Women from South Africa

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

"I believe that whatever I do has to resonate with what I believe is my purpose in life."

"We make democracy work for all."

"Inequality is a double-edged sword."

"Integrity is the hidden dimension to ethics."

"Just do the right thing because it is the right thing to do."

"I need to listen well so that I hear what is not said."

"We didn't know if ordinary lunatics or just unstable people on the ground could feel incited to harm me."

"Follow your heart, whatever you do. You are placing your fate and our fate in the hands of men and women who are going to govern at national and provincial level."

"“Through life I have learned that the most important critic whose judgement of my actions matters is my conscience.""

"“Hope is that little spark that gives you faith in the possibility of a future that seems unattainable.”"

"“This morning I’m reminded that it’s Grace that took me to every place I’ve been, led me through challenges and Grace that’s brought me here.”"

"“One of the greatest gifts you can give to a person in need of hope is a smile.”"

"“At the start of a new week it helps to focus ahead only looking back briefly on lessons learned and mistakes not to be repeated.”"

"It’s vital that every girl determines, as early as possible, who she is and what her contribution to humanity will be."

"Female DJs, perfect your art… don’t give them a reason to disrespect your work. Practice makes perfect. With that said, wear whatever you wanna wear & dance if it’s your thing… They are talking because you’re shaking the industry. It’s our time."

"Being empowered is a choice; it is a daily decision that defines who we are and it is accessible to everyone. Meeting Your Power is a reminder that power is inside all of us, and that your journey to empowerment begins with you! - MEETING YOUR POWER – DJ Zinhle & Nokubonga Mbanga"

"You’re going to make a difference. A lot of times it won’t be huge, it won’t be visible even. But it will matter just the same."

"My Definition Of Success | Success is about setting goal and reaching those goals, they could be personal or professional goals. Success is personal and should never be driven by other people’s measures of success but your own and that is how the definition of success has changed for the over the year, just understanding that my definition and measure of success won’t be the same as that of the next person."

"Lessons I Have Learnt | Family is number one, you can have all the success in the world but without love, you will not be happy."

"The DJ and entrepreneur has not only committed to producing high-quality wigs at an affordable price but is also set on elevating women with her business."

"She says she hopes to largely employ women and help create an avenue for independence for them."

"We know HIV causes AIDS."

"I think we need to take a hard look at what is excluding black South Africans from participating in the economy, but we've got to get beyond the creation of a black middle class we've got to get to where the real need is now."

"My music is based on touching you in a certain way. I don't have a wall, that's my brand."

"When I started out, I had an idea of what I wanted my sound to sound like. But I didn’t know what steps to take and how to say it so I just winged it and hoped for the best. My references were the people who I looked up to. I listened to them and took what I liked from them even though they come from different genres. Chronixxx does reggae, there’s Rihanna, Daniel Caesar and Caiphus Semenya. A song that impressed me lyrically was amaGama by uNathi. That’s the writer I want to be one day."

"I feel like being honest helps me heal. I decided to put that in my music. I hope they [fans] notice how I stand out."

"When you are being real, there’s no one like you, and there’s so much power in that."

"Many are grateful for this year Be happy you are still alive I'm going to get all my love for you I'm happy you're still alive Put it in there Tell him you understand Please forgive each other Mistakes happen."

"I'm going to become the Pope next year. Nothing is impossible."

"I’ve never dreamt that I’d become what I am today, I’ve just always believed that I would be what I am today. And still I’m not satisfied of who I am today, people know me in South Africa but I want to explore and be known by everybody out there."

"I developed a sincere love for her artistic prowess and a deep respect for her compositional genius, virtuosity, simplicity, her smooth dancing and friendliness towards all. She had a warmth full of pomp."

"'On the dark side of the moon Yeah is where I felt I reside Till the day I met you I was cold, Frozen inside."

"Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come."

"Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of others. We’re running a different race."

"I have a new theory in life… what others may think of me is truly none of my business."

"“Let me tell you a secret. If you want loads of money… then give out money, I have never seen a giver lack.”"

"“…Without the training, people cannot be promoted.”"

"“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does, keep going.”"

"“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how important it is to have a mentor when you start your business. There is knowledge I would not have had access to if it weren’t for my mentors.”"

"Birds have always been my companions. I am a very lonely person. They are the only real friends that I have had. Sometimes I think I should have been a bird. I even paint like a bird. You will notice that all my landscapes are done from a bird’s view, high up and far away."

"But of course she is also known for her landscapes. Her practice was quite contentious in terms of the subject. Many critics argued that it was influenced by the white people she was in contact with, for instance her gallerist. For me, there is something very exciting about her imagery of birds and landscapes."

"But when people emotionally connect with what you’re trying to do, or it resonates with them, that’s a huge reward."

"Food is fundamental to any development, growth or change."

"When you're fighting for something, it's always a grueling battle."

"God made me the way I am, and I accept myself. I am who I am, and I'm proud of myself."

"I don't give a damn what people say about me. I like me the way I am, and who cares what other people say?"

"Sometimes I was sad, sometimes happy. Just on and off. Always I felt welcome. It's just, you know, sometimes as a human being, you cannot always be happy. You do good things, you do bad things, people talk."

"I am not a fake. I am natural. I am just being Caster. I don't want to be someone I don't want to be. I don't want to be someone people want me to be. I just want to be me. I was born like this. I don't want any changes. [https://playersbio.com/caster-semenya-quotes/"

"I am a fighter. I never give up. https://playersbio.com/caster-semenya-quotes/"

"I'm the kind of person who doesn't really focus on more negativity. I'm a positive person, and I look at things in a positive way."

"It's all about the hard work, knowing your strengths and weaknesses. You work on what you know you can do best. I have speed."

"I know how I look like. I know how I sound. I know how I walk. I'm just gonna be me. I do me, and you do you."

"When I'm racing, I'm thinking about my own race. I'm not thinking about anybody."

"I don't like fame, I prefer to have no profile. But this is not possible for me. This is what I do, so I just have to find a way of being comfortable with it."

"Education is the key. If you are educated, nothing can defeat you."

"Be yourself, embrace your uniqueness, and don't let anyone else define your worth."

"Don't let setbacks define you, but use them as stepping stones towards success."

"It is not about winning or losing, but about giving your best and pushing your limits."

"Strength is not measured by physical prowess alone, but by the resilience and determination of the human spirit."

"Believe in yourself, even when others doubt you."

"Success is not determined by the opinions of others, but by your own self-belief."

"The true measure of an individual lies not in their victories, but in their ability to rise after defeat."

"Do not let the constraints of society limit who you are meant to be."

"Challenge the status quo and redefine what it means to be an athlete."

"Don't let anyone's narrow-mindedness define your path, break the barriers and make history."

"The road to success is not always smooth, but the journey itself is what makes it worthwhile."

"Be proud of the person you are, regardless of others' opinions."

"Embrace your own strength and be unapologetic about it."

"Listen to your own voice, because it is the only one that truly knows your potential."

"The strength of the human spirit knows no boundaries."

"Embrace your uniqueness, for it is what sets you apart from the rest."

"Never underestimate your own power, for you are capable of achieving greatness."

"Success is not defined by external validation, but by the inner sense of accomplishment."

"Stay true to yourself, even in the face of adversity."

"Hard work, perseverance, and self-belief are the keys to unlocking your true potential."

"Don't be afraid to challenge the norms, for that is where true progress lies."

"Your identity should never be defined by society's labels, but by your own self-worth."

"Never let anyone make you doubt your worth, for you are deserving of every success that comes your way."

"Believe in your dreams, even when they seem impossible."

"Stand tall, be proud, and let your achievements speak for themselves."

"The greatest victory is the one fought against your own doubts and fears."

"Embrace the power of resilience and never give up on your dreams."

"The road less traveled may be challenging, but it is where true greatness awaits."

"In the face of adversity, let your spirit shine even brighter."

"Do not conform to the expectations others have of you, but forge your own path."

"The Run For Life: Caster Semenya , December 17, 2019"

"QHAWE! Mokgadi Caster Semenya , ISBN: 978-1-4856-3072-2, May 2021, 260x210mm, 32 pages,"

"Caster Semenya working on memoir, ‘Silence All the Noise’ : https://apnews.com/article/caster-semenya-book-f21d3b0ee4bce91dea726a9a566dad3b"

"And there is a place where we one day will delve Where there's no more walking on eggshells Where ideas are for free, oh it's the place to be Your great mind's no longer the minority I'll see you there with your hands in the air Where the canvas is bare And there's no more despair... and I'll see you there"

"But don't leave that fiery heart behind Take it along for the ride And don't leave that fiery mind behind Take it along for the ride And...I'll have to say fair well so long"

"She looked out out to the horizon She didn't have much left to see Greed had taken the trees away Greed had taken the bees away ...She looked up to where there should've been stars"

"Oh society... You took it away from me When you brainwashed me with formulas of how I should be Shaped me and raped me of my individuality Schooled me and fooled me Told me what I could and could not see Took me and shook me Of my urges to be free"

"Music came back to your ears And you danced and you danced For all of the years You’d forgotten how To live for the now"

"It's all lies And my limbs have danced for the Amsterdam sunrise With not one restriction and not one disguise Monotony is what I despise Integration to society would be my demise It's all lies"

"Days move on and times they change In a blink of an eye things rearrange We're moving We're sucked in and we're spat out On the other side of the rabbit hole But we find our way Find our way Do you want to be just a machine in this crazy society? Pick the lock Grab the reigns Forget there ever were chains 'Cause there never were chains"

"I stand here with all my love Uncover the windows Let in the light Grab the hand that's reaching out... This world can cater for us all When the sun rises, it rises for us all"

"On days you'd sail away I would try to find my own way On days you'd sail away I would try to find my own way home"

"The moon was full and it left me howling My head was spinning and my heart was growling I received crimson stains on my sheets that morning The world felt big and the tides were moving"

"I saw you throw your hands in the air and say a prayer Your eyes closed, your nose breathing in the salty air There was nothing you could do to make me love you anymore"

"All you had to do was see me Really see me Recognize the workings of my mind And then touch me Like something holy And then touch me Like something that is now but could never be"

"Oh, remind me of your name again As you take me on that train again Back to the pavements that we walked, and walked Oh, the drugs that made us talk and talk And I'll take you dancing, I'll take you round and round I'll lead you to the hilltops, and I'll take you on the ground"

"Every plant given life by His hands Every stone placed to build pathways in the sand There was a magical feeling surrounding that land A mystical feeling surrounding that land"

"I've got so much to say And yet nothing comes close To the way we communicate When we don't say a word I hear you clearly without sounds Oh, I don't need these ears when you're around"

"There's an empty space whеre you once offerеd yourself to me My mom knows I'll be alright, but she'll be glad I'm home She's always casting spells for me Keeping guard for me, working hard for me I swim out of the window and into the night I am smiling, I am screaming, I am glowing from inside"

"Let us dig the soil of bitterness, throw in a seed, show love, and see what fruits will grow. Love will not come without forgiving others. Where there was a bloodstain, a beautiful flower must grow."

