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08 May 2018 Photo Reg Caldecott
Yet another victory for Kesa
Kesa Molotsane crossing the line at the second Spar women’s challenge in Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning. She also won the first race in March.

Kesa Molotsane, ace distance runner of the University of the Free State (UFS) continued her rich vein of form on Saturday (May 5) by registering yet another win.

Molotsane coasted to victory in the Spar women’s 10km challenge in Port Elizabeth. Her winning time was 33:46 minutes, 15 seconds ahead of rival and reigning South African cross-country champion, Glenrose Xaba.

Molotsane also reigned supreme in the first race towards the end of March in Cape Town in a time of 34:10. There are six races in total and last year Molotsane was crowned the overall champion in which she achieved her personal best of 32:59.

Just a week before, the 26-year-old smashed the national student record in the 10000m by a massive three minutes and five seconds at the University Sport South Africa champs. The record now stands at 34:49.16.

She was one of two Kovsies to walk away with two gold medals (in the 5000m and 10000m).

“I wasn’t in the right frame of mind and I couldn’t run according to my original plan. It was only at about 5km that I really felt I was in the race. I’m a fighter and at 7km I felt I had to go for it,” Molotsane said about Saturday’s race.

8108 runners entered the 10km challenge and the 5km fun run.

According to Molotsane she is struggling to juggle her track running, cross-country and Spar races.

“I’m trying to qualify for the 5000m at the African championships. I still want to do all three disciplines, although I will eventually have to decide on one.”

News Archive

Gendered violence and women’s citizenship in Africa
2014-05-23

 
Prof Takyiwaa Manuh

Prof Takyiwaa Manuh celebrated both Africa Day and her birthday with the UFS on 22 May 2014.

Being the guest speaker at the Africa Day Memorial Lecture, Prof Manuh discussed how gendered violence and the lack of women’s true citizenship in Africa still hinder the Pan-African ideal. She asked the question: if African issues get less worldwide attention, how much less attention do African women get?

“Africa Day offers us an opportunity to revisit the Pan-African ideal and aspiration for total national liberation, equality and self-worth,” Prof Manuh said.

“This ideal has envisaged full citizenship with the enjoyment of rights and resources for the people of Africa to live a dignified and fulfilling life. Yet, the conceptions of citizenship that have emerged in several African countries do not fully incorporate women and girls.”

The lecture explored the policing of women’s bodies and sexualities and how their enjoyment of rights is undermined – often under the pretext of culture. Often families, communities, states, religious bodies and culture work collaboratively to mold African women into the patriarchal image of disciplined and virtuous. The epidemic of violence against females negates their fundamental human rights and their claim to full citizenship and protection within their states.

The lecture also reviewed recent efforts including law reform, legislation and actions by activists. “The African Union and the UN need to confront these violations and suggest a robust agenda for more effective exercise of women’s citizenship rights and convergence towards the Pan-African ideal.”

Prof Manuh is currently Director: Social Development Policy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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