August 2026
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The work of the rock: Gqomo-Seyibokwe’s journey of purpose, power and impact Sesethu Gqomo-Seyibokwe When we speak about imbokodo — the rock — we often celebrate women for their ability to withstand pressure, carry burdens and remain strong through adversity. But for me, being a rock is not about being expected to endure everything in silence. It is not about glorifying struggle or measuring a woman’s strength by how much pain she can absorb. The meaning lies in the work of the rock. Traditionally, the grinding stone was never ornamental. It had a purpose. Through movement, pressure and consistent effort, it transformed grain into nourishment. Its value was found not merely in its strength, but in what that strength produced. That is what Mbokodo Rise represents to me — women whose work produces businesses, opportunities, solutions, employment, mentorship, healthier families and stronger communities. It celebrates women who are not simply surviving pressure, but using their experience, knowledge and influence to create something meaningful. My own entrepreneurial journey began with the establishment of SG Comms in 2017. As a 100% black female-owned communications, PR and events agency, SG Comms was born from a desire to tell meaningful stories, create platforms and connect people to opportunities. Over the years, the agency has worked across strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, public relations, marketing, events and project management. We have supported corporate brands, government institutions, development organisations and community-focused initiatives. However, some of our most meaningful work has been the creation of platforms that we own — platforms that reflect the aspirations and potential of the Eastern Cape. Building SG Comms has required resilience, reinvention and courage. Entrepreneurship is often presented through its highlights, but behind every successful event or campaign are countless proposals, unanswered emails, financial risks, long working hours and moments of uncertainty. We suffered significant losses during the Covid-19 lockdown. The events industry came to an abrupt halt, and much of the work we relied on disappeared almost overnight. We were forced to reconsider how we operated and how we would continue creating value in a rapidly changing environment. Yet SG Comms remained standing — not because the journey was easy, but because our purpose remained clear. That same purpose gave rise to Mbokodo Rise. What began nine years ago as an intimate gathering of only 24 women at Café Rizo on Ntshekisa Street has grown into one of the Eastern Cape’s leading women’s empowerment platforms. Today, Mbokodo Rise brings together hundreds of professional women, entrepreneurs, executives, creatives, community leaders and young women for meaningful conversations, learning, networking and celebration. The growth of Mbokodo Rise has never been about numbers alone. It has been about witnessing women enter the room uncertain and leave feeling affirmed. It has been about small businesses gaining visibility, women forming collaborations and younger women seeing examples of what is possible. It is also
Sesethu Gqomo-Seyibokwe is the founder and director of SG Comms
about representation. Women deserve to see themselves on stages, in boardrooms, across media platforms and even on the billboards that shape the visual identity of our cities. Visibility communicates possibility. When a young girl sees a woman confidently occupying space, she begins to understand that there may also be room for her. Each year, Mbokodo Rise honours women, not as flawless superheroes, but as builders. These are women who continue to show up, create and contribute, often while navigating responsibilities that remain unseen by the wider world. Our journey from 24 women to more than 300 attendees has shown me what can happen when an idea is nurtured consistently. It has also demonstrated the appetite for credible, locally rooted platforms that understand the experiences of women. Too often, women in provinces such as the Eastern Cape feel that they must leave home to access meaningful networks, premium experiences and opportunities. Through SG Comms and Mbokodo Rise, I want to contribute towards changing that narrative. We can create high-quality platforms here. We can convene influential voices here. We can build businesses, industries and legacies from Gqeberha. My vision is for SG Comms to continue growing beyond a traditional communications agency into a leading African impact enterprise — one that combines strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, events and entrepreneurship to create measurable social and economic value. As we commemorate Women’s Month, I celebrate the courage and determination of the women who came before us. Their sacrifices created pathways that many of us now have the privilege of walking. However, honouring their legacy requires more than calling women strong. It requires us to examine what our strength is producing. ● Are we creating access for others? ● Are we opening doors? ● Are we building sustainable institutions? ● Are we mentoring the next generation? ● Are we using our influence to make women more visible? The rock should not only be admired for surviving the grinding. It should be recognised for the nourishment created through its work. That is the heart of Mbokodo Rise. It is not simply a celebration of women as rocks. It is a celebration of women in motion — women whose ideas, labour, leadership and courage continue to produce something greater than themselves.