"It is important for women to be aware of their common lot. It is important for women to stand together and rise together to meet our common enemies—illiteracy, poverty, crime, disease, and stupid, unjust laws that have made women feel so helpless as to be hopeless."

"In Women’s Month, I will accept one or two speaking engagements, just as an opportunity for people to ask me the questions they never get a chance to ask,” she says. “Some people never see me; they’ll see me only in the newspaper or on television or hear me on the radio, and they have questions all the way from: ‘what was your life like’ to ‘were you always going to be a CEO’ to ‘what does your day look like’. These questions are not things you read in a newspaper, but once you are available as a female leader to answer those types of questions, it becomes aspirational for others. You break down the barriers. It’s not only aspirational, it’s an attainable aspiration. People see that there’s a person there – that person has done the following things to do that, and that person’s life feels and looks like the following…"

"For most of my life I knew about women who worked hard. From negotiating prices to dinner table conversations – there was no barrier for women. Women could do anything: They had a place at the table. You have to earn that place – Study hard, work hard and put up your hand."

"It has shown that we’ve grown, that we can mix it up there with the best [and] it shows that the rankings really don’t mean anything if you prepare and plan well."

"Surely, if you can train week in and week out at this intensity, then things will be bigger and better."

"I was a leader in the team and I needed to understand that it’s not just for me but for the country as well."

"I am a human being before I am a soccer player. I don’t know too many people who would be able to go through what I went through on a personal and professional level."

"I had to protect myself and at the end of the day, you have to draw a line."

"The respect has to be both ways."

"I was very sad that in this day and age we still have to be fighting. We don’t have to prove anything to anyone and I don’t like this comparison between us and the men’s team."

"“I think we're really strong when we play together as a team and that’s why we get results.”"

"Belief is also a big thing – belief that your team-mates are going to be there, do what’s needed, and belief that we can achieve the impossible. I fully believe in my team and I'm fully confident that, if we're playing at 100 per cent, we are capable of anything."

"It’s about how much you want it, and I think that mentality needs to sink in."

"I just feel like the game has given so much to me, so why not put everything on the line there when you step on to the field?"

"When my team-mates see me give that extra effort, they follow."

"We're human at the end of the day and I feel that there is a difference between when you treat players like human beings and you care for them."

"I want to compete for championships and for titles and keep going to next level in my career."

"We know it is 11 against 11 on the field and one team must win."

"That's what I want to see change - getting more sponsors in the women's game so that the girls can also make a living out of a football career."

"Music is life"

"I want to be the positive force that heals people and being humble does that."

"If you know who you represent and who you are, I think you'll understand the people that you're representing."

"This is a team sport and I'm given talent and when you have it you need to use it in a positive way."

"I needed to be strong for others. I believe so much in positivity. Why do I? It's because one can perform to the best of their abilities if they're happy."

"I believe that we are who we are today because of unity. When you're united nothing can break you. Even outside factors can't break you."

"If you want to solve something as quickly as possible, communicate so that you break negativity."

"We didn't go there to make numbers but we went there to make a difference and to make that little girl proud."

"It's about time now we get the recognition and we get the gender equality that we deserve."

"It's not about disrespecting the country, it's about the country helping us."

"We are forgetting that without fans there’ll never be football and these players will never get paid."

"What causes emptiness in stadium it is that people don’t respect fans anymore – we are losing it."

"Women are being discovered, women are being celebrated, a lot of people are starting to know about these women that are doing wonders in our country."

"If people didn't love me when I was scoring goals, putting South Africa on the map, why would I expect them to love me because I tell the truth about women's football?"

"I didn't wake up to choose to be gay. I didn't want to be insulted every day when I walk in the street. I didn't choose this, but I was born like this."

"There is nothing wrong in being a lesbian; it is how you project yourself in public places. You are born with it and you won't just change it because somebody says you should do it."

"We are there to do what we love, to share the game, to motivate other women out there and to make sure that if they want to play the game, there are people like us fighting for them."

"When you are Black, it comes with disadvantages, because you need to really prove yourself."

"It didn't matter where I came from, I was talented."

"You get to realise that the little love you know is not enough for the person that you're with."

"“I tend to use my dance moves to translate the music, so you’re going to see what the song says even if you don’t understand it,”"

"“This makes me feel the way I’ve always thought my purpose would make me feel,” she says. “It made me feel whole""

"“My mom has always been just like, ‘Do it but have a real backup plan.’ Initially, when my life changed, they didn't really understand it was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s a good video, okay. Yay. What does that mean?” Uncle Waffles told BET.com during a recent interview. “Now they’re definitely people who actually encourage parents to let their kids pursue things creatively.”"

"I realised how limiting it was to run the residency under a private company. Raising funds was not easy and the residency only catered for artists by Undiscovered Canvas"

"I realised that my vision for the residency was changing. I no longer wanted to cater for Undiscovered Canvas artists only, but I wanted to work with female artists across the African continent. I wanted to create a powerful community of women artists, collectors, gallerists, investors who would consciously support each other."

"I am based in France for the past 12 years, and I have been running Undiscovered Canvas (promoting global investment in and profiling of African Art). My strongest impact has been to identify young and emerging artists from Southern Africa and introduce them directly into a mature market"

"I don’t even have words to describe it"

"I didn't know what he was going to look like, but I wondered what my dream man was doing. I made this relationship a reality. True love exists."

"This is a season of transformation for us and we are taking the work that needs to be done very seriously. I love the passion for the club, but people need to be kind in the way they engage because supporters can be quite nasty at times especially on social media where people can say whatever they want and remain nameless."

"We want ambitious players at the club. We provide the platform for them to do that and it’s up to them perform on that platform."

"We are looking for sustainable growth and success. Greatness is about overcoming challenges"

"Performing at home is the best part of my job, and being paired with international artists of Bebe Winans’ stature and all the other global household names that I have performed with is an absolute honour."

"I also believe strongly that when I look good, I feel good, and this allows me to deliver to the best of my ability."

"Till today, I don’t know chords, I don’t know notes, but I can play each and every song that you want me to play"

"It’s in me, it’s what I live for. It’s like, something that you can wake me up at 12 a.m. and go and do because it’s in me."

"When I see people jolly, people, like, smiling, at least I know I’ve done something for somebody. They will go home happy, whatever troubles they came with."

"“I chose me first now. I don’t do anything because someone else is doing it.”"

"It's a massive honour to be offered this position as captain for the next two tours,"

"It's something that I have always aspired to do, having played in this team for a couple of years. Having more of a leadership role is something I’ve wanted to take on. It'll help me as a cricketer and learning to think as a captain on the field will hopefully help my batting as well."

"I'm very excited to be able to contribute in another way, too, and not just in batting. It still feels surreal at the moment, but it will all become more real when I meet up with the team in Pakistan."

"What I can bring to the role is the experience that I have in the side. I've been playing international cricket since I was 16 years old, I know quite a lot of players in the circuit and I've been playing in the leagues as well, so I've played a lot of cricket in recent years and hopefully, I'm able to use that experience and the knowledge to my advantage when I captain the team."

"It is very new to me, but I am keen to learn and do everything that I can to do well in the position. I am lucky that I have a couple of senior players within the squad around me as well, who would be able to help me and guide me if I do need help along the way"

"I think everyone that comes and goes within the team, the team will always miss the impact that player had. It is always like that. We have all the memories with them, and it is something we will miss in the change-room"

"But as a bowling unit, we do have a great unit. We do have people who can step in."

"I am not the type of player that will go to the captain and say ‘I want to bowl’. I’ll let them make their decisions."

"13 plaques. I am in tears right now. All thanks to my fans for always making sure everything I touch turns to platinum. I am happy to announce that African Queen album reached gold, in less than a year. Kokovha album reached double platinum."

"“I signed with Open Mic only for three years. In these three years I dropped four albums. I have never received any cent of my sales. Some of my album reached platinum some gold. And a lot of hits songs that reached platinum and gold, but I continue to work without complaining.""

"“I am taking about the contract that I signed, and no one allowed to give me a copy, I worked with Open Mic without a cop of my contract ever since they said they will send it. I kept on reminding them, but no one was willing to send me my contract.”"

"Racing has always been a part of the equation. If we not at the racetrack competing, we are watching some form of motorsport on TV. To become a professional racing driver is and always has been the ultimate goal."

"Being chosen as one of the top 18 women around the world to compete in the W Series was the most memorable highlight of my career. I finished the season 10th overall in the championship."

"It (karting) helps me to keep driving fit, seeing as it's extremely physical. In the end, nothing quite compares to the real thing though, and I can't wait to go back real Racing again"

"Don't let anyone tell you, you can't do it. If it's something you want to do and pursue, don't stop until you have reached your full potential. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to make your way up the ladder, so never give up."

"I am performing still because there’s nothing wrong with my voice or hands, except there’s a headache that comes and goes."

"Plus, I cannot walk. Sometimes I wake up feeling as if I can’t think properly, as if I’m losing my mind. Otherwise, I can sit on my wheelchair and sing."

"People should respect other people."

"People make me a superstar and treat me that way. But I am not a superstar. I just regard myself as an ordinary God-fearing person."

"People make me a superstar and treat me that way. But I am not a superstar. I just regard myself as an ordinary God-fearing person. Today’s enemy is poverty and ignorance, and it has to be fought with all the might at our disposal."

"There are a lot of people, who go hungry, and yet there is land they could be utilizing profitably. It is part of my obligation to learn about the land and how it can be better utilized."

"There are a lot of people who go hungry and yet there is land they could be utilizing profitably."

"I panicked, and thought I will have so many regrets if I don’t keep chasing my racing career. And just like that, W Series dropped out of the sky. That was the beginning of a whole new chapter."

"F1 was always my goal and although I planned to be there as a driver, I got there in a different shape and form which is fine. That was the most mind-blowing thing to me"

"“Since I was very young, I’ve looked up to Lewis Hamilton. He was, for me, the only, call it ‘identifiable’ role model that I had in my career, so he held a special place in my heart and you know, I have always been motivated to do as well as he’s done, and hopefully be that identifiable role model to someone else, thanks to him.”"

"There weren’t many girls or people of color. I didn’t feel like I fit in, and the idea of being compared with my counterparts was frightening.“If little girls turn on the TV, they’ll see my face … If I was wearing a helmet, they probably wouldn’t.” (Talking about being visible as a woman in motorsport, and how being without the helmet matters for visibility.)"

"People aren’t always going to enjoy change, change is most often met with resistance, but it has been good. There’s been a lot of support which has surprised me … You’re going to face that criticism, but it doesn’t change the way I feel. I love motorsport and I feel grateful to be there … keyboard warriors … but … everyone I work with … has been great."

"I never looked back in the race, It’s one of those things, it’s hard to explain … It happens once in a lifetime. You say to yourself: ‘If I get into this corner first and lead the race I’m going to win."

"In my era, there were so few women that were racing at my level, You never really thought about yourself as: ‘I’m a woman in this race.’ You don’t think of yourself as something else. I was always the underdog because I never had funding and I was always given these cars to drive without any practice — I was always thrown in the deep end. For me it was always a concentration of what I was doing in this race car."

