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23 August 2021 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Supplied
Picture: Passionate and strong- Zanele Mbhele
Zanele Mbhele is a third-year BSc student majoring in Chemistry and Botany on the Qwaqwa Campus. At age 22, this young woman from Cornelia, a small town in the Northern Free State, already wears many hats – as a residence assistant, peer mentor for first-year students, and most recently, as a youth lifestyle blogger.

Mbhele launched her website in June. There she writes on topics such as finance, relationships, mental well-being, and fashion, to mention a few. Since its inception, she has attracted traffic from around the country, as well as international parts of the world such as North and South America, China, and different parts of Europe. 

Taking part in poetry has ignited her love for writing and storytelling, and Mbhele says she wants to grow into the many hats she wears and make a name for herself in science, as well as in writing for local and international audiences.

What does being a woman mean to you?
It’s being strong. Seeing opportunities where they are scarce. Being independent. Getting out of your comfort zone.

Which woman inspires you, and why?
It has to be news anchor and TV show host, Tumelo Mothotoane. She is from Limpopo and followed her passion for media in a place where media was not popular. She is hardworking and she believes in herself. She started small and today she is an international news anchor. Another woman who inspires me, is my mother. She was unemployed but because of her love for selling clothes, she was able to provide for us. I didn’t grow up feeling like I’m fatherless, and we were able to have a childhood like other children because of her hard work.

What advice would you give to the 15-year-old you?
I would say, invite God into all your plans. Know that no dream is too big for you. Don’t be scared of failure, because through failure we find ourselves and see our capabilities. Don’t be afraid to start small.

Any advice to anyone who also wants to grow on social media?
Social media has made many things possible. If you’re good at dancing, you can create a TikTok or YouTube account. You don’t even need fancy gadgets anymore. Many places now offer free Wi-Fi, so you can go anywhere and do your thing. Most things are possible today; you don’t have to wait until you have an iPhone. Just start with what you have. I haven’t mastered social media platforms yet and I don’t have any background in website creation, but I am learning and improving. 

What makes you a woman of quality, impact, and care?
I believe I am a woman of quality because I’m goal-driven; a woman of impact because I move beyond fear, step out of my comfort zone, and embrace change; and a woman of care because I care about the well-being of a person. This is evident from my blog. The things I talk about need little to no budget at all, because I understand what it means to be less fortunate, looking for solutions to your problems. 

News Archive

ANC Centenary Dialogue reflects on past leadership
2011-10-12

 

Making their mark at the ANC Centenary Dialogue were, from left to right: Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, Senior Professor: Centre for Africa Studies (UFS); Dr Adekeye Adebajo, Director: Centre for Conflict Resolution (Cape Town); and Prof.  E C Ejiogu, Senior Researcher: Centre for Africa Studies (UFS). 

The Centre for Africa Studies at our university recently hosted its ANC Centenary Dialogue at the Bloemfontein Campus. Keynote speaker, Dr Adekeye Adebajo, delivered a paper titled Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, and the ANC’s Footprint in Africa. The lecture focused on two of South Africa’s democratically-elected presidents.

Mr Nelson Mandela was South Africa’s first democratically-elected president. This Nobel Peace Laureate played a prophetic leadership role in Africa in 1993. He was inspired by Mr Mahatma Gandhi’s tactics of ‘passive resistance’, which played a role in the ANC’s Defiance Campaign.
 
Mr Mandela’s visit to other African countries gave him insights into continental diplomacy and the tactics of other liberation movements. “The ANC used Madiba to embody the face of the struggle. He emerged from prison without any bitterness towards his enemies. He tirelessly promoted national reconciliation,” said Dr Adebajo.
 
Unlike other post-independence ‘Founding Fathers’, Mr Mandela bowed out gracefully at the end of his first presidential term in 1999, setting a standard for future African leaders aspiring to greatness. “Mr Mandela’s lasting legacies are his efforts at promoting national and international peacemaking,” elaborated Dr Adebajo.
 
Mr Thabo Mbeki challenged Africans to discover a sense of their own self-confidence after centuries of slavery and colonialism. Under his foreign policy, South Africa established solid credentials to become Africa’s leading power. He sought multilateral solutions to resolve regional conflicts. Mr Mbeki also sent peacekeepers abroad and increased South Africa’s credibility as a major geostrategic player in Africa.
 
Many question whether Mr Mbeki’s heirs, President Jacob Zuma and beyond, will maintain the same level of commitment to the continent that he demonstrated. Mr Mbeki has bequeathed this foreign policy legacy to his successors. “These very different ANC leaders have left a heavy African footprint on the sands of time,” concluded Dr Adebajo.

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