4 Influential, Leading South African Women...

Women in South Africa; once seen as inferior and subordinate to men have now shrugged off these beliefs and through their struggle against political oppression and gender inequality, many have become leading crusaders.

Many have used their influence to improve the plight of the impoverished and vulnerable by campaigning for better rights, especially for women, or for food, or health or educational aid.

Some are well-known and visible, making their voices and actions heard, while others continue campaigning quietly and less noticeably.

Here are 4 influential women of South Africa:

Thuli Madonsela

Thuli Madonsela, born in 1962 in Soweto, obtained a Bachelor of Law degree (University of Swaziland) in 1987 and an LLB (Wits University) in 1990.

She has:

• Worked as a legal and education officer at the Paper Printing Wood & Allied Workers Union.
• Lectured law at Wits University.
• Been the presiding officer at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
• Worked as deputy director at the Justice Department.
• Held the position of Managing Director at the Office of the Status of Women in the Presidency.
• Worked as one of the drafters of South Africa's current constitution in 1994.
• Worked as the Public Protector for a non-renewable seven year term from 19 October 2009 until 14 October 2016 after being appointed by President Jacob Zuma.
• Been honoured with South Africa's most Influential Women Award in 2012.
• Been holding a chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University.

It was in her role as Public Protector that made her a recognised public figure displaying fearless leadership and where she earned international praise - from the Daily Maverick, ANN7, Time, Glamour, Transparency International, and the BBC etc. - for her principled stance on the high profile cases she investigated.

She is a committed advocate for gender equality and the advancement of women. She is quietly spoken, her manner calm and placid, but she always commands our attention.

(https://blogs.sun.ac.za/inaugural-lectures/event/prof-thuli-madonsela/)

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron, a South African-born actress from Benoni, became a household name when she earned a Best Actress Academy Award for her performance as a real-life serial killer in Monster (2003).

Although living in the USA, she still keeps SA close to her heart and is known:

• For founding the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project in 2007 which "helps keep African youth safe from HIV/AIDS by supporting community-engaged organizations that address the key drivers of the disease". (https://www.looktothestars.org/charity/charlize-theron-africa-outreach-project)
• For opposing violence against woman as part of the "Real Men Don't Rape" campaign.
• For giving support to the Rape Crisis Centre in Cape Town.
• For assisting a charity shoe auction which benefited ovarian cancer awareness and research.
• As an activist for women's rights.
• As a supporter of animal rights.
• As an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) appearing in an ad for its anti-fur campaign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_for_the_Ethical_Treatment_of_Animals
• For being designated United Nations Messenger of Peace In 2009 - a role in which she focused on HIV prevention and the elimination of violence against women.

Recently:

• The #TogetherForHer initiative, launched by the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project with CARE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, pledged $500,000 to domestic violence shelters in the United States and South Africa.
• She has voiced her support for the Black Lives Matter Campaign.
  (https://www.biography.com/actor/charlize-theron)

Wendy Appelbaum

Wendy Appelbaum has been described by Forbes Africa to be one of South Africa's 10 Wealthiest Women in Business. Whilst a tough and ruthless businesswoman, Forbes Africa says that underneath she is really an "open, warm and witty" person.

Her philanthropic efforts include:

1. Co-founding the Wiphold Group in the 1990s whose management team tutored "women in townships and rural areas in basic finance and business skills".
2. Forming the Wendy Appelbaum Foundation, which supports programs addressing the education concerns of South African women.
3. Establishing the Wendy Appelbaum Institute for Women's Health in 2011 to ensure that appropriate health care attention was given to women across South Africa.
4. Donating R150m to develop the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and the Donald Gordon Medical Centre (DMGC) so that specialists could be trained to maintain a strong health system.
5. Working for several years as a counsellor at Childline and a volunteer crisis counsellor at 702 Crisis Centre.
6. Helping out some farm workers in 2015 who were being exploited by credit providers and loan sharks who had accessed their salary payments with illegal garnishee orders. She worked tirelessly with several partners to achieve a court ruling that punished the companies.

Today she lives with her husband on their Morgenzon Wine Estate, a top Cape wine farm, from where she continues her humanitarian work. It is Wendy's belief that "The more you have, the more responsibility you have to share it with those who don't."

(https://www.forbesafrica.com/tag/wendy-appelbaum/)

Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, born in 1965 in Soweto, is an internationally recognized and highly respected South African singer, song writer, entrepreneur, Global Health Advocate and Humanitarian.

Throughout her career, she has used her music to raise awareness of, and empathy for, the challenges, like poverty, education and health, facing people across Africa.

She has:

1. Served as a Goodwill ambassador for:
2. UNICEF against malaria.
3. The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership advocating for malaria prevention, education and treatment.
4. Worked as a Global Fund Champion to raise international funding to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
5. Worked as an MDG Envoy for Africa to inspire African leaders and decision makers to increase domestic funding for health.
6. Served as Ambassador for:
7. The University of South Africa (UNISA).
8. City of Johannesburg Tourism.
9. Nelson Mandela's 46664 Campaign.
10. Established The Princess of Africa Foundation, in 2006, to complement her work as a Goodwill Ambassador (http://yvonnechakachaka.co.za/poaf/about/) and heighten awareness of the dangers of malaria.
11. Been ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the top ten most influential celebrities in Africa.
12. Been named one of the Top 100 Heroes of South Africa by the City Press newspaper.
13. Been named one of South Africa's 21 Icons.
14. The first African woman to have been awarded the Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum (WEF) - in Davos in 2012 recognizing her Humanitarian work.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a recognised role model throughout the African continent, still performs her music and continues with her humanitarian efforts today.

(https://live.worldbank.org/experts/yvonne-chaka-chaka)

These women are amazing - taking care of their homes and families, shining in their careers and still winning many accolades in recognition of their outstanding contributions to improving the rights and welfare of the African and South African people.

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