"The biggest problem is there’s never really enough funding for a woman to complete all the steps, It’s opportunity, what team you’re in, the funding you have and so forth. I was expecting someone to come up when I saw one or two drivers come up that had a fair amount of talent, but they never quite got to where they needed to go."

"“Personally, I feel honored to be with Milan for the second season. We’ve been working as a group and I know the efforts that the technical team has put in and the task that they have in the team. And I feel very blessed to be a part of Milan also in the second half of the season.”"

"“In my opinion, in the previous games that we lost, especially also in the Derby, they didn’t go our way. We need to also give credit to Inter as they are a good team and also we are also an equally good team. So when we played and played to win, it’s just unfortunate that the results didn’t go our way.”"

"“With the game against Empoli, is also going to be a difficult one. We know they are also a good team like any other team in the league. So it’s a good chance for us to redeem ourselves as a team and to focus on the positives that we are going out there to get”"

"“Training in Manchester, I realized that playing football is what I want to do. It was where I realized my dream of being a footballer. And when I moved to Australia, where I played for Canberra United, it was my first professional contract. And with that I got an eye opener on how it is to be a professional, how to behave and how it is to play at the highest level.”"

"“Playing at the San Siro has always been my dream, and I know it’s every footballer’s dream to play in such an iconic stadium. And despite the results that we got against Juventus, I think we played well as a team.""

"“And those memories will stay with us, despite the defeat. We always want to play in the best stadiums. We always want to play in the best countries, and given that opportunity by Milan, we’ll always be grateful.”"

"“After my football career, I’m hoping to give back to the community. I’m hoping to probe into young talents, and I want to use my experiences that I’ve got in football to change people’s lives.”"

"“We realised that we achieved a dream and we are also giving an opportunity to other youngsters to be able to dream because we realised that with perseverance, hard work and discipline, nothing is impossible.”"

"“The nickname ‘Fifi’ is cut from Refiloe. So instead of seeing the whole of ‘Refiloe’, we just take too the ‘Fi’ and make it ‘Fifi’, so it’s a short way of saying ‘Refiloe’.”"

"They call me the 'Breadwinner', so without the breadwinner there is no bread, I had to provide the bread for the nation."

"I will be able to do everything for my mother because I’m the one who’s taking care of her. I’m the breadwinner, so I will be doing everything for my mother."

"It really means a lot especially knowing that we were so close to going home but it really means a lot. It is an emotional one personally because it is my first World Cup. It is really an emotional one, I do not want to lie but it’s all God’s glory for me. It means I will be able to help my family."

"“Professionally, my role involves lecturing undergraduate and postgraduate students and supervising postgraduate research projects,”"

"“I am currently abroad on a visiting scholarship as part of building international scholarship on topics relating to African knowledge systems and the works produced therein. Part of the aim of this project is to decolonize academia and what we teach at universities in Africa.”"

"“I also have an interest in exploring the ontological status of Blackness,”"

"“I am a guardian to a group of students who form an executive committee of the Faculty House in Humanities, an academic mentor for some students on the Student Representative Council, and I am a consultant at Redhill School in Johannesburg, which runs a project on philosophy for children.”"

"“I have humbly learned not to plan for the future, as tomorrow is a mystery that will only become known to me when it manifests,” she concludes."

"“My journey has been affected by many people in different yet valuable ways, especially by my late mother, who unfailingly prioritized my wellbeing. She created a space for me to use the world as laboratory where I could experiment with different ideas and models of life.”"

""The fame doesn’t last that long so you have to make the most of it while you still have time. That’s what people don’t understand. It’s not a lifetime thing unless you are legendary.”"

""Cassper is still the biggest artist but he still has to convince people that he is the best. I don’t want to go through that personally. There’s only so much you can do in your own country. Fill Up was the biggest so what’s next? It’s easy to get to the top but it’s hard to stay there.”"

"“I didn’t even know that the Jobe song had splits.”"

"“I never signed to Major League. It’s just an association signing. I’m signed to myself. I met Mojar League at Moja Cafe when they were performing. That was there the first time they saw me. The asked me to come into the studio and started doing gigs with them.”"

""Someone released music under my name , which is wild like why would you do that babe ??”"

"she stated that she did not look up to any SA celebrity while growing up but she is a fan of Busiswa’s performances."

"“Jr met Jobe and after a video of me promoting the song went viral on Twitter they wanted me on the track. The song was already done and I put my vocals on it."

"People trying to get you to sign contracts so that they can hold you down. I went through a couple of songs where I didn’t get any money from them. Jobe is one of those."

"“Jr wanted to sign me for three years. There was a bit of drama when I didn’t want to sign the contract. That’s why I’m not even on the Jobe music video.”"

"I love being African and l love African women, celebrating all that we are and encompass, so I’m inviting women across the entire continent, married, divorced or widowed, to fetch their lives and enter Mrs Universe Africa."

"Let's change the narrative, change mindsets and challenge the stereotypical ideas of what beauty is ... May we change lives together and create a new narrative for women across our beautiful continent."

"Shoo! I would say it’s one of my biggest career highlights to grab the attention of the most sort after, prestigious and world-renowned university, Harvard."

"Spent a good two years researching about my life, upbringing, career and entrepreneur journey, and the case study was published and first lectured to their MBA students in November 2020, and is now part of Harvard Business School academic literature."

"It’s always been my goal and vision to take South African food to the world—what an amazing evening & incredible crowd of people to have in one room, definitely one for the books and a very proud moment!"

"There are so many different cuisines in the different regions and in every culture of Africa, If you go to Limpopo National Park to see the big five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and Cape buffalo) you’ll also find the biggest mangos and avocados you’ve ever seen, which all get exported to the rest of the world."

"Everyone gets to enjoy our cuisine but needs to celebrate it a little more. I hope to introduce the cuisine of my home more by doing residencies and pop-ups like this. The best thing about African cuisine is the people who make it and the stories behind them."

"It's good to manifest things you want and goals. If you do, they kind of end up happening."

"You can be going home in a cab and get inspired by the most random thing."

"I had to make a decision about whether I really wanted to be a lawyer or to pursue media."

"I work with leaders from all walks of life. The goal is to help them understand the power of personal narratives and organizational narratives too."

"The more I watched television, the more I understood that this thing actually shapes the world that we live in."

"I made a decision very early on that I was going to use my career in media and storytelling for good, so for me it is about the impact of the work that we have done."

"1994 was the most impactful year for me. The country was transitioning to democracy and because I had become such a fan of television, the psychology of the media became obvious to me even at that age."

"That’s when I thought, media is what I will do, but for good. If there are more of us doing good, with this platform and this tool, maybe by changing mindsets and getting people to see the similarities between themselves rather than the differences, then what kind of world could we build."

"I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence."

"Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg, that’s when I really started taking the music seriously"

"It really is about your faith and your work ethic."

"Well, I’ve been singing since I was 6 years old. I was in the choir at that time. I was in the choir basically my whole life and that life really set the foundation for my music, but when I got to high school I became a bit more independent. I wanted to take my love for music a step further and that’s when I decided to leave the choir. I was 16 years old at that time. I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence. Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg. That’s when I really started taking the music seriously."

"It was the moment I got to the University. I was trying to make all the music I can with my allowance. I would literally not eat and use the money I would get from my parents to book studio sessions and buy beats instead. I was busy sourcing people that could help me work on my project at the time and I could definitely say Pretoria fueled my love for music, which I said in the beginning. Although it’s a quiet place, when I make music there’s so much color, life, and entertainment. That’s all I wanted to do."

"I think it was just to represent who I am. I wanted it to get to the point and to get my message across. The EP was the right introduction for me into the music industry. It's not too much but at the same time it's not too little, it's just enough and that's exactly why I wanted to get the right amount of songs out there for people to relate to."

"I'm a very, very lowkey and private person [in everyday life] so I use social media and that's actually how I met all of the people I worked with on this project."

"I feel social media was important in creating this ecosystem of people that I possibly wouldn't have had access to. We all work together in our community to create despite coming from different cultures and from different backgrounds. And what connects is our passion for music, our work ethic, our drive and our morals."

"Never apologize for wanting a seat at the table and pursuing your dreams. For African women in particular, there will be times, in fact more often than not, when you look around a room (whether it’s of investors, fellow entrepreneurs, or potential partners) and wonder where your place is in this world of white men, this world that you want to be a part of, one of innovators, rebels, adventurers, game-changers. Don't let feeling like an outlier deter you from being the change in representation that you want to see in the world."

"I have always had an adventurous spirit, and have striven to push the envelope and look for creative solutions to challenges."

"Go after what you want. Dare to go after your dreams, no matter how ridiculous they or the notion of you being the one to achieve them seems.Mosia's word of advice to African women in STEM"

"The scale of the energy access challenge means that our dreams have to be big too.”"

"Find an ecosystem to nurture your ideas, because going at it alone is virtually impossible. Mosia's advice to newbies in the TECH industry"

"Entrepreneurship is not for the fainthearted. Being a woman can make it harder, and that means you have to have a doubly thick skin. Mosia speaking to African women entrepreneurs"

"There is something incredibly rewarding about waking up each day and feeling like you’re having an impact, a real impact on people’s lives."

"“Innovation isn’t just about technology — it’s about understanding the people you’re trying to serve and meeting them where they are.”"

"The next challenge or fire to put out is always around the corner."

"When you set a goal, and you follow it with a plan, eventually, you start attracting the scenarios that enable you to get closer to that goal. Before you know it, you achieve what you set out."

"When I was in grade 10, doing research on careers in maths and science, I came across an advert by the South African Air Force, looking for pilots. That's when I realised that this is my opportunity. This is what I want to do."

"There is a certain level of excitement that comes with flying something fast and manoeuvrable and is able to do those acrobatic manoeuvres."

"As I turned a page, I saw a recruitment article by the air force. My grades were really good at school and I met the entry requirements. I was thrilled."

"The combat pilots are the first to engage any enemy infringement."

"When we did our basic military training it was tough, you get trained physically. We ate proteins mostly because you must endure long distances, you must be agile, strong, quick thinking."

"We used to claim that the sky’s the limit, but by being in the sky we are already defining what the limit is and limiting how far we can go."

"For climate risk, the past is not a good predictor of the future."

"We’ve got our hands full."

"Sabine and I spent quite a bit of time discussing the things we want to focus on. And I wish I could say it was one or three, but there’s actually quite a few."

"We have managed to achieve a broader membership among emerging market countries. This is a concern that we’ve had in the past: whether the NGFS is just a network that’s made up of western countries, if it’s relevant for everyone else."

"NGFS membership cannot become a greenwashing opportunity for central banks that simply want to appear to be proactive on climate change."

"We want to see more engagement among the new joiners and active participation in the network."

"We started the NGFS as a network of the willing, but we are moving more and more to having a network of the committed."

"We had to start somewhere."

