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#WomenOfKovsies: South Campus wonder woman on a mission

22 August 2019 | Story Eugene Seegers

Simonè Nel (Read More) — “When looking at the simply amazing female leadership emerging at the UFS — academic as well as administrative — I see hope and growth,” says Simoné Nel, a member of the management team on the South Campus.

Simoné Nel heads up the Support Services division on the UFS South Campus. Despite challenges during her youth, she learnt the power of strong examples to look up to, and still lives by the mantra she learnt in primary school from her Drum Majorettes coach. She believes that inspiration can come from mundane sources, day-to-day conversations, or even her children; she is the mother of a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. In fact, her best example of teamwork comes from her experiences as mother: “Just watch what happens when a mother is calling frantically for her child if he slips from her grip; EVERYONE helps to find him!”

Tell us about your childhood: What are some of the lessons you learned early on?

Growing up in the Western Cape, I had a primary school teacher and coach who taught me the value of the saying: “It is not the hours you put in, but what you put into the hours.” I still live by this; trying to make the most of every hour. Both of my parents passed away at a fairly young age, which made this just so much more true. USE your given time and LIVE as much as possible! Take joy in as many experiences as possible – even if it is a seemingly negative experience.

What inspires you?

Intelligent conversations, great music, my daughter’s energy, family time, and compassion in action. Simoné says her definition of compassion in action is: People like the rest of us with full-time jobs, dedicating every little spare time to helping women/children/families in need or distress; friends involved with finding forever homes for abandoned pets; the regular guy in the street helping a child stand up after falling from the curb.

How do you envision the UFS of the future — especially with regard to women's issues?

When looking at the simply amazing female leadership emerging at the UFS – academic as well as administrative — I see hope and growth. Just page through the latest issue of Dumela or browse our UFS website: These are strong women; not afraid of embracing who they are and with a need to rise up. I am part of an all-girls team at the South Campus (coincidentally!) and we support each other in every possible way. Whether I know them as Prof, Doc, Ma’am, Mom, Sister, Vriendin – they are all Wonder Women to me.

Tell us something no-one (or only a few people) know about you?

I am in love with (a very broad scope of) music, from Beethoven on full volume to some serious rock. Yes, I sing along to my heart’s content. I am also from Scottish decent and admire my cousins in full costume (kilt and all!).

What does ‘success’ mean to you?

My definition of success has certainly taken a 180-degree turn. When I was still a young student, I longed for academic success and to pursue my PhD studies as soon as possible. Now I am a mom and wife — first and foremost — and still working on my master’s degree. At the end of a fruitful day at the office, a glass of wine with my husband, and hugs, kisses, and laughs from my children, I’d say I had a most successful day.

What ‘words of wisdom’ do you always fall back on?

I learnt this early on, but had it confirmed in JRR Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring: There is always HOPE.

Lastly, my mom taught me this gem: ‘A little kindness goes a long way.’

News Archive

Judge Albie Sachs and Candice Mama discuss traumas of the past and forgiveness in the present

2015-08-05

Judge Albie Sachs embraces Candice Mama for her courage in confronting Eugene de Kock, who killed her father.

Two generations. Two stories of triumph. Two South Africans who have displayed immense courage.

Public Dialogue on Trauma, Memory, and Representations of the Past

Judge Albie Sachs and Candice Mama exchanged their experiences of past trauma and subsequent transformation in a public conversation. The event was co-hosted by Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela and The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in Cape Town on Thursday 30 July 2015.

The event was the first instalment in a series entitled Public Dialogue on Trauma, Memory, and Representations of the Past. The theme of the discussion was ‘Intergenerational Dialogue on Trauma and Healing’.

"The aim of these public dialogue events we are co-hosting with IJR is to place the issues of trauma and memory, and the strategies that individuals and communities use to heal, in the public sphere," Prof Gobodo-Madikizela, Senior Research Professor in Trauma, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) said.

Judge Albie Sachs and Candice Mama in conversation

Former Constitutional Court Judge, Albie Sachs, talked about his participation in South Africa’s liberation struggle, the loss of his right arm in an assassination attempt, and meeting the man responsible – Henri van der Westhuizen. Despite years of exile and extended periods of solitary confinement, Judge Sachs maintains that “we need to acknowledge our history, not be trapped by it.” Judge Sachs also remarked, though, that “we’re seeing too much lamentation, not enough activation.” In a heartrending gesture, Judge Sachs embraced Candice Mama in a hug for her courage in confronting Eugene de Kock, who killed her father.

How poignant then, when Mama said, “I wanted to embrace the brokenness within him,” when she spoke about her meeting with De Kock. By the time I met with Eugene, I could meet him as a human being, not as a villain.” Mama believes that forgiving someone translates into an investment in the person you are forgiving and in your own sanity. She also emphasised the importance of dialogue to move our country forward: “When we share our stories with each other authentically, walls break down.”

This is a stance that Prof Gobodo-Madikizela supports strongly: “When we listen to one another, something unexpected emerges; we encounter the human in each other,” she said. “When we listen with open hearts to each other, we see and experience each other’s humanity.”

Building a bridge between research and society

Referring to the research aspect of the event, Prof Gobodo-Madikizela said that, "in establishing the series of public dialogue events, our vision is to create a bridge between scholarly research and the community at large, on the one hand, and a visual conscience of society, on the other." The UFS is collaborating with the IJR on this research project, which is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The endeavour is led by Prof Gobodo-Madikizela, who also serves as Board Member of the IJR.

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