key International Honour Society award, which is granted to the top 15% of the class, after completing my PhD degree, which I studied concurrently with a postgraduate diploma in nursing education and a postgraduate diploma in nursing management,” she says. “I earned a pre-doctoral Tirisano fellowship and spent three months at the University of California, Los Angeles, learning how to conduct studies on vulnerable populations, writing for publication, and grant writing. I also received a National Research Foundation grant for the teenage-pregnancy project that I am leading.”
Her long-term aspirations include becoming a National Research Foundation-rated researcher and a full professor in nursing and academic leadership. “I am inspired by Prof. Davhana-Maselesele, the deputy vice chancellor for teaching and learning at the University of Mpumalanga. She was my master’s supervisor. Her career progressed quickly, from deanship to where she is now,” says Sepeng. “She believed in me, and I am now ascending the academic ladder, something for which I will always be grateful. The words used by Prof. Davhana-Maselesele to inspire young people like me was that being rural and poor does not mean one is incapable of studying.”
Sepeng says that, to attain their goals, nursing professionals should establish mentor-mentee relationships and surround themselves with supportive individuals. “I’d like to continue motivating the community members where I grew up to keep making education fashionable because most of them went to school after witnessing me graduate.”
FORMER SPRINGBOK WOMEN’S CAPTAIN BABALWA LATSHA IS LEADING THE REVOLUTION IN THE WORLD OF RUGBY, MAKING HER OUR WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN SPORTS
Tthe singular brilliance of Babalwa Latsha is to recognise the chutzpah of a woman who managed to not only navigate a sport like rugby but then proceeded to master it before tossing aside the game’s notorious barriers en route to the summit.
Latsha, the former Springbok Women’s captain, is forthright and calm, without her candour and affability coming across as simply an installation of efficient media training. No, the 30-year-old speaks like someone who, once she’d decided to be greater than her circumstances, had planned multiple routes into her future. So far, this has seen her become the first African woman to achieve the trifecta of having signed a professional rugby contract, getting a law degree, and establishing herself as a formidable ambassador for female health issues.
It did not start that way, though. She spent her formative years in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, without the kinds of opportunities that allowed her to visualise a world where a Black woman, even one born on the cusp of democracy, could pursue certain dreams.
“When I was younger, I had completely different ambitions. The turning point for me came in my early 20s, when I met my mentor. I realised that I wanted to pursue something bigger. I wanted to be more than just my circumstances. I wanted to be more than just a girl, a young woman growing up in Khayelitsha. I wanted to be more than my environment. I wanted to be more than just a statistic, and so, when rugby came into my life, I grabbed it with both hands and then squeezed out everything that came from it,” says Latsha.
This meant that the prop sweated her way to securing a contract last year with Harlequins FC in Surrey, UK. Along the way, she made her mark at Spanish side SD Eibar Femenino in 2020 and scored an impressive 13 tries in just seven games — not bad for a player who only turned her full attention to rugby at 21, after stints in athletics as a shot putter and discus thrower.
text : LINDA KEA MOREOTSENE
“To be at the forefront of the revolution in women’s rugby is a big honour, but also a responsibility that I’ve embraced because I’ve learned how to use my voice, I’ve learned how to use my platform — and what better way to use those things than to advance women’s rugby? It’s an incredible vehicle to change the lives of young people, especially young women. And I’ve benefited first-hand from that, so I want the next person to realise the potential within women’s rugby and how the game can change their lives,” she says. “Being the first woman to play professional rugby in the whole of Africa is an incredible achievement on my part and something that I hope will be part of my legacy. Beyond that, I hope it’s something that another young girl will see and realise that, in fact, she too can achieve her wildest dreams. Where you come from does not determine what your future can look like.”
She believes there is much that local rugby authorities can take away from their English counterparts in terms of what they have done to establish and support women in the sport.
“The English have figured out how best to present women’s rugby to the world. They celebrate the female rugby players more and are able to fill up stadiums, which is incredible. Comparatively, South Africa has only recently started the women’s rugby programme. We are still at the developmental stage. But that’s the great thing about South Africa — there is so much potential. We possess a unique identity as a rugby nation. Just being South African in an English atmosphere sets me apart. There’s a special energy about South Africans, you know?” she says. “I have learned so much in terms of rugby; the standard of rugby is incredible. The people in the Harlequins organisation are good people and the environment is great, so I have enjoyed my stay in England. The weather, though, is very gloomy. Still, one finds home one way or another.”