"Contemporary AIDS denialism, the belief that HIV is harmless and that antiretroviral drugs are the true cause of AIDS, is a more insidious AIDS conspiracy theory. Advocates of this position make a "conspiratorial move" against HIV science by implying its methods cannot be trusted and that untested, alternative therapies are safer than antiretrovirals. These claims are genuinely life-threatening, as tragically demonstrated in South Africa when the delay of antiretroviral treatment resulted in nearly 333,000 AIDS deaths and 180,000 HIV infectionsa tragedy of stunning proportions."

"Four symbolically powerful figures ensuring the lifespan of AIDS denialism: the hero scientist (dissident scientists who lend credibility to the movement); the cultropreneur (alternative therapists who exploit the conspiratorial move as a marketing mechanism); the living icon (individuals who claim to be living proof of AIDS denialism's legitimacy); and the praise-singer (journalists who broadcast movement messages to the public)."

"Pro-science activists have fought back by deploying empirical evidence and political credibility to resist AIDS conspiracy theories, which is part of the crucial project to defend evidence-based medicine."

"As a first step, based on Statistics South Africa surveys, the review argues that inequality in terms of earned incomes dropped sharply between 1997 and 2000. But Statistics South Africa itself found that income distribution worsened slightly between 1995 and 2000. The review says that more people lived in poverty and, distressingly, more children suffered malnutrition in the late 1990s than five years previously. A key problem is that the review relies on the 1997 October household survey and the 2000 labour force survey instead of looking at the full trend from 1995 to 2002. In addition, the 1997 figures are out of line with the years before and after because income inequalities appeared to be much worse in 1997. As a result, the data suggests an unbelievable decline in income inequalities. It suggests that the Gini coefficient, which seeks to measure inequality, dropped from 0.68 to 0.59. In contrast, Statistics South Africa says the Gini worsened from 0.56 in 1995 to 0.57 in 2000."

"If the 10-year review wanted to rely only on the 1997-2000 period, it should have explained the reported worsening in income distribution between 1995 and 1997. In any case, the 2000 figure still represents a high level of inequality by world standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators for 2003 report only about five countries with equal or higher inequality, most of them in southern Africa (Swaziland and Namibia) and Latin America."

"As a second step, the review does not explain its methodology clearly. It seems this finding derives from a projection from 1997 spending patterns, without actual study of 2000 figures. As a result, the finding of better income distribution between 1997 and 2000 really seems to follow solely from the purported improvement in income equality in this period - which, as noted above, is highly dubious. More fundamentally, we have to ask ourselves whether this is a useful way to understand the redistributive function of the state. After all, in most countries, government plays a significant redistributive function. But that is not all the same, in social or economic terms as improving income distribution."

"For instance, suppose a household's monthly income is R1 000, or R12 000 for the year. If the family has four children in school they are getting an extra R12 000 from the state, doubling their income. But does that help us understand the economic difficulties they face in the short run? After all, it won't put food on the table. It is important to assess the redistributive role of the state - but we shouldn't act as if that in itself is enough to justify or redress high levels of income inequality. The income distribution figures in the review appear to underplay the extent of inequality and overplay improvements. Most studies show that income distribution has probably worsened, as unemployment has risen and wages have fallen."

"Rather than picking out particular bits of interesting information from the review - which is packed with fascinating data - it would make more sense to engage with its overall argument. The call for a sustainable, equitable development strategy should not be lost in debates over the data or efforts to highlight the good news while ignoring the bad."

"The government's 10-year review argues that, in economic terms, household equality has greatly improved, especially as a results of government programmes. This conclusion has received considerable publicity, although it is not particularly important for the review's overall integrity and findings. It would be a great pity if the review's brief and not very sound note on income distribution overshadowed its deeper analysis and broader policy implications."

"The 10-yar review analyses an array of more reliable and important information to reach telling conclusions. Above all, it finds that, although improved social protection and democracy for the majority, it must do more to ensure greater economic inclusion and preparation for most. The review identifies soaring unemployment as the key factor behind growing economic disparities and exclusion. The unemployment rate has risen from 16 percent in 1995 to 31 percent today. In contrast to these arguments, the statistical basis of the review's conclusion on income distribution is extraordinarily weak. It has two stages: defining the trend in income distribution, and then examining the impact of government spending."

"Couldn’t agree more… equality is one of the founding values of the Constitution… and we will never be able to heal the wounds… which are still very raw [unless] we… address substantive inequality in all spheres."

"My reasons are there, its a complex issue but there was sufficient grounds that the two acts should be read together."

"had no hesitation in saying that I am an activist."

"homosexuality, climate change and economic justice."

"the battle against apartheid was not won with politics, but with prayer."

"One of the answers lies in the country’s history of colonisation by two contending settler classes."

"Today it works as a glue that holds the identity together at the intersections of specific versions of gender, sexuality, class and race."

"Gospel music is big all over the world. There is no genre that is bigger than gospel. If you go to Malawi or Congo, you’ll find another Rebecca Malope."

"When I am on stage something takes over. I become that excited little girl again, who is happy to see people singing and jumping, saying “Oh, they love me,” and at least someone loves me. That child in me comes out and the stage for me is a very nice playground that heals my heart while praising God."

"I don’t have friends unfortunately. My friends are my family because I believe those are the safest friends."

"My purpose is to teach people where I come from. It’s been a lesson to me that I had to reach out and tell people that it’s not over until God says so..."

"Knowing very well what you want and why you are here, why you doing what you doing, the purpose ... Humble yourself and give God the glory and let him lead you until you reach your destination, that is how I kept myself (disciplined)."

"I am growing up on stage and I’m just in the faces of people, I can’t do anything else like any other young girl my age, it was very challenging but I got used to it."

"“In this show I want to talk about light and a type of fine tensile strength, perhaps a feminine strength, seductive but tough.""

"I chose to force myself to look here at what it means to be a white South African woman artist in America and such far flung places for thirty odd years."

"It has always been the same refrain, really, the struggle to meld two selves, two deep senses of awareness, to make an acceptably sane harmony of the two (or three or four ...)"

"With the use of the organic juxtaposed with the hard edge, I want the pieces to balance and create their own zing .... and comfort me."

"I am naturally drawn to light - like a plant I will inadvertently find myself turned towards the light. I have always done this, even as a child. Hopefully I will continue to do this and perhaps one day simply disappear in a flash of light.”"

"Just as there are many ideas and concepts one has to share, so there are many media and forms to choose as vehicles. It’s sort of like a visual conversation, different audiences, different languages, different places. One decides upon the most efficient and pleasing ‘fit’."

""We, as artists, go along, searching for our own truth and so our collective creativity becomes our personal and cultural history. We are simply visual communicators.”"

"“Myfanwy Bekker’s work has been as consistent and heart-felt as any artist I have ever known. In the twenty four years I have known her, she has continually included observations on her surroundings, her South African heritage and her love of nature in every artistic endeavour. She is spontaneous in her application of paint, giving her images a soul - filled with emotion. Her understanding of materials makes it easy for her to translate ideas into paintings or sculptural work that capture the sentiment she wants to convey. She often includes neon in organic configurations that intertwine with clay, twigs, actual canvas or other structural elements that she has painted. Myfanwy’s South African background is ever-present in her work. Her love of the country and her upbringing are inescapable trademarks of this wonderful artist!”"

"“Myfanwy Bekker, the artist, the woman, is a source of light. She uses pencil and paintbrush with more immediacy and ease than most use words to tell the story of their lives. Her art is lyrical and soulful. There is beauty and delight, while also commenting on the severity of our human condition. Myfanwy’s experiences of South Africa, Texas, New Mexico and California, the landscape of the earth and the hearts and minds of each place’s inhabitants are all blended in her paintings...”"

""Bekker’s diverse artworks capture metaphorically her passion for transcending boundaries and revealing both the strength and fragility of the human condition.”"

"“ ...her extraordinary versatility in whatever medium she chooses, be it paint, clay, wood or glass projects her ability yo meld the cerebral with the emotional and the visual .....”"

"“I think everybody is a post-colonial artist; we’re all living in post-colonial societies.”"

"“My focus is to separate what has created the self [and] what is the representation of personality and group identity.”"

"Life itself is quite ‘kaleidoscopic’ and surreal. Perhaps as an artist or a ‘self,’ it is an assemblage of possibilities, probabilities and the real as more strange than the fiction. The fictions also are too heavy."

"Real life requires one to perform many adjectives (for example being woman/happy/doctor/young/in love/friend/older sister....there are varying conventions that dictate how certain adjectives are activated), and for people or objects to participate in the world, i guess they have to perform--well, i guess we make objects perform--through their use, their place in language. i am interested in objects performing passively...alluding in a very scattered way to disparate things, somehow dancing their colours, textures, thingness with other things...and their thingnesses too."

"“What struck us was the way in which Dineo managed to make work that was very personal, intimate even, but did so with very common materials.”"

"Her work revolves around the process of creation, rather than a belief in research or a particular canon. Simply put, she learns what the piece will be by making it."

"“We were drawn to her nuanced and delicate work at the sixth edition of the Marrakech Biennale last year and are thrilled by working with her this year in Rotterdam to place a bookend to our Para | Fictions series.”"

"“Certain situations in life push you toward extreme decisions,”"

"“While appearing to subscribe to minimalist strategies, Breitz on the other hand owes much to pop. Her work brings the sparse conceptual idiom of the former to bear on the colourful realm of the latter. From the perspective of art history, her method appears as a unique, if not cacophonous, marriage of Sol LeWitt’s formulaic wall-drawings to Warhol’s production line of silk-screened Marilyn Monroes, freshly cooing out of the Factory.”"

"“A recycler at heart, Breitz scavenges the overwhelming remains of popular visual culture, applies a highly reductive editing process to them and ends up with another – and more primary – set of materials. Like the crushed Coke can, the final product is a mere sliver of its former self: distinct enough to be recognisable and yet so distorted that we balk at the memory of its original form and our pleasure in using it. Yet Breitz’s work, however simple in its execution, is far from simplistic.""

"I believe that the need for low-cost housing should never equate to creating oppressive or unattractive spaces. We must shift away from the typical township designs and envision developments that uplift communities."

"Alternative building technologies are rich with possibilities. I want architects to realize their potential to create beautiful, sustainable homes within compact spaces, shaping the foundation of our future cities."

"There are many assumptions about housing preferences, like 'Africans don't prefer multi-story living.' I reject this. We need to experiment and showcase successful designs that challenge such misconceptions."

"We need to dream of a South Africa that embraces its urban ambition. I hope architects, designers, and government officials will collaborate and seize opportunities to redefine cities with creativity and purpose."

"Social housing and low-cost housing are often seen as lowly enterprises, but I want the government and society to understand their immense potential to transform communities and lives."

"We haven't experimented enough to demonstrate success. Bold projects can challenge outdated notions and inspire others to imagine cities built on innovation and inclusivity."

"I work at night because the night doesn't have shadows."

"We are grateful for her rich life and for the time she always spent with other people."

"I will remember her for always putting beauty and harmony above anything else. That remains a strong memory."

"What she passed on to me – in fact, it was what I had always experienced of her – was her sense of things."

"If contemporary art is defined as ‘art that is created now’, then the Spier Contemporary is the visual and aural barometer of what it is like to live in South Africa in 2010."