The One Room Music and Comedy club founder Nomakhomazi Dewavrin has won a Herald Citizens of the Year award for her contribution to the arts and culture in the city Picture: WERNER HILLS
Mandela Bay creative sector champion Dewavrin scoops top award Faith Mtwana Nomakhomazi Dewavrin has spent more than 15 years creating platforms and opportunities for artists and creative workers in Nelson Mandela Bay. Her contribution to the city’s arts and culture sector has now been recognised by The Herald Citizens of the Year Awards, supported by Nelson Mandela University. Dewavrin has been named the Arts and Culture category winner for her work in film, music and live performance, as well as for founding The One Room Music & Comedy Club, the city’s only nonprofit venue dedicated exclusively to live music and comedy. She said this week that the accolade was unexpected but meaningful recognition of the years she had spent working behind the scenes to support the creative sector in Nelson Mandela Bay. “When I found out, I was surprised in the best way. “I usually work behind the scenes, and I don’t often do much talking. It was really a pleasant surprise,” Dewavrin said. “This is an incredible opportunity to get my name out there too and have more people know about the work I do in the arts and culture space in Gqeberha.” Since she opened The One Room in 2021, the venue has hosted more than 230 live music concerts and 80 comedy shows, creating performance, employment and development opportunities for hundreds of artists, comedians, filmmakers, technicians and other creative workers. The venue has more than 3,000 regular visitors, helping to improve access to arts and culture events in the Bay. Before founding The One Room, Dewavrin produced the SABC 1 documentary series Youth Culture from 2014 to 2019, where she trained young people in camera work and editing.
Several of the trainees have gone on to build careers in Johannesburg’s film industry, while two documentaries from the series were selected for the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. “I’ve been involved in fashion shows, film screenings and many other artistic events at various locations around the city. “It is so great to create spaces for artists, musicians and comedians to showcase their talent and make some money from ticket sales. “Art is a way for us to express ourselves and tell our stories. “Eastern Cape artists have deeply historical stories to tell through their lyrics and performances, and I am happy to help them co-ordinate their performances at The One Room,” she said. Dewavrin founded the One Blood Festival, which ran from 2010 to 2019, facilitated National Film and Video Foundation-funded film screenings, and has helped to connect local filmmakers with industry professionals in Johannesburg and Cape Town. During her time at the Nelson Mandela Bay Film Office between 2010 and 2011, she contributed to the early development of the film office and Bay TV. Most recently, Dewavrin completed work on the feature film Mrs Plum , starring Alice Krige, which is expected to be released later this year. Through event marketing, storytelling and social media, Dewavrin has helped local performers reach wider audiences while building platforms where artists can share their work, strengthening her role as a champion of Nelson Mandela Bay’s creative sector. The top nine category winners will be celebrated at a gala awards evening on Friday, September 4, at the Boardwalk International Convention Centre.
August 2026
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Helping businesses to grow earns Tundube Citizens of the Year prize Faith Mtwana Sinazo Vabaza Tundube has spent more than 20 years helping entrepreneurs and small businesses overcome challenges, build stronger foundations and become ready for investment. Her contribution to business development and farmer empowerment has now been recognised by The Herald Citizens of the Year Awards , supported by Nelson Mandela University. Tundube has been named the Business/Entrepreneur category winner for her work supporting emerging businesses and, more recently, communal and emerging farmers through skills development and sustainable business practices. She said her entrepreneurial journey was shaped by her family background and her desire to work in an environment where she could solve problems. “I come from a family that is very enterprise-based,” Tundube said. “I went to Rhodes University. I am a problem solver. I troubleshoot. I have a technological mindset. “After my final exam, I realised I cannot be stuck in a nine-to-five job,
Sinazo Vabaza Tundube is the Business/Entrepreneur category winner in The Herald Citizens of the Year Awards Picture: WERNER HILLS
and I need something that will allow me to be flexible.” Tundube began her career in 2004, introducing people to skillsdevelopment opportunities, before
registering her own company in 2006. Though the company was registered then, she fully branched out and became operational in 2014. Today, her business provides ad-
visory services, skills development and investment-readiness support, helping entrepreneurs navigate everything from business registration and compliance to accessing funding and opportunities through financial institutions. For Tundube, helping a business secure funding is only one part of the process. She looks at whether businesses can remain profitable, compliant and sustainable after receiving support, as well as whether they are fundable and whether their employees are happy. Since partnering with the Mohair Empowerment Trust in 2022, Tundube has also played a role in supporting more than 500 emerging and communal farmers. The programmes have provided training in animal husbandry, farm management, record-keeping and the implementation of the Responsible Mohair Standard. The aim is to help farmers improve flock health and fibre quality, strengthen market access and adopt more sustainable farming practices. Her involvement in farmer development has also focused on creating ongoing support through mentorship, training and collaboration,
ensuring that the benefits extend beyond the initial programmes. For Tundube, being recognised by The Herald has been particularly meaningful because much of her work takes place behind the scenes. “This is my dream. Being recognised as a winner, it’s unbelievable, out of this world. “It feels good to be recognised for the professional work I do. “The recognition has validated the work we have been doing and encouraged us to remain consistent and develop our ideas. “There is still so much more work to do,” she said. The award has also given her small team renewed motivation to explore new opportunities, including manufacturing and expanding into different areas of business. Tundube said her entrepreneurial outlook was influenced by her family, including her grandfather, Dan Dumile Qeqe, a prominent Eastern Cape community and sports figure who received the Herald Citizen of the Year Special Award in 2005. This was in recognition of his unselfish contribution to the development and upliftment of the region and its people.