Despite her enjoyment in turning up for the Quins, she singles out the try she scored at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco as her most memorable. “I was making my debut in that game, believe it or not, and I scored at a World Cup. We had been training all week and it came together beautifully. I think that it has to be one of the best tries that I’ve ever scored,” she says.
Her humour shines through when asked what her one culture-shock experience has been.
“Well, I had a Sunday roast at some point, and was told about Yorkshire pudding. I thought Yorkshire pudding was dessert. It actually was not, it was not. So yeah, that was just weird for me. Why call something a pudding if it’s not a dessert?” she laughs.
Just as easily as she can laugh, Latsha can become serious in an instant when she discusses the community-outreach projects in which she is involved, as MENstruation Foundation director and as an ambassador for Tendai Mtawarira’s The Beast Foundation and for Laureus Sport.
One travesty that compelled her to work with the MENstruation Foundation, Latsha says, is the knowledge that scores of girls on the continent miss school for days because they cannot afford sanitary products.
THE GAME CHANGER
“Essentially, the MENstruation Foundation is tasked with eradicating period poverty — no girl child should be out of school, out of sport, because she lacks something as basic as a sanitary product,” she says.
The only drawback for Latsha in pursuing what she loves is the absence of those she loves.
“What I cherish most is family. They are the reason I am who I am and are the most important thing to me. Belonging and feeling that you are part of something greater than you is important to me. In addition, I have friends who have become family, and I’ve been part of many families throughout my career, both professional and personal,” she says.
Latsha adds that she realised early on the impact prominent sport figures can have on one’s life through what she learned from US tennis ace Serena Williams, whose physique does not fit into the narrow, stereotypically “feminine” criteria imposed on women in her environment.
“The journey of true self-love is a lifelong one, in my opinion. I learn new things about myself every day, about my body, about how it moves, the shape that it is. I’ve learned to embrace my body because I put it through so much playing sport and it has never disappointed me. The journey continues as my body changes, as I grow and age.”
When the time comes to call time on her career, Latsha would like to be remembered as a trailblazer who gave her heart to the game.
Onezwa Mbola acquired global fame after a controversial social-media storm when she accused fellow content creator Nara Smith — married to fashion model Lucky Blue Smith — of stealing some of her online content.
The 29-year-old cook and food content creator has garnered a huge social-media following, making homey dishes from scratch with produce she either grows or forages. In the process, the MasterChef SA alumnus has turned the spotlight on the scenic seaside village of Willowvale in the Eastern Cape.
Mbola has been back home for a couple of years now, after leaving Durban in 2020. We’ve spoken before, but there is something different about her now — she’s settled, and even the fact that she has just come out of a 12-hour power outage doesn’t faze her. It was scheduled, but she somehow missed the notice and didn’t charge her phone, so she’s in her car, charging while we’re chatting.
Her four-year-old son is with her and there is the occasional babble of a toddler in the background.
THE ORIGINAL ONE
FOOD CONTENT CREATOR ONEZWA MBOLA HAS SETTLED INTO RURAL LIFE AND REMAINS UNSHAKEN
text : LONDIWE DLOMO
“I’ve fully adjusted to rural life now. I’ve been good, taking it slow, taking care of my mental health, and just trying to be the best mom I can possibly be,” she says.
Her son, Phods (as he’s known to her followers), is at that stage where his personality is really beginning to shine through. He
often appears in her cooking videos, helping her to mix ingredients or taste dishes. She has decided to stop featuring him in so many videos and he’s developing other interests, although he still enjoys cooking and often comes up with surprising food combinations he’d like his mom to try. “Recently,
I’ve been asked to make pepperoni pizza with banana… I’m still trying to figure out if the banana should be pureed into a sauce or if we’re topping with banana,” she laughs.