"Populism and opportunism are the order of the day and all manner of insincerities abound – none of which bring us any closer to finding ways to solve the real problems of the day – poverty, hunger, unemployment, our lack of solidarity, community and ethics, the need for better systems of accountability and governance."

"It seems to me however that its greatest contribution is in giving us art as another language to understand and express ourselves, especially during this time when the conventional political discourse is severely limited. And it’s not all serious, thank goodness. Humour, irony and sly jokes abound in many of the works that cast a jaundiced eye on our contemporary leaders and problems."

"I have always been interested in how you can depict suffering without being heavy-handed"

"My best works are erotic displays of mental confusions (with intrusions of irrelevant information)"

"I don't go to psychiatrist. I don't go to a gym. I run away from my accountant, I run away from my dentist. They all supposed to help you, but i like to stay in bed where I have a chance to reflect, like Rossellini"

"Painting is a very slow art. It doesn't travel with the speed of a light. That's why dead painters shine so bright"

"Painting doesn't freeze time. It circulates and recycles time like a wheel that turns. Those who were first might well be last.""

"” No painting can exist without the tension of what it figures and what it concretely consists of the pleasure of what it could mean and the pain of what it's not.”"

"Her work is informed by her childhood experience growing up in Apartheid and addresses social struggles of oppressed peoples around the world. Working with gestural brush strokes and thin washes of paint, her works have a distinctly transparent appearance that emphasizes their materiality and intimate subject matter."

"“An investigation of light and shadow, of nature, our behaviors, the conscious and the subconscious, connection and dissonance, the outside world and the inside world, the phases of the moon from fullness to absence, creativity and receptivity, sound and silence. An interdependence of the two.”"

"I am not religious but I pray through my work to unknown devils and gods. I look for my soul in colors and empty my being through parables of rusted, lost metal doors."

"In empty buildings that felt like spiritual experiences, exploring holy chambers of neglected architecture... finding something so beautiful in what society disregards, and bringing to life that which usually people throw away or ignore."

"Miners are waiting for justice. Workers are waiting for a living wage. People are waiting for service delivery. Refugees are waiting for assistance. Men are waiting for jobs. We are all waiting for an honest politician. So many people are waiting for others to do things first. To take the blame. To do things for them. To take the fall. To build the country. To admit defeat. There has been so much waiting in this country that much time has been lost."

"We have become so distanced from nature, so these murals are an attempt to reconnect us with the natural world."

"There's an inherent irony in recreating nature on cement, so the series is a nostalgic reminder of what we've lost but also an attempt to reintegrate that into the present,"

"“We forget that the dividing lines specifying countries were merely drawn by politically hungry men. In reality, the earth is open. There are no countries, no borders, it belongs to no one. We are transient visitors and should travel as we please,""

"“Through her works, FAITH XLVII leads a spiritual search and offers the visitors to follow her on the winding path to serenity. Light and shadow are intertwined in her art and the chiaroscuro explored by the artist is ambivalent. Deeply meditative, it invites us to pause.”"

"“FAITH XLVII’s work questions inner duality and the ambivalence of the world. Shadows intertwined with light, her work is highly inspired by Buddhism, connected to nature, but also haunted by the ghost of post-traumatic stress due to her South African origins. Through her creations, the exploration of the notion of consciousness makes us go through the worst as well as the best of the human experience.”"

"Mirroring our contradictions, her installations encourage us to turn our inner gaze towards the animality within us. It is only by listening to the non-human in us, by letting nature express itself in culture, that we can reinvent the world, the artist suggests."

"A South African artist whose textured imagery brings spirituality and nature to the foreground of urban environments."

"A rare incantation of both the earthly and the transcendent."

"Deeply profound visions existing as physical aesthetic gifts for other viewers."

"Equally at home in grimy alleys as she is in a studio, she creates murals that are both breathtaking and poignant. I challenge anyone to look at her work and not feel a little overawed by her talent."

"“Diamonds are so polished and precious and usually associated with jewellery. When they are set against the unevenness of the bone, it’s quite interesting,”"

"“I’m challenging the conventional thought of an African curio,”"

"Her works are designed for the high end luxury market, but also have a playful and girly charm."

"Her 2013 collection "Diamond Dreaming" included bracelets, necklaces and pendants inspired by the Islamic Hamsa motif as well as keys, crowns and peace signs in 9ct and 18ct white, yellow and rose gold."

"Her range of Skullchmey exotic animal skulls of crocodile, baboon, caracul are dipped in liquid precious metals in a technique she has developed herself. Her metal embalming process leaves the exotic animal skulls in an antiqued patina finish that is already being copied by others."

"Jill of all trades, and master of most of them... who, if she was busy, would slip a delicately beaded white chiffon dinner dress over her riding trousers and high leather boots, to arrive at a dinner party with a riding crop instead of a bag."

"self-possessed by nature and training", who "loved freedom... a slim intrepid woman, with her wide human interests, and zest for work... poised squarely in the path of life, like a bright eagle ready to fly the wind against any wrong done to the young, weak or innocent"

"an English lady who has long resided in the colony and has mingled farming with painting"

"emphatically one of our national artists", with "her quaint brush and charmingly original way of looking at things"

"“Women are often asked to make media-influenced choices about our bodies,”"

"“Fake nails and false eyelashes, though, go against that. You’re able to become expressive, to become someone else. You don’t become the idea of who a woman should be. You become the antithesis.”"

"“I don’t buy into your heterosexual traditions. We know that last claim is a lie because in some ways we all do buy into these traditions, it’s very difficult not to.""

"“The mundane, the ordinary and the trivial have always been of interest to me, as I believe they all obscure dark places, issues and emotions that people do not wish to confront.”"

"A shift happens where you become governed by your wants rather than your needs. It’s no longer about getting food, paying the bills, survival. Suddenly, it’s all about needing to go to the gym, needing those new shoes or that new car…"

"All the addictions I deal with are about keeping up appearances"

"‘These objects are about how you look, how you show yourself to the world. You pop a little pill when everything is falling apart inside and suddenly you can put on a smiley face, go out into the world and get your work done.’"

"“Rapacious is a fantastic word,” says Goodman. “It means needy and greedy and assertive and aggressive, all these attributes we’re taught to be embarrassed about. We’re taught not to want. ‘Rapacious’ asserts these characteristics that are only criticized in women, not men.”"

"“There’s still a need for feminism and a voice for what women have to contend with that men don’t.”"

"Goodman makes a mass of thousands of purple acrylic nails into a surging, rippling, mottled object that suggests a vagina but might be a version of the Charybdis that was encountered by Odysseus. Flailing toward the viewer from an adjacent wall, Goodman has fashioned another monster"

"“Yet Goodman, who has been working for some time with the question of how to be a woman who wields femininity and negotiates inherited roles tied to profound ideologies, wants to stay right here in our contradictions. She is telling us that artifice isn’t nothing; it’s trying to make sense of the world of gender roles, as well as one’s place in it.""

"The strength of her work lies in the fact that it’s often presented with sheen, sensuous exteriors which allude to the latent libidinal energy that stimulates consumption, as seen in her use of glossy nail varnish."

"Emptiness is a key notion in Goodman’s work to date. Sparkling suitcases – emblazoned with brand logos and covered in sequins, but empty – question the vacuity of global brand fetishism."

"Goodman’s art focuses specifically on the subject of middle class experience and prejudices; looking at everyday obsessions and superficial behavior (such as fanatic exercise culture and conventions of marriage and beauty) she explores the way individuals respond to our contemporary, highly materialistic society and the idiosyncratic coping mechanisms they develop."

"Her works reflects a morbid ambiguity of excess and loss; a dislocation between appearance and truth. ‘Beautiful’ or seductive objects, environments and installations are used as a ruse to obscure the primary subject matter, which is often dark, complicated and messy."

"'Waste at Work combines social awareness, environmental concerns, cultural diversity and visual art in a single project that reflects the heterogeneous population of South Africa.""

""Jeanne Hoffman and Liza Grobler have collaborated on a number of projects over the past five years – all of these have been visual reactions to so-called “development” and “progress”."

"Her work resides in many notable collections including the Jeanetta Blignaut Art Consultancy Collection."

"She has participated in close to a hundred group shows both in South Africa and abroad - in Italy, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, the United States and Finland. She attended residencies and workshops in the US, Norway, Finland and Switzerland."

"Grobler' work often incorporates traditional craft techniques such as beadwork and she has collaborated with The Quebeka Bead Studio to produce beaded works."

"The physical, conceptual, mental or temporal flexibility that the three projects propose de-construct the sacredness of national memory narratives (shaped strongly by collective traumas and their political exploitation)."

"In the context of South Africa, these questions inevitably touch upon the political and historical disposition of the space, as the historical surroundings inform us on a traumatic past of apartheid."

"Artistic practices of performance in contemporary art and theater, through reenactments, involve the public in activities that question the status quo, mobilize, and render visible that, which has been obscured by the official gaze."

"The past is part of our identity and eve as i sit in Europe thousands miles away from my country, my mind is focused on my ancestors, my past and my culture."

"I still delight in it when people find pleasure in my work. To paint is to reach out, hoping that one will touch. One wants to be understood."

"Her brushwork and color choice became more expressive and less consistent with her earlier works, using angular features and colored shapes to both her landscape paintings and portraits."

"She singled out Franz Marc of Der Blaue Reiter and Nolde, Schmidt-Rottluff and Pechstein of Die Brücke as significant to her personality, although she would claim not to have been influenced by them."

"Maggie Laubser was often influenced by exotic beauty and her various travels within South Africa. Her portraits of young Indian and African women, in which flower motifs are employed as decorative surrounds, are some of her finest. Comparable works include Young girl with head scarf holding a protea, Pondo woman and Indian girl with poinsettias."

"Her work, inspired by European rural life and nuns from the Sisters of Mercy order, achieved international recognition, with her Walking Nuns painting selling thousands of copies worldwide."

"She was one of seven artists representing contemporary South African art in Lisbon. Simultaneously, she was commissioned to create four abstract mural panels, titled The Discovery of Gold in the Witwatersrand, for the President Hotel in Johannesburg."

"Aileen's exploration into steel led to kinetic sculptures, introducing movement and dynamic elements to her art."

"The spiritual life of the Malians, marked by acceptance of fate, inspired her to appreciate the harmony of living with circumstances."

"The resilience and stoicism of the Mandingo kingdom, along with the vibrant markets of Bamako and Timbuktu, shifted her focus to capturing daily life with urgency and authenticity. The spiritual life of the Malians, marked by acceptance of fate, inspired her to appreciate the harmony of living with circumstances."

""I started because of a dream. It took a very long time, because I didn't understand it well. This was in 1965 and in 1974, I started the work"."

"If nothing happens, our children will die suffering, like their grandparents. We sacrifice, but we are not seeing the changes."

"Some youths are lazy and addicted to alcohol and drug abuse. That is also killing our country,"

"This is the picture of a woman who, after some differences with her husband, embarks on a lonely journey with food over her head for her child,"

"These days, people are killing each other and killing children as well. It is very disturbing. We are living in a society that needs leadership."