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‘This came when breakthrough I’d been praying for leading the way was needed most’ Women in woundcare, specialist
Mishka Moola, left, sister at IV Gem Lounge, Jade Botha from PE Wound Care & Nursing Services and Sister Cheslene Ceasar from PE Wound Care & Nursing Services are among the women leading the way in the health sector Picture: WERNER HILLS
naecological cancers. “I started our first sanA medical doctor with a itary drive in 2022,” heart of gold has been Pietersen said. I also recognised for her work shaved my head in soliin raising awareness of darity with my patients, gynaecological cancers which opened up a and supporting women whole different converthrough the realities of sation about the imporcancer treatment. tance of addressing the Livingstone Hospital loss of identity that radiation oncology regiscomes with so many trar and Purple Project other losses on this jourfounder Dr Melissa ney. It was also imporPietersen has been tant for these women to named as the health and be seen and recognised safety category winner in in a world where all we’re The Herald Citizens of exposed to is pink. the Year Awards, sup“Representation matported by Nelson Man- Citizens of the Year winner for Health ters, and their lives and dela University. stories don’t have to be category, Dr Melissa Pietersen from Pietersen launched Purple Project Picture: EUGENE COETZEE silenced.” Purple Project in 2022, At its heart, her story focusing on education, is one of grace. The elawareness, prevention and practical support dest of two children raised in a single-parent for women affected by gynaecological can- household in Atlantis, she became the first in cers. her family to attend university and ultimately She said the recognition came at just the became a doctor — despite significant finanright time, serving as a reminder that health cial challenges. workers in the beleaguered public sector With a strong family history of cancer, her could make a real difference. journey into medicine was deeply personal. “It is an absolute honour and privilege to Two years ago, she lost her 28-year-old cousin be among this year’s recipients,” she said. to breast cancer, making her commitment to “I’m humbled to be recognised on a plat- changing the story for future generations even form such as The Herald. The news could not more meaningful. have come at a better time. She was also fortunate to have two incred“Mid-year fatigue, deadlines, staff short- ible father figures, Isaac Maya and Charles ages and burnout are a stark reality among Marthinussen, who loved her as their own. healthcare workers in the public sector, and Charles, affectionately known as Pa Charles, this came exactly when the breakthrough I’d was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Janbeen praying for was needed most. uary 7 and passed away a month later. “I know that a pat on the back is someThis award is bittersweet, knowing how times exactly what’s needed. immensely proud he would have been. “That’s what this meant to me, a nod, a reMuch of what she does today is inspired by assurance that none of it has been in vain.” his legacy of quiet service, kindness and payPurple Project grew from her experience ing it forward. Through Purple Project, she working with cancer patients and witnessing hopes to continue that legacy by giving chilyoung women trying to deal with gynaecolog- dren from disadvantaged communities the ical cancer amid a lack of awareness, shame permission and audacity to dream big. Today, and stigma. she stands proud to carry his legacy forward. “Purple Project was born out of a need to Since 2023, Purple Project has supplied pafind purpose. I am a medical doctor working tients with extra sanitary pads without interexclusively with cancer patients, and for a long ruption, while its outreach work has expandtime I had zero job satisfaction. ed into primary and secondary schools. “I’ve been in this field for over 10 years, and Looking ahead, Pietersen said the aim was I’ve been privileged to witness the amazing to help normalise conversations about gynaestrides we’ve made with breast cancer aware- cological cancers and ensure people had the ness and the lives saved because of it. information needed to make informed deci“Unfortunately, I’ve also had a front-row sions about their health. seat to more and more young women losing “Cancer does not have to be a death sentheir lives to gynaecological cancers due to a tence. There is hope. What we want to achieve lack of awareness, shame and stigma, and is exactly what has been achieved with breast having to navigate their cancer journey with- cancer awareness, which is to normalise talkout the dignity they deserve,” she said. ing about it, so there’s no shame associated The project’s work includes sanitary pad with it and people can break the silence. drives, providing care packages for patients, “I just want to see people survive. Survive carrying out HPV (human papillomavirus) edu- beyond the disease itself, survive the external cation in schools and running campaigns voices that try to tear them down and, above aimed at breaking the stigma surrounding gy- all, survive themselves,” she said. Faith Mtwana