Being back in her hometown has really underlined the importance of community for her. This is something she lost sight of when
COLLABORATION
BUTTERNUT, LENTIL, AND SPINACH CURRY INGREDIENTS
• 1 tbs vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tbs ginger, minced
• 1 red chilli, minced
• 1 tbs garlic, minced
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 kg butternut, cubed
• 1/2 cup lentils
• 1 cup water or vegetable stock
• 2 cups spinach
• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• Salt to taste
METHOD
1. In a deep pan, heat the oil over medium to high heat. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook until soft.
2. Add the ginger, chilli, garlic, tomato paste, and spices. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the butternut, lentils, and water/stock and cook covered for 25 minutes.
4. Add the spinach and coconut cream and cook for another 5 minutes.
5. Serve immediately with rice or naan.
living in the city. It’s not all rosy, as the unemployment rate in the area is very high, but Mbola tries to help where she can. For instance, she sells locally made hand-woven mats that she uses as cutting boards through her business Emandulo, with the profits going to the artisans.
When Mbola moved back home, there wasn’t a vegetable garden or livestock at her home anymore. Her late mother had been the one who had enjoyed tending the garden and keeping livestock and, so, after her death in 2014, those activities ceased.
“When I moved back home the very first thing I did was start
the garden, and now we’ve got livestock. For the past two years it has felt like the home I grew up in,” she explains.
The restoration of the garden was like the revival of the family’s soul. As they nurtured the garden, the Mbola family nurtured themselves and those around them, with the community being welcome to harvest any of the produce.
“For me, working with the soil was about reconnecting with my ancestors. The initial thing was to work the garden that my mother had worked and the garden that my ancestors had worked,” Mbola says.
Her followers encouraged her to audition for season four of MasterChef SA in 2022, and she exited in episode 5. She took the exit hard, feeling disappointed in herself. She wouldn’t even cook after coming back and switching on a stove was triggering for her.
However, Mbola learnt from that experience that she didn’t need to seek validation from outsiders. She believes that if she went on the show now, she’d return in a better mental state than before, and doesn’t regret her time on the show.
The soft-spoken foodie has been open about her mental-health struggles and anxiety attacks. In this we share a camaraderie, and she goes on to tell me how she started Emandulo (a sauces and condiments business) in 2022 but later had to close it because she was burnt out and overwhelmed.
She took a year-long break and was back at the helm in March. Emandulo started out with 14 products but is now down to nine, a number with which Mbola is happy. She thanks her audience for their unwavering support and says she’s blessed to have them.
The more Mbola and I chat on, the more evident it becomes that community building is her superpower. She first cultivated a supportive Instagram community that later moved onto YouTube. Mbola is now a sensation on TikTok with over 600 000 followers. @onezwambola
KNOW YOUR HER-STORY WITH EXCLUSIVE BOOKS
MEET THE WOMEN BEHIND THE WORDS
Writing may seem simple, but sharing your story takes a certain type of courage. The words on the page may not be an exact reflection of the author, but they are part of the person sharing their story with you. Everybody has a story to tell. This women’s month, meet two local authors who know that it’s never too late to start telling yours.
QARNITA LOXTON
Qarnita Loxton is an adventurous Scorpio who loves to run and occasionally surfs — when she’s feeling brave enough. Born and raised in Cape Town, she is a runner who is not discouraged by the rain and loves to appreciate the small, wonderful, ordinary things in life. Loxton was not always a writer; she had a decade-long career in law before pursuing her passion. She writes about people, exploring contemporary relationships, religion, friendships, and identity. She received the Philida Literary Award in 2021 for an Oeuvre of Literary Excellence. Her latest book, What’s Wrong with June?, is available now. Loxton is also a huge fan of Marian Keyes.
REFILOE MOAHLOLI
Refiloe Moahloli, a Pisces born in the Eastern Cape, is an avid cricket watcher, hockey lover, and outdoor enthusiast. She studied to become a business analyst and worked in the corporate world for nearly a decade before becoming an author full-time. When she is not experiencing the great outdoors or spending time with her nieces, she is writing children’s books. Moahloli is passionate about teaching big lessons to tiny humans and writes stories that bring out the best in the human spirit. She was awarded the IBBY SA Picture Book Award in 2022 for Quality of Writing for We Are One. Moahloli appreciates the small things in life and believes in living in the present. Her latest book, A Friend for All Seasons, is available now.