"I believe that artwork should not be hidden, but the manner in which we have been robbed, it keeps one worried that it's better to keep one's work on the shelves,"

"Her skill made her the first black woman, and the only Venda woman in South Africa, to become a famous wood carver. She also began to create works which followed more contemporary themes."

"Her work contemplates the feeling of social rejection, censure, and disapproval that comes with diverging from the established guidelines of accepted and expected behaviour."

"Her figures of traditional ceremonies, women with babies, and those that capture daily life around her reflect profound expressiveness and mastering of her craft. She conveys the experience of apartheid from a Venda women’s perspective focusing in the exploration of her origins, displacement, race, and sex."

"“Ndebele painting comes from a context of architecture. It is the painting of the house.""

"“Geometry and pattern is a theme that just permeates African art,”"

"Cushing, Nathan (17 September 2014). "South African artist painting commissioned murals at VMFA". RVA News. Retrieved 24 March 2025."

"“I want them to take away a sense of excitement, a sense of how vibrant the arts are in Africa,”"

"This culture must not die. Our young people are vandalising our traditions. This is why I try to motivate them"

"“Our young people don’t wear the clothes or respect their forefathers, the girls have hair extensions and wear western clothes. This does not make me feel comfortable. They are vandalising our traditions. This is why I talk to them, try to motivate them with my travels and teach them too about Aids.”"

""I love to travel, but I love most to come home again. It makes me happy if people like Ndebele art.”"

"“Ndebele art is naturally grandiose in form and only needed the concept of motion added.”"

"“My art has evolved from the tribal tradition of decorating our homes. The patterns I have used on the BMW Art Car marry tradition to the essence of BMW.”"

"“I always watched my mother and grandmother when they were decorating the house,”"

"“The original patterns that were painted on the houses in the past were part of a ritual of Ndebele people to announce events like a birth, death, wedding, or when a boy goes off to the initiation school. I started painting on canvas and board as I realized not everybody will be able to see the Ndebele painting in Mpumalanga where I live, and I felt I need to take it to them to see. This is how my work started to be exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.”"

"Cashdan, Marina (23 September 2016). "Esther Mahlangu Is Keeping Africa's Ndebele Painting Alive". Artsy. Retrieved 24 March 2025."

"“In the old days, the decoration on the houses was always done with natural pigment and cow dung as that was the only material available,”"

"“When looking at a Ndebele mural, people get a smile of amazement on their faces. And if they watch me paint, they can’t believe that I don’t use a ruler to paint the lines, and that my hand is so steady, even at my age. If people see the bright colors, they are happy. And it makes me happy as well, as I love to paint; it is in my heart and in my blood.”"

"“To paint is in my heart and in my blood,”"

"“When you get married, you paint your first house. It’s very important to have straight lines and not zigzag lines because your family members will come and look. If your lines are perfectly straight, then you are a very good wife and can look after your family.”"

"“Every single afternoon when they went to have a nap, I’d try to paint. I got into trouble every day until eventually they realized that in my heart I wanted to paint.”"

"Mun-Delsalle, Y.-Jean. "Esther Mahlangu, One Of South Africa's Most Famous Artists, Perpetuates Traditional Ndebele Painting". Forbes. Retrieved 24 March 2025."

"“What many find interesting about my artworks is that although they are based on traditional Ndebele designs, they are still very modern and current. They can fit into a home or office anywhere in the world and don’t appear dated.”"

"“I love to paint and have been doing it my whole life. I will paint anything, as long as there’s a benefit where my culture can be preserved, where somebody growing up can value and never forget their Ndebele roots.”"

"“As children grow up today, they’re losing their culture. I don’t want my culture to die. That’s why I teach children Ndebele art. They must know their culture and where they come from.”"

"“Being recognized at home is such a blessing. It shows that my people still see the great work that I do,”"

""As an artist, her ...composition is more compact, more engaging and complex than that of her contemporaries, the borders more complicated. She has a tendency to frame her pattern motifs.”"

"Her works are in major private collections including that of The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) of Jean Pigozzi and in many Western museums. Despite being an internationally recognized artist, Esther Mahlangu still presently lives in her village in close and constant contact with her culture."

"Mahlangu follows a local tradition through which this particular type of painting technique is handed down in the family, communicated, learned and transmitted only by women (in the past)"

"Esther Mahlangu has worked tirelessly exposing and developing her talent travelling around the world, and she is very passionate about sharing her knowledge with the younger generation so that she leaves a legacy that lives on for generations to come."

"“Since being a young child, Esther had a will to paint,”"

""The art is practiced almost entirely by women, likely passed down when girls became adolescents. Esther couldn’t wait. (She was born an artist),”"

"“Esther is the person who has taken the local art of design and painting in the Ndebela region and [brought] it to a global context,”"

"“She has spanned the horizon of both painting locally and painting globally.”"

"One of the most famous artists in South Africa, Mahlangu is a living tourist attraction, although visitors are few and far between in this far-flung village, two hours’ drive from the nearest city. And she is indisputably the most honoured gogo – Zulu for grandmother – of the Ndebele who remain in the Mpumalanga homelands."

"“I am very proud of her,” says her son, William. “She is our queen, queen of Ndebele, and our happy mascot.”"

"“She was trying to blend tradition with modernity, so while there is a family trajectory there, it was also her and her generation who took this one step further, making this now-recognized Ndebele contribution to contemporary art,”"

"“It’s somewhat problematic when looking at South African art and Western art—with mostly Western art taking and African art giving. The way that African art was appropriated is more of a taker’s attitude. I want to see the art history written that pays as much tribute to the originality of this South African heritage that we also see in Mahlangu’s art as to Keith Haring.”"

"I believe I deserve to win the title as I embody resilience, strength and the ubuntu spirit within South Africa. As a deaf woman with a cochlear implant, I represent a community that often goes unheard."

"I aspire to eventually help provide cochlear implants to those who cannot afford it and give them the same gift my community has given me."

"I am here to prove that, despite being differently-abled, it has not affected me. My journey is a testament to the power of dreams and determination we all possess."

"We do not need sympathy, being deaf does not affect our intelligence and capability. We just need a little bit of help in terms of accessibility and inclusivity such as subtitles on TV shows, advertisements and sign interpreters at live shows."

"I followed my intuition and started to learn all kinds of art techniques to assist the patients by art therapy. Weaving I liked best. I felt very little satisfaction when following fixed patterns or working out of the themes that teachers provided me with. I could feel that was not my thing."

"When I work I see the picture and my hand will go over the wool and I know where I will have the image. Sometimes I change it again and take out all the wool, start over till I am happy with it. It is a slow process, for painters it must be easier."

"These animals are markers of economic wellbeing and serve as spiritual links with the ancestors."

"In her tapestries she gets in touch with her memories of the numerous Zulu folktales that spoke, through granny’s voice, of times immemorial. She uses no premeditated composition or logical storyline. Scenes get mixed up or flow into one overall vision that triggers the spirit of fantasy."

"The essence of being South African, with all its issues, angst, triumphs and glorious celebrations has been distilled into a unique exhibition which opened at Spier in Stellenbosch"

"“Maybe the greatest yearning of South Africans is to find a canvas on which to express themselves,”"

"“It is through exhibitions like this that we become a country that is grappling with its soul, rather than a country of one dimensional theme parks”"

"“Art plays a significant role in the transformation of our country,”"

"“Exhibitions like this break down barriers and create linkages between us in the unique mix that is South Africa”."

"“A place of collective residential isolation, where the living environment becomes a site for production. The work that has come from this time deals with the act of conversation in an intimate environment and the physical realization of our online relationship on our website.""

""As collaborators, we are interested in the dialogue that occurs between two artists and how this connection manifests – both as a competitive and a supportive force. We find that our work illustrates both of these qualities, and shows the bond that can come from knowing another’s work as well as your own. We approach our individual work in distinctive ways - one subjective and intimate, another cerebral and pragmatic. Together, these traits play off each other, forming a new space in which to create.”"

"My art is underpinned by ongoing research into the impact of artists and their art making upon environment."

"Over the past few years I have collected spent and discarded paint from acclaimed international artists such as Marlene Dumas to local house painters."

"I integrate this paint in works that can be considered as landscape due to the destiny of the paint as landfill before being reclaimed in an artwork. The weight of the paint informs the title of the works."

"“As an artist, you’re always throwing away small amounts of paint, but when you add it up, you realise how substantial it is. The idea came to me after I’d completed a large installation. I had so much paint left at the end of it, that I realised the extent of the leftover paint – the weight and heaviness of it. So I decided to work with it.”"

"Some of the ingredients in the pigment used in paint are poisonous and produce toxic waste during their manufacture. As environmental awareness increases many paint suppliers are improving their environmental credentials. However labelling can often be misleading."

"“No matter how depressing the environmental debate can become, creative thinking and action and shift it into positive territory and has the potential to precipitate and evolutionary leap that can benefit all.”"

"“Over the past few years I have collected spent and discarded paint from acclaimed international artists such as Marlene Dumas to local house painters where I live. I integrate this paint in works that, to me, are actual landscapes, because the paint was destined for landfill before becoming part of the artwork,”"

"“My art is underpinned by ongoing research into the impact of artists and their art making upon environment and a thought that I once came across, which is constantly on my mind, is that when you throw away there is no away.”"

"“I have a friend who struggles financially, and I love the way it’s reflected in her tubes with every last drop squeezed out of them. Other tubes have remnants such as hairs trapped in paint that has oozed out of the tube and dried, or the smudged paint fingerprints where they have been squeezed.”"

"“I build layer upon layer and before I know it, it is 10 kg.”"

"“I have always had an interest in where things come from and where they’re going and in my works I focus on the intrinsic connection that paint has with land.”"

"“Often I find that artists have an attachment to their old paint tubes, Marlene Dumas for example kept her tubes since she was a student.”"

"“I see my work as breaking down something unusable in order to build it up in the form of an artwork which ideally will be kept indefinitely.”"

"“My goal is to always look intensely at the impact of what I do in my life, where something I use comes from, what it really is, and where it’s going.”"

"To ensure that her work has a minimal impact on the environment Carolyn’s work involves the collection and reclamation of spent paint from painters – ranging from international artists to local contract painters. She removes the leftover paint from tins or cans and uses this paint to create her masterpieces such as Threshold and Transcodes featured in this Blog post. She even uses the hardened bits of nail varnish."

"“I was blown away by how people were creating digital art with all this software I’d never heard of, and communicating just using their art,”"

"“I came from a traditional art background, and seeing people use technology to tell stories really captivated me.”"

"“What we were learning was catered to more of a Western narrative, and we weren’t really seeing an African narrative being taught or explored, or even encouraged,”"

"“In the textbooks, there was traditional and primitive African art, nothing contemporary, or in the context of advertising or digitisation.”"

"“I didn’t think anyone that came from where I came from would be listened to.”"

"“In the beginning, I didn’t think my voice would be enough, or that anyone that came from where I came from would even be listened to.”"