nursing, and IV therapy
At the heart of PE Woundcare and Nursing Services is a simple but powerful idea: healthcare is not only about treating a condition — it is about caring for the person behind it. Built by women with extensive healthcare experience and a passion for specialised patient care, PE Woundcare and Nursing Services has developed into a dedicated nursing service offering professional wound care, specialised nursing support and intravenous therapy through IV Gems. What makes PE Woundcare and Nursing Services particularly distinctive is the women behind it. Their leadership, clinical experience and commitment to their patients have shaped a service that combines professional nursing with a personal approach to healthcare.
Women at the Heart of PE Woundcare and Nursing Services
PE Woundcare and Nursing Services was founded by Jade Botha, together with registered nurse Sr C Ceasar, bringing together business experience and professional nursing expertise to establish a specialised service focused on patient needs. Jade’s background includes managing wound care services for one of South Africa’s largest medical aid companies. This experience gave her a detailed understanding of the complexities surrounding wound management, patient care and the healthcare system. Working alongside Sr Ceasar, a registered nurse with hands-on clinical experience, the service was developed around specialised nursing care delivered with compassion and professionalism. Their vision was not simply to create another nursing practice. It was to establish a place where patients could receive focused care from professionals who understand that recovery often requires patience, consistency and individual attention.
Specialist Woundcare
Woundcare is one of the cornerstones of PE Woundcare and Nursing Services. For patients dealing with chronic, difficult-to-heal or complex wounds, appropriate care can make an enormous difference to both physical recovery and quality of life. Effective wound management requires more than dressing a wound. It involves careful assessment, monitoring, appropriate treatment and ongoing professional support. PE Woundcare and Nursing Services has
developed its woundcare offering to provide patients with specialised attention in a professional clinical environment. The practice’s approach is centred on understanding each patient’s individual circumstances and providing care accordingly. Whether a patient requires ongoing wound management or support during the healing process, the nursing team provides continuity of care while monitoring progress.
IV Gems: Intravenous care with a personal touch
Alongside woundcare, IV Gems has become an important part of the PE Woundcare and Nursing Services offering. IV therapy provides a way of administering fluids, vitamins or medically appropriate treatments directly through an intravenous line under professional supervision. At IV Gems, the emphasis is on creating a comfortable, professional environment where patients can receive intravenous treatments administered by trained nursing professionals. For PE Woundcare and Nursing Services, IV Gems represents an extension of its broader commitment to specialised nursing services—combining clinical knowledge with an environment where patients feel cared for and supported.
More than a nursing clinic
What sets PE Woundcare and Nursing Services apart is the combination of professional expertise and a distinctly personal approach. Healthcare can often feel impersonal, particularly for patients who require repeated treatment or ongoing care. PE Woundcare and Nursing Services aims to create a different experience—one where patients are known, listened to and treated with dignity. This philosophy is particularly important in woundcare, where patients may be dealing with pain, limited mobility, chronic health challenges or the emotional impact of a wound that has not healed as expected. The nursing team understands that behind every wound is a person with a life, a family and a story.
A woman-led future in healthcare
PE Woundcare and Nursing Services is also a reflection of the growing influence of women in healthcare leadership. The women behind the practice are not only providing frontline nursing care; they are building it.
August 2026
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WOMEN At Nelson Mandela University, women are helping shape the future of higher education, research and society. From executive leadership and teaching excellence to pioneering research, technological innovation and advancing Ŵ policy and creating opportunities for future generations.