THE MEETING
Thusang: We met in the first month of 2023. I was having lunch at Kauai in Rosebank. I usually buy something and then head back to the office to eat my lunch there, but that day I decided to sit down. Then a lady walked into the restaurant, our eyes connected, and I said to myself, “This woman is going to be my wife.”
Lungile: I was coming from an audition that day. I decided to do some window shopping at Rosebank Mall. When I felt hungry, I thought Kauai would be the perfect place but, then, a man looking all formal approached me. I was not impressed, based on his approach. He asked if he could introduce himself, but he could see I wasn’t interested — all I wanted to do was wait for my food. After my food arrived, he asked to sit with me and I agreed because of his manners. I thought he was going to sell me insurance, but the minute we started talking, I realised he cared about getting to know me instead of complimenting me on my looks — that stood out for me.
THE DATING LIFE
Thusang: We dated for a year. I went to her sister’s in KwaZuluNatal and got to meet her family even though I wasn’t introduced as her boyfriend — I just loved learning more about her and the village she comes from. I took her to Paris on our first trip as a couple. The time we spent together solidified what I initially thought about her — that she was the one.
Lungile: Paris was beautiful and fun. I felt free being in a different country. I’m usually quite reserved when I’m home in terms of how I dress, but I found myself in bum shorts most of the time. I felt free because nobody would recognise me. I was just living my life.
THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT
Thusang: Obviously, Lungile looked beautiful the day I met her, but I was most interested in who she was and where she came from. I didn’t know what she does for a living and had never seen her on TV. She only told me later that week that she was on Adulting. After seeing
text : MASEGO SEEMELA
Love at first bite!
how down to earth she was, especially coming from deep rural KZN, I knew she was the one. We met in January and I asked her father for her hand in marriage that December. Lungile: I realised that he loved me for who I am and not what I do for a living. It’s quite difficult finding a man like that these days. Some want to control you while others feel threatened by you. There’s a lot I want to do in my career and I wouldn’t want to get married to a man who forces me to stay at home instead of being on set working.
THE PROPOSAL
Lungile: He proposed a week before our official wedding on 25 May. On 19 May, a Sunday, he told me to look nice because we were going somewhere. He had already sent a letter to my family in December for my hand in marriage — lobola proceeded and was finalised in February. We then held an intimate celebration in March with our families. But Thusang wanted to give me the experience of a formal proposal and, to be honest, I teared up. I could see he was shaking with nerves.
THE WEDDING
A year after they Adultingmet, star DumaLungile said “I do” to Thusang Mahlangu
Lungile: Our wedding was over two days. On the Friday it was umembeso, at her hometown of Bulwer in KZN. We held our wedding on 25 May at Lythwood Lodge in the KZN Midlands. It was love at first sight when we saw the venue. I was the happiest bride that day. I had the wedding I’d always dreamt of. It seemed so far-fetched, but that was my reality. It was just perfect. Thusang: We held it outdoors and everyone had their own umbrella. We had a see-through tent with a backdrop of the Midlands. The scenery was beautiful. We had the Soweto Family Band as our entertainment and our families and friends had so much fun — everyone keeps asking if we can have our wedding again.
THE DRESS
Lungile: I knew I wanted something elegant, classy, and chic. I’ve never liked the idea of a white wedding dress. I went to Prudence Mukheli, the owner of MP Designs, with the inspiration of what I wanted my dress to look like. She came up with the stunning dress you see in the pictures.
Thusang: Lungile and I come from different backgrounds. I’m from the township and she’s from a village where certain things aren’t allowed. I knew I had to speak to her family first and ask to marry her before I could propose. I chose to propose to her at the tallest building in SA, The Leonardo, in Sandton. I wanted her to feel as though she was on top of the world while the sun set as I gave her her ring. I booked a table and made sure the staff there was ready to video the whole proposal.
TIPS FROM THE BRIDE & GROOM
Lungile: Communication and understanding are key because marriage isn’t a small thing. It’s all glitz and glam for just a day but when the sun sets, that’s when the real work begins.