"“That’s when the fire got lit underneath me, because it wasn’t being done, and I thought it was overdue.”"

"“It was the first time we saw black people create something so uniquely theirs, and so visually beautiful, that spoke of all the things we learn at home, in a way that was so proud and unashamed. It was so far away from us, but we could relate to everything we saw in the music, fashion and sitcoms – it still felt like home somehow.”"

"“It’s always been a part of my journey since I was little, so it felt like it came full circle, and confirmed what I’m doing. And now my parents believe that this is a real job!”"

"“I feel immense pressure because I really want to represent my identity correctly and authentically, make sure it’s being celebrated and not exploited for monetary gain or trendiness. But I take comfort in knowing that my community really supports me, and is really encouraging me to continue to do what I do. And I trust my own decisions.”"

"“When I started my (art) journey, I was really inspired by hip-hop, rap and basketball, and I’d always seen this theme of Nike Air Force 1s and Air Jordans,”"

"“I’d always associated that with Black people really creating groundbreaking, global, effective work and I really wanted to be a part of it.”"

"“Hair has been something that’s important for not only my family but a lot of African people as well; it’s really like the center of our identity in a way. So, when I started drawing, I’d draw people having really fresh haircuts or beautiful braids.”"

"“Within all of my work you’ll see nuggets of a zigzag and that represents cornrows that you see in beautiful patterns; you’ll see combs, you’ll see people that look familiar to myself and my narrative,”"

"“We need to see more female designers in the industry. There’s not enough,”"

"“I’m extremely proud to be a Black female African illustrator because this was a space, I’ll say 10 years ago, there weren’t a ton of us there,”"

"“There’s a certain way in which we tell stories that I think the world not only will enjoy, but I think the world needs.”"

""Shoebox collections like Poppy’s tower are a source of pride within sneaker culture, according to Wells. By having those boxes serve as her “vision board,”"

"The first time I learnt about Karabo Poppy Moletsane and her work was four years ago when she was unveiled as one of the African creatives, who collaborated with a major European brand."

"Among those creatives were the impeccable Manthe Ribane and Nonku Phiri, I knew there and then that she was a force; given the calibre of brilliant women she was featured alongside. Her work was impressive then and still is now; she has not looked back since."

"I have just carried on doing what I did as a child. It’s been one long continuous stream of making pictures to feel a sense of connectedness. Painting this way is a wordless exclamation….Sometimes people get cross with it because they hate that it’s not about anything, and that I just carry on with all this realism. This fiddle-faddle, this knitting."

"Who cares if you can paint something that looks real? It is totally banal. There is no worth in that, except as a kind of sport, an exercise in hand-eye co-ordination. Now painting something that seems to contain reality – that is truly moving."

"There is relief in dwelling in a not-new picture, in embracing the foolishness of the formula, in discovering the beauty of each small detail that is woven into the picturesque whole. And while we are there, noticing the leaves, the clouds, the way the paint has described the folds of silk, perhaps something indescribable can be felt."

"I lived in many different places as I was growing up. This gave me an awareness of difference, the understanding that security cannot be found in the outside world."

"In life, as in pictures, there is only the Romantic. Behind the scenes of our lives, there is everything unspoken, unseen, unknown and nothing."

"Art is an offering, a show that mirrors the show we form around ourselves as we move through our scenery."

"Art is always artful, a ruse, a trick. It is a court fool, jumping up and down, aping its masters. Art is part of the dream that we inhabit."

"Poynton's paintings are more about the act of looking, of exposing the "trickery" behind traditional artistic practices, than they are windows onto a surreal world."

"By constructing spaces, placing slightly discordant objects amongst seemingly natural landscapes, Poynton creates a tension within her work that is intended to make the viewer uncomfortably aware of the act of perception."

"While most of her work can be categorized as realism, a few series depart from her usual aesthetic in a more abstract project. Her current exhibition, Scenes of a Romantic Nature, draws on her connection to Germany by referencing the landscape paintings of German artist Caspar David Friedrich."

"Her work often conflates tropes from traditional art history, from compositional techniques to poses of her subjects, and the indices of contemporary life to create a sense of chaotic inscrutability; in this way, Poynton creates work which is aesthetically engaging and intellectually confounding."

"Viewing Poynton's work is a personal experience. The story that comes to your mind is different from that of someone else. There is no right or wrong. All ideas and associations are welcome in the world of Deborah Poynton."

"I don’t get why these kids think they’re the first. There’s a lacking in historical referencing and reverencing. Their art doesn’t take any risks. It doesn’t love itself. It doesn’t love people. It’s only interested in power; not even power, it’s all vanity. And I don’t think people are looking at books enough."

"Artists have got to be the interpreters and intermediaries in spaces. So they consume information, they go into these vile, volatile environments and you take all of it. They reconfigure it and put it through their being and then they create these things that cause a shift vibrationally, spirituality, intellectually and emotionally for the people that engage with it. I am also a glutton for information. I consume information all the time. I read. It infiltrates the work."

"Making work is a documentation of a journey - each stage, each process, each dilemma has to be worked through. At one time I felt pressured to do a lot of things at the same time, but now I want to take one step at a time. When you make an artwork you're not just doing something at that moment, you're contributing to an entire history of artmaking."

"In Podor in Senegal, the place where I grew up, everyone is an artist because art in Africa is not a commercial enterprise but is part of life itself."

"Let me explain. When I was young, I used to watch the fishermen by the banks of the Senegal river. They were working close to the desert in intense heat, and whenever they stopped working they would start to sing."

"In Podor, people sing naturally about their experiences, their lives and their relationships. It is not just musicians and singers who perform. Everybody has a part to play - even children are allowed to join in if they have the inspiration. It doesn't matter if your voice is not the finest; everyone is involved."

"Musicians are respected, but only in the context that the music itself belongs to the community - not to the person who is playing an instrument or singing a song."

"Computers and digital technology are becoming very important to African artists, just as elsewhere. I see it with the impact of hip-hop across the continent. You can see it beginning to have an impact on the visual arts."

"I stopped looking at art for a while, actually. It’s no longer this holistic thing that you’re looking at. It’s a statement. It’s about poverty, it’s about the global crises, post-colonial this, that. Tick box, tick box, tick box. It’s got all these fucking issues and I’m just looking at shit. There’s no kind of material engagement."

"The performance that happens as an artist within that space becomes a political decision to keep the work alive, relevant and moving. If I didn’t I would be ostracised even more."

"I want to know how do I keep expanding what’s possible in the legal range with my body. It’s kind of theatre for adrenaline junkies. Once you start performance art, you keep chasing the dragon."

"People from all over the world, who are the most rigorous thinkers, were making work out of stuff in real time. That’s not necessarily paint on canvas; it’s material and matter that speaks. It blew my mind. I cried for a year. I couldn’t. I had a breakdown because I realised the depth of the deception and how far and controlled it was. Seeing people of colour make art in my lifetime blew me the fuck away."

"The work that I’m making happens, stylistically, because of all the financial restrictions that I have to go through in order to make it. Sometimes I hustle, I ask for favours. Sometimes I’m using a lesser kind of grade of material, but I know it’s like that because of the necessity of having the work made. That adds a richness to the work."

"There are more gentle ways to make art."

"When you start to perform a particular character for the media or historians, you get locked into them. So even when you start writing, there’s no space for your words to be published. Now that I’m an academic, I can say what I like and write what I like. When I write what I like, it’s going to be fucken dangerous."

"Tracey Rose is not a practitioner who jumps at every curatorial opportunity offered her, and has been known to withdraw from more than one exhibition if the circumstances have not seemed right."

"I first met Tracey Rose eleven years ago. I was researching the connections between healing and art in the work of contemporary artists from Africa. There was something in her art that spoke of the shaman, the alchemist, the revealer of wounds, the reorderer of worlds. From the beginning, I loved all the facets of her and of her work: the mischief and joy and delight of the girl; the boundless sensuality and wisdom of the woman; the vastness of spirit, placing her somewhere between this plane and another, channeling perpetually distant truths, some more gentle and others with more violent vibratory force."

"Rose embodies various caricatures of beauty, from porn star Cicciolina to the European Queen, invoking those forms of masking and masquerade that in their grotesque heightening of contour, of color, of symbolism, reveal an essence usually hidden."

"If we are to look at Rose’s career in the form of a linear timeline exhibiting important moments in the artist’ career, we see that her work is a threaded by essential fractiles through a landscape of powerful ideas, she is listening and responding to conditions."

"Without providing any definite answers, I think my work raises questions about attitudes towards race and gender. I think it operates on different levels and reflects different racial and political experiences - but I don't think my pieces are limited by that. I hope they transcend and go beyond that, and provide a space for illusion and fantasy. They reflect a desire to present myself in various ways to counter the image that has been imposed on me. Race is inevitable in South Africa."

"The self is explored as an ongoing process of construction in time and place. The presence and absence of the body in the work points to the idea that one's identity is not static, and constantly in a state of flux."

"I don’t have a ‘feminist artist statement’ as such. Being a woman is only one aspect of who I am."

"Searle pays constant attention to the social issues and movements in South Africa, such as xenophobia, access to housing, land and political protests. Her work is not reducible to simple poignant condemning. Rather, through her visual language, ripe with symbolism and narrativity, she creates the entanglement of poetic and violent imagery which captures the contradictions and complexities of South Africa."

"We were denied the experience of knowing what Nelson Mandela looked like. We were denied the experience of each other's lives." Still, "one developed ways around the system that were illicit but expressive . . . we all learned, as it were, to wiggle and squiggle."

"Her work represents a mode of African modernist painting and sculpture, wherein she depicts her experience of having grown up and living in the South African countryside, and later her experiences as a black artist, living and working under an apartheid regime."

"Sebidi's portraits often depict abstracted African subjects in bright colours and a rich palette. She is often associated with the realist and quasi-expressionist schools, with her vivid paintings of life in both rural and urban South Africa and similarly striking clay sculptures."

"The old people told us stories...about how people live and...about how to see. They "read" the clouds. We used to sit outside in the courtyard, and especially in the very bright moonlight when there were a lot of clouds they used to read the stories for us and tell us: look at that, look at the soldiers, look at this! And they would tell us: you're going to have to see other life that's coming."

"As a teenager, Sebidi became a domestic worker and estranged from her mother and step-father. Sebidi sewed and knitted and decided to pursue her art in her off-time with encouragement from the wife of her employer, who also pushed Sebidi towards formal training."

"Through her unique depiction of the human figure, we come to appreciate Sebidi’s representation of different forms of black being, and a search into the relationship between humanism, spiritualism and the contemporary black African condition."

"I had everything I needed, and I went to a good high school which was multiracial. Many families couldn't afford to send their kids there but I was fortunate that my mum was able to. I guess that also pushed me in a certain direction."

"There were no museums and galleries in the town I grew up in; that was foreign to me."

"...I can now marry the two worlds – fashion and fine art aren't far off from each other."

"The fabric used to produce uniforms for domestic workers is an instantly recognizable sight in domestic spaces in South Africa, and by applying it to Victorian dress she attempts to make a comment about history of servitude and colonization as it relates to the present in terms of domestic relationships."