SHAPING KNOWLEDGE. SHAPING SOCIETY. This Women’s Month, we celebrate four remarkable women whose leadership Ŵ ō impact. Although their work spans different disciplines, they share a common belief—that education, knowledge and innovation have the power to transform lives and build a more just and inclusive society.
# Ŵ $ impact on society, offering perspectives on leadership, education, research and innovation as forces for meaningful change. What does transformational leadership look like in today’s higher education landscape? Courage to convene, to liberate the agency of all, and to tap into all talent at disposal of the University.
Professor SIBONGILE MUTHWA Vice-Chancellor
Your message to women: The task of leadership is a very long game. It is a contribution to a greater good, a service – It is not a quest to build personal legacies. It is important to stay humble, work consistently, listen with compassion, lead with fairness, model integrity. In that way, other women leaders will germinate and thrive all around you. How do universities empower women to become leaders beyond graduation?
Professor MUKI MOENG Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching
! % & $ $ agency. Intentional mentorship and access to women role models also enable students to see and imagine leadership possibilities for themselves. Universities can further support women through inclusive policies, leadership development programmes, professional and alumni networks, and industry partnerships that provide continued access to opportunities, guidance and collaboration beyond graduation. Ultimately, universities should nurture an agential mindset that equips women not only to lead in their professions, but also to advance social responsibility, innovation and positive change in society. Your message to women: Never doubt the power of your voice. Be courageous in the pursuit of your dreams. Lead with integrity and humility as you lift others. Why does advancing women’s voices in research and scholarship matter now more than ever? ! " tells us that most children in South Africa are brought up in women/female headed households, this means, their life chances and futures are deeply intertwined with women’s security and socio-economic status. Your message to women:
Dr BABALWA MAGOQWANA Director: Centre for Women and Gender Studies
The collective voice of women who imagined a diverse, just and equitable world through the 1954 Women’s Charter remains as relevant today. Through our collective voice and knowledge, we can continue the work of those who dared to challenge injustice and imagine a better world. As we celebrate women, we must also ask what kind of society we are creating for future generations. A truly just and inclusive society must recognise and respect the diversity of women and gender identities, including LGBTQIA+ people, where no one experiences discrimination, violence or exclusion because of who they are or where they were born. Let us build on the blueprint of the women who came before us and create a world where every person can live with dignity, safety and freedom. How can technology and innovation become catalysts for inclusion, opportunity and social transformation?
Professor DARELLE VAN GREUNEN Director: Centre for Community Technologies
Today’s women leaders have a responsibility to shape a future in which everyone can participate and thrive. Technology and innovation can be powerful catalysts for inclusion, but only when they are designed around people and guided by fairness, dignity and ethical leadership. We must ensure that digital transformation reduces inequality and expands access to education, healthcare, employment and entrepreneurship. This requires amplifying excluded voices, merely users of technology. Our responsibility is not simply to advance technology, but to direct its power towards opportunity, meaningful social transformation and a more equitable society. Your message to women: As women, let us use our leadership, courage and creativity to shape technology and innovation into forces that expand opportunity, strengthen inclusion and build a more equitable future for all.
Ŵ our teaching, our research, our innovation and our commitment to advancing a more just, equitable and inclusive society.
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August 2026
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The staff of W Langson & Associates are ready to help you with any legal issue
From sole practice to trusted legal partner: The W Langson & Associates Inc story
Keisha Ruiters, who serves as a candidate attorney at BLC Attorneys under the supervision of Managing Director Sonja Tifloen in the general litigation department
Early exposure created a desire to enter the legal profession Keisha Ruiters My journey into law began in Grade 10 when a job-shadowing opportunity at BLC Attorneys sparked my passion for the profession. A visit to the high court further cemented my desire to pursue a career in law. In December 2013, my life changed when I was diagnosed with transverse myelitis. The years that followed were challenging, but I refused to allow my circumstances to define what I could achieve. I never allowed my disability to become an obstacle, not even for a single moment. I always knew what my dreams were and I was determined to get there. I began my LLB at Nelson Mandela Univer-
sity in 2020. Graduating in April 2025 was a triumph of the years of determination, hard work and perseverance. In March 2026, like my managing director, I passed all four Attorneys Board Examinations on my first attempt. Today, I serve as a candidate attorney at BLC Attorneys under the supervision of Managing Director Sonja Tifloen in the general litigation department. My work includes family law, protection orders, property matters, civil litigation and deceased debt collection. My journey has taught me resilience and perseverance. I hope to continue growing within the legal profession, contributing meaningfully to my community and advocating for greater accessibility and inclusion.