Thusang: Make everyone around you understand that it’s your and your wife-to-be’s big day. Don’t let anyone control your narrative. Most importantly, focus on your wife and make sure she’s happy.
text : PALESA BUYEYE
Is happiness a seven-letter word? The type-2-diabetes drug
Ozempic has had the wellness industry abuzz for the past two years, with the phenomenon threatening to topple the infamous BBL (Brazilian butt lift) as the most in-demand aesthetic tool. With stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Clarkson, and Whoopi Goldberg admitting to using such weight-loss medication, it’s no surprise that the public also want a taste. But what is Ozempic? How does it work? Where do we get it? And what are the risks?
“Ozempic is a semaglutide that works by mimicking the GLP 1 [glucagon-like peptide-1] hormone. Once you inject it, it increases insulin secretion and lowers your blood sugar,” says registered dietician Aziwe Booi. “The weight-loss benefits come in because it reduces your appetite and hunger cues, which means you feel less hungry than normal, leading you to reduce your portions and resulting in you achieving a caloric deficit more easily.”
The injection also causes “delayed gastric emptying”, which means it gives you a prolonged sense of fullness that in turn leads to a reduced frequency of eating throughout the day.
“It also helps reduce cravings for sugary sweets or beverages, so you are less likely to overeat those specific foods. Essentially, what makes people gain weight is … high-energy, highsugar refined starches, so by reducing that craving it helps you lose weight,” adds Booi.
Although initially reluctant to mention Ozempic, Tebogo eventually asked her doctor about it, who explained how it works, as well as the pros and cons. “For me, the pros outweigh the cons, which is why I decided to start the journey,” Tebogo says.
The side effects of these weight-loss drugs include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, reduced absorption of certain foods, heartburn, indigestion, fatigue, and dehydration. Abdominal pain, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), and dizziness have also been reported.
“It really worked on my mental state. I found myself getting into a bad mood very quickly and having hectic mood swings and nausea when I was
THE BIG
Ozempic (and other variants containing semaglutide) was initially prescribed for type-2 diabetes, as it increases insulin secretion in the body, and has been used as an off-label weight-loss drug since 2021. Research on its weight-loss effects was first published more than 10 years ago. In South Africa, it is currently only registered for use in diabetes treatment. Weight loss, however, helps control diabetes and, in some cases, can reverse the disease. The medication is accessed through a doctor’s prescription and is self-injected into the stomach, arm or thigh every seven days, with an increase in dosage each week.
Tebogo* has been on the sister drug Saxenda (a liraglutide that works in the same way as Ozempic) since April and has lost 9kg thus far. “I have always been someone who tries the latest diet on the market. For the past two years I’ve done intermittent fasting but had gotten to a stage where I was no longer seeing any results on the scale — I had plateaued,” she explains. “I went to my doctor for my annual check-up, and she found that I had gained 3kg since my last visit.”
with different options. Referred to Ozempic by his mother, who had found success with the injections and minimal side effects, Jabu embarked on a two-month journey that led him to a 4kg weight loss. Although he saw results, his experience was not fun.
“As an actor, I was under pressure to lose weight, but I did not enjoy the way it took my hunger away. My stomach was very sensitive and I suffered from nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting,” Jabu says. “I felt like a zombie for the most part because I was not eating enough and could not keep anything
down. I think the mistake I made was that I started on an extremely high dose — on 1ml. I think my experience would have been different had I been supervised by a doctor instead of just getting the prescription and doing it on my own.”
Unlike Jabu, Tebogo checks in with her doctor once a month while on the injections.
“Ozempic is a prescription medication, so it’s important for patients to consult their healthcare providers to ensure it is right for them and to help find the dose that works best. It also needs to be taken as prescribed,” says Dr Carmen Briner. “Side effects need to be discussed with a doctor, as there are management strategies to help.”
who had fertility issues. This is because weight loss can improve fertility by correcting hormonal imbalances and metabolic disorders. Also, Ozempic may reduce the effectiveness of birth-control pills. Birth-control pills are metabolised in the liver and some drugs are known to impact liver metabolism of various medications.” Studies have also shown that individuals on the medication regain two-thirds of the weight they have lost within a year of stopping the course. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that Ozempic is a quick fix for weight loss. While it is a valuable tool, it works best when combined with healthy eating and exercise,” Briner says.