When Wilma Langson opened her doors as a sole practitioner on September 5 2012, few could have predicted the scale of what would follow. Today, W Langson & Associates Inc stands as a 100% black female-owned incorporated law firm based in Gqeberha, home to a dedicated team of 23 employees — attorneys, conveyancers, candidate attorneys, administrative specialists and interns — all working under Langson’s leadership as director. What began as a practice focused on personal injury law has grown into a genuinely multidisciplinary firm. As W Langson & Associates earned a reputation for excellence, it was appointed to the legal panels of several municipalities, stateowned entities and private institutions — a vote of confidence that pushed the firm to expand. Langson herself upskilled across labour law, corporate governance, administrative law, contract law, constitutional law and construction law, and that same appetite for growth now runs through the whole practice. The firm’s public law credentials are substantial. It serves on several legal panels across the Eastern and Western Cape. On the litigation and property side alone, the firm manages a wide range of matters on behalf of these institutions. Its private-sector practice is equally robust, advising clients across a broad spread of legal disciplines, including labour law, commercial law, corporate governance, estate administration, family law, and personal injury and civil litigation. The firm’s growth has been matched by genuine specialisation. Beyond Langson’s own extensive experience across multiple fields of law, the firm has developed dedicated divisions, each led by attorneys within the practice and supported by an experienced administrative and conveyancing team, giving it the capacity to run complex, high-volume matters without compromising on quality. Underpinning all of this is a firm culture built on mentorship, transformation and empowerment, particularly of women and young professionals entering the legal field. Candidate attorneys and interns train
Wilma Langson, the founder of W Langson & Associates Inc
across personal injury, family law, contract and commercial law, public law and property, while senior attorneys, including Langson herself, remain closely involved in their training. From a single practitioner in 2012 to a 23employee multidisciplinary practice trusted by prestigious institutions and individuals alike, W Langson & Associates Inc’s journey reflects what the firm has always stood for — excellence, integrity and service, in both the public and private spheres of law.
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August 2026
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How Inge Human makes children’s wishes come true Simtembile Mgidi Recognised for her extraordinary dedication to ensuring chronically ill children can access life-saving medical treatment through Wings and Wishes , Inge Human is this year’s community category winner of The Herald Citizens of the Year awards, supported by Nelson Mandela University. Human, 58, has spent more than a decade ensuring critically ill children can access lifesaving medical treatment through the nongovernment organisation. As manager of Wings and Wishes, she coordinates travel and support for families across SA, providing transport, guidance and hope during some of the most challenging times in their lives. Her unwavering commitment has transformed the lives of thousands of children. Human could not hold back her tears when she learnt she had won. “I was shocked when I got the call. You do what you do, but don’t always realise that other people notice it. “When I received the call, I was actually working, making bookings and arranging stuff. I never expected we would come up for an award like this. It is just mind-blowing. “But this is not always an easy job; it is hard work running an NGO,” Human said. With funding often difficult to secure, she said having someone recognise their work was a humbling yet overwhelming experience. She said the Wings and Wishes team had the privilege of witnessing miracles when a child was able to access the right medical care through their help. Human hoped winning the award would raise the nonprofit’s profile in the community, allowing more people to learn about its work and be willing to collaborate. Through funding, she said, Wings and Wishes was able to continue its work. The organisation is also the backbone of many of the bigger charities it works with, including the Smile Foundation. Though Wings and Wishes transports children to receive medical care, Human said the team largely remained in the background. Human said Wings and Wishes was launched in 2006. She joined 10 years later, having worked in the charity field with children for years and realising how many families struggled to access excellent doctors and hospitals in SA. However, it was an encounter at Gqeberha’s Dora Nginza Hospital that ignited her passion to do more. “I was visiting another child in 2015, and a mum and daughter were sitting there. We started chatting, and she told me they had hitchhiked from Makhanda to attend the cardiac clinic. It was a really frail, thin little girl. I thought ‘this is not right, you are endangering your life by hitchhiking’.” She said she had heard about Wings and Wishes and approached them to ask if she could work for them. Recalling all the relieved faces of parents she has helped over the years, Human said the journey often began with distrust and disbelief that someone would sponsor their transportation costs. Parents would often ask: “What’s the catch?” Human said children from the rural Eastern Cape had previously not been easily placed on transplant lists because paediatric transplants usually took place in Johannesburg or Cape
Wings and Wishes manager Inge Human is being recognised for her extraordinary dedication to ensuring chronically ill children can access lifesaving medical treatment
Town. “There is also a timeframe by which they need to get to the hospital for a transplant. And to me that was so unfair. “Why should a child be punished because of where they live? So, I had a meeting with the transplant unit and said we would ensure the child gets there on time. Just put them on the list, give them a chance. “We have had six children from the province undergo transplants that are doing so well.” When she joined the nonprofit in 2016, one of the challenges was finding funders for flights. For years, they knocked on doors and were met with rejection. That changed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when FlySafair became a sponsor. This also assisted the team’s longstanding partnership with Intercape, which started in 2016, to help children who needed to travel within the province. “I love people. To me it was important to have a personal [connection],” Human said. “We started meeting people at airports and bus stations, making sure they knew where to check in and who was fetching them on the other side. “You can imagine how daunting it must be if you come from a rural area and land at OR Tambo. How are you going to find your way? How are you going to know where to go?” Having started as manager in 2016, Human initially worked with two staff members, but they had to be retrenched due to the impact of Covid-19. Human now handles the bookings, media, fundraising and marketing. She said Wings and Wishes had a total of 15 volunteers in Gqeberha, KuGompo City, Durban and Johannesburg. Her biggest fear was having to turn a child away. “But what keeps me going is the gratitude of the families. To see a child that can hardly walk get on a flight, go for a heart op, come back 16 days later and run out of arrivals, helps me keep going. It is the difference we make and the hope we give to these families.” Looking to the future, she said she would love to mimic Australia, which has a similar organisation but with a network of vehicles that travel to fetch children. This would mean families in deep rural villages or outlying areas would not need to take two or three taxis to reach a bus to transport them to hospital.
Sinovuyo Mafileka has claimed the youth category of The Herald Citizens of the Year Awards for her work with the Khalimani Reading Club in KwaNobuhle
Khalimani Reading Club founder claims Herald Citizens of Year award Geoff Hookins A KwaNobuhle woman’s dedication to developing the next generation of leaders has seen her scoop the youth category of The Herald Citizens of the Year Awards, supported by Nelson Mandela University. Every afternoon for two hours, 22-year-old Sinovuyo Mafileka tutors about 30 children from grade R to grade 12 in a room behind her mother’s house in KwaNobuhle. The Khalimani Reading Club was established in February 2023 shortly after Mafileka matriculated following a conversation with some children who were playing in a park near her home. She now tutors and nurtures young minds in maths, English and isiXhosa. “I love engaging with young people, and I was playing with the young kids around my community and then, when we were playing, we had the conversation about their academic reports. “They were complaining about maths and their language subjects. “They said they were poor in those subjects, so I said to them, ‘no guys, how about I help you.’ I help them with their homework when they arrive from their schools. Our youngest student is a five-year-old and the oldest is 16.” Mafileka said the pupils who attended the programme had shown incredible academic progress since joining. “There were good marks for many of them.
Last year, I had an awards ceremony for my students and there were 20 of them who got between 85% and 98% in mathematics, English and isiXhosa. “We had one learner who is studying seven subjects. She passed with outstanding achievements in all of her subjects.” Mafileka grew up in KwaNobuhle and did her matric at Molly Blackburn Senior Secondary School in 2022. “I have a love of maths and numbers, and I am currently studying mechanical engineering at the East Cape Midlands College. “I want to pursue academics and become a professor in mechanical engineering, and after that I will get my doctorate.” Mafileka said while the room behind her mother’s house was not an ideal venue, she hoped to find a more suitable property for Khalimani soon. “When it rains, the roof leaks and we can’t have classes that day, so I am hoping we can find better premises soon.” Her love of poetry drove her to write her first book, Yagqama inkwenkwezi (The Stars Shine), which was published in her matric year. “The book was inspired by the things going on around me — love, poverty, teenage pregnancy, drugs, obeying your parents and the importance of school,” she said. “When we were in school, we had to share textbooks between learners and it was very disruptive, so my dream is for my book to be accessible to every child.”
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August 2026
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