Says Booi, “I would not recommend the use of Ozempic as an aesthetic thing. It is useful for those struggling to lose weight because of medical
BIG O
Other long-term side effects include temporal face wasting and sunken cheeks, caused by an excessive loss of fat in the face.
Tebogo’s biggest fear, however, is the number of women overseas who have reportedly fallen pregnant, even after menopause. “A friend of mine who is in her 50s went into menopause and stopped having her period, but since she has been on it her period came back. I guess it is a positive for those who want to conceive.”
Briner adds, “There have been increased cases of pregnancy in women
The world craves Ozempic, the miracle weight-loss drug
conditions such as hormonal issues, metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance.” She emphasises that the most important thing is to educate people about it so they can make the right choices for themselves.
Tebogo initially spent about R3 800 a month on the injection, but since she lowered her dosage, one pack lasts her two months. If you have a prescription for the drug, medical aid covers it with the option to buy one
“Off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss in South Africa has significantly increased demand for the medication. Disruptions in the supply chain have created challenges in meeting the current demand for Ozempic,” says Briner. “This limited availability presents difficulties for diabetic patients who rely on the medication for managing their blood-sugar levels. Furthermore, shortages lead to price fluctuations, as pharmacies and suppliers attempt to navigate the constrained supply.”
* Not their real names
MPUMELELO MHLONGO
The
30-year-old record-holding sprinter and long-jump Paralympics
champion competes for more than just gold
text : PALESA BUYEYE
THE
PLACE THAT MADE ME
I grew up in a smallish township next to Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal. A large part of that township had the African mentality that it takes a village to raise a child — that everyone contributes to that child’s success, whether it is the talent they cultivate or ensuring that they have the best opportunities to be successful. That was a major influence in my upbringing and is what I am trying to do in the sporting world.
PREPARING
FOR THE PARALYMPICS
Our process leading up to Paris is different to when we went to Brazil in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, as
well as all the world championships in between, because we have learnt a lot. The daily procedure is thinking how we can make every day count more towards the community that we serve, instead of thinking how we need to be in world-record shape for Paris or get a gold medal. A big part of our journey is making small contributions to the community that have led us to this international stage. That means letting a lot more people join our training sessions, giving a lot more advice, and sharing secrets from our coaches so that we can have a lot more people becoming better at their craft, which pushes us to perform at a level we are not expecting.
YOU ONLY WIN IF EVERYONE ELSE WINS
In Kobe, Japan, many of our competitors asked what our secret was and the answer is that we work hard, especially when nobody’s looking. We helped them analyse their races and gave them suggestions on how to improve. My coach also often has training sessions with my competitors and asks them if they have applied certain methods — when a sporting community is thriving and performing at their best possible level, that is when you want to be winning.
LESSONS LEARNT
Sport does not exist without community — Covid-19 taught us
that. We are entertainers, whether we like it or not. It’s a craft on which we are continuously working. At times there are difficulties that you have to overcome. All of that is surrounded by giving people hope. Society comes first and sports second. Never undersell yourself. A lot of us believe we have a ceiling in terms of our potential and if we can just get to that potential we are successful but, in reality, our potential is only limited by our imagination. It is a matter of daily discipline to become better, whatever that better is. It is something you are forever seeking and hopefully never reach. You can have the most talented and smartest fish, but if that fish is stuck in a poisoned fishpond it will die. It is important to find the right spaces and atmosphere that will hone your talent and dedication.
HANDLING THE SPOTLIGHT
It is not about not letting the attention faze you. It is not about it not getting to your head. No matter how humble you might be, fame is a weird form of attention that will get to you because most of us do not get used to it. You also see someone else in a similar position getting more attention than you, which leads you to start doubting yourself. When it does happen, it’s about giving yourself perspective about your journey. Your journey is not about public attention. Your journey is about you really loving this sport, your passions, and wanting to push your body to the next level.
ADVICE TO YOUNG ATHLETES
The thief of joy is comparison — don’t compare yourself to anyone. You are who you are because you have a unique story to tell. Your narrative matters and your story comes along with a lot of people who have really supported you. If you can hold on to that it should not be lonely at the top, nor should it be at seed bottom.