"The female visual artists before my generation worked extra hard and paved the way for me. Some of them are being recognised only now; they died poor. For me it was easy; these women were the stepping stones."

"This was more about how I see the world and how I look at myself as a black woman born in apartheid South Africa in 1982."

"Sibande has used her work to expose many different things, from postcolonial South Africa to stereotypes of women as well as stereotypes regarding black women in South Africa."

"Her work contains multiple types of mediums such as sculpture, photography, design, collage, and even theatrics. Sibande's painting and sculpture uses the human form to explore the construction of identity in a postcolonial South African context, but also attempts to critique stereotypical depictions of women, particularly black women."

"Sibande's theatrical quotations of the language of dress and use of dramatic poses may be related to photographic representations of the Victorian female hysteric in various stages of a hysterical attack, in that they both evoke a sense of excess."

"Her body of work is divided into colour-based themes, and after her ‘blue period’, Mary moved to purple, with the highly acclaimed The Purple Shall Govern.""

"As much as Pinky Pinky is a perpetrator of violence, it also seems a victim of, and scapegoat for, violent, uncivil actions – a constructed 'something' to blame for social problems."

"I believe that encounters with lively matter can chasten my fantasies of human mastery, highlight the common materiality of all that is, expose a wider distribution of agency and reshape the self and its interests"

""I was always interested in objects as carriers of meanings beyond themselves, they are physical traces of time, of people's lives and social histories, like an archive, which I use similarly to how I use film...its an ephemeral art really. The objects get taken down and become like paint tubes again"."

""The constant evolution of the installations and the meanings made from them functions as a generative force in Siopis's work. One thing nestled next to another or dropped over another, creating countless relationships. They're endless these bits of relationships between things and objects and spaces"."

"The material process of the paintings is a fluid affair; the glue’s capacity to change its form and colour when it comes into contact with other forces – air, gravity, water, my gestures – imbues it with a presence that holds onto itself as ‘something other’, yet can simultaneously take on the guise of an image."

"With global warming, what do we imagine? Burning? Drowning? Absolute alterity? And what forms – or formlessnesses – do we imagine this through?"

""Penny Siopis is one of the few artists in the world today who can weave a material web of marks, gestures, voices, words, found things and painted surfaces to entangle the brute forces of history with the delicate threads of human vulnerability"."

"From the outset, her attitude to painting has been simultaneously modernist and counter-modernist in its complex irreverence to the purity of both creative act and the physical medium."

"Many of these prosthetics are "traditionally" flesh colour, a kind of dirty pink. There is irony here, as flesh colour is not just a category of colour, but nothing less than a western conceit in which whiteness (pink) becomes the universal colour for flesh"

""Sopis's Will is the ultimate time piece...We are able to glance back on a life-in-formation and recognize the subject as discursively produced, 'as project, something to be built"

""My best days still start with a run in the mountains – I run for good health, energy, and to clear my head!”"

"“A day that starts with a run is a better day. I retired 10 years ago and have run the odd marathon as a charity participant running with people trying to finish their first marathon, but nothing more than that, really”"

"“I loved the opportunities that I had and it was 10-15 of the most amazing years of my life. And I love it where I am now trying to help produce the next generation of South African distance runners.”"

"“I always ran hard and athletes knew when I was in the race it would be a hard race. I ran fast from 1500m all the way up to the marathon. I broke world records, got an Olympic medal and won a world title.""

"“We are an ultra-mad country where people normally think a marathon is for sissies and you have to run 90 kilometres to be considered a proper runner”"

"“I founded it and helped get sponsors and partners on board and there is an emphasis on parallel career development and not just athletics career development.”"

"“I have had the privilege to race many big City Marathons in different cities and countries around the world. Each City Marathon had its own unique but challenging experience, each being emotional and rewarding as I experienced each city’s atmosphere, its people, its cultures and its land-marks. These races have left a long standing connection to the respective City’s. It will be a privilege to bring such a unique experience to Cape Town and for Cape Town to be able to host such an event to so many people in South Africa and around the world.”"

"‘'We believe that sport will continue to play an important role in the sustainable social development and transformation space within South Africa, in particular with respect to Women and transformation, and taking children off the streets.’'"

"“The answer is quite simple: it’s not so much about the training and diet as it is about just one simple action: committing yourself to doing it.”"

"“Nothing could be more devastating to your ability to perform than arriving at the starting line in a less than ideal frame of mind,”"

"“You can benefit from the best training programme in the world, but without a certain degree of motivation and discipline, one can quite easily fail,”"

"“Especially in today’s demanding way of life, you have to be able to push back and understand that for you to achieve that goal, you need to put in the action required to make it happen.”"

"“It requires honesty and pragmatism, asking yourself again if you are disciplined and can you be honest enough to pull yourself back in line when that discipline goes pear-shaped?”"

"“And it’s the prestige of competing in one of the world’s top 10 marathon majors, that we believe the 2014 Cape Town Marathon will become.”"

"“But I believed that I could make it, and to make it and grab that gold medal, I’m proud,”"

"“I did dream of this, I’ve been working so hard for this. We have a long season ahead and I believe there’s still more to come.”"

"“The world hasn't really recognised me. The world doesn't really know me that well because I haven't run that sub-1:58 but I know I'm going to do it,”"

"“I'll be all over social media and that is what I want. I haven't been there, according to me. I don't have that exposure. In Morocco, I will make some miracles happen. I'm ready.”"

"“I feel like right now I have that experience whereby I know in the heat they take the top three. And in the semis that's where you have to push yourself. That's your final, actually,”"

"“You have to put yourself in the top two. This year we have the Olympics and now I have a goal. My goal is to be in the final. Like my coach says, anything can happen once you are in the final.”"

"“I am from this village called Medingen. It's a dusty place, to be honest. There's no track. There's no grass. There's nothing, there is just dust everywhere,”"

"“So, it was challenging. I started running when I was doing physical education in grade four. And that's where I thought, ‘Let me just try this thing of running. Let me see where I can go. Then I just started running and we started visiting other schools.”"

"“The goal for this year is to run 1:56. I didn’t tell the coach yet. But that's my goal and I know I'm going to do it. I wrote it in my diary. I just have to keep consistent in my training,""

"Well you know, sometimes I get so irritated with audiences, especially male audiences who will say stupid things like “that’s a nice ass” or something like that. For me, I think as long as the performer knows exactly what the intention is with the body everybody will get over everything else. There are some people who just don’t get it, and that’s ok too. I know what my body is loaded with. I know what it is and I know how to use it. I know I’ve gotten to the point where I know how it works. I don’t necessarily care anymore."

"You are born here, and yet you can’t speak one vernacular language is an issue for me. You’ve had the chance, I mean you are surrounded by people, are you telling me that as a white person you are honestly not going to make that effort. I know how to speak English, I wasn’t born around people who speak English, and I was born around people who speak isiXhosa, isiZulu. Yet I know how to speak seSotho, which is totally different from my own language, and you are telling me it’s difficult to speak one. So I’m just not buying it. I’m not interested. I title my work in a language that resonates with the work. It is also to exclude, because I know you can’t speak it, and I know that most of the audience coming in need a translation, which forces you to engage with the work even further. So it’s also a conscious decision – it might be a bad strategy, but at this point in time I don’t really care – I’m going to continue doing it.""

""The simplest thing, I could literally just have an exhibition by putting this bowl down. For me, that would be enough. But for some people they’ve always got to go extra, extra, extra. I don’t feel the same way."

"The first performance I did at the Theater Spektakel was basically around reparations, how we take back the land, and I used the student protests as the starting point. I started with video pieces of these different camps for Boere (Afrikaans) guys who run the camp because they think black people are going to invade and kill them all, and then I move on to the student protests, and after that I go to the land matter. It’s also about how the female black body is viewed in protests, how black women have protested certain things, and how they are kept out of protest history. If women must protest they must protest not to make a mark, you know, it’s not like you can be a part of the ANC and be there with Mandela."

"I don’t think so, I think there are really strong individuals and people will be surprised when we show individually. The thing is, they don’t give people a chance. That’s the main problem."

"If these were the works universally exalted across America’s art museums, if these were the images filling the heads of American children over generations, what would America’s conversations about race, gender and sexuality sound like today?"

"I'm in the world. Artists are in the world . . . My role is to get artists’ work out into the world, and excite people about it [while] being respectful [and] finding artists people won’t be familiar with."

"Through the themes of the body, sexuality, self-representation, motherhood, beliefs, the exhibition questions how the question of intimacy in black women reveals unspoken words and manifests their relationship to the world. It offers a reflection where the notions of memory, family, spirituality and imagination are intertwined. The creations presented - painting, pottery, photography, video, performance, embroidery etc. - celebrate the emancipatory energy of the "power of their hands"."

"Reconciliation is needed more than ever. We see Black Lives Matter demonstrations throughout the world, calling attention to inequality, racism and senseless violence. Inflammatory language on social media and even in politics serves to increase social polarisation. All too often, the world is shocked by extreme acts of violence prompted by prejudice against those of a certain religion, ethnicity, sexuality or gender identity."

""Living, Forgiving, Remembering | Museum Arnhem." www.museumarnhem.nl. Retrieved 27 March 2025."

"Gratitude is the general feeling. It iterates the message that we should truly assert ourselves in spaces that we desire. We should be unafraid to go boldly in the direction of our dreams."

"I would definitely say to hold on because tough times do pass and when you’re in the moment it’s difficult to see yourself through it. But I think what’s most important is sticking by your convictions and what you believe in even if that means standing alone. In essence, bad times don’t last and things do get better."

"I love my critics. I think I’m being given an opportunity to grow. And just because you disagree with my decision doesn’t mean you shouldn’t respect me. Respect is the biggest thing we owe to each other"

"I WANTED TO DIE BY SUICIDE"

"Many people see me, and they’re like, oh, at first, I was so confused. I hated you for doing it [going to Israel]. But I’m so glad you went. And I’m like, do you comprehend the level of trauma I went through for you to come then and say this"

"On Twitter, I was being bashed and, you know, going through it, and in person, you’re now going to be nice to me"

"At a point, I actually wanted to die by suicide because I absolutely got to a point where I couldn’t handle it"

"There are so many people that have died by suicide when people actually know what they put them through. So I don’t think they [critcis] even care"

"And a part of me was like, I will jump and die, fall to my death. All because of people that don’t know me"

"The shortage of employment opportunities is so disheartening, particularly in a nation so full of talented and educated people. Our country lacks the infrastructure to nurture talent and provide platforms conducive to the creation of employment, so large numbers of talented South Africans with the best of ideas are emigrating to countries where their are plenty of opportunities. That is something I would like to change"

"On the positive side, our country is extremely rich in diversity, heritage, culture and history, and abundant in picturesque scenery. But my favourite thing about South Africa is our people and their steadfast spirit in the face of adversity. We also never fail to make humour the centre of any situation, good or bad and I love that!"

"I am deeply thankful to all the amazing people who have supported and uplifted me"

"I used to suffer from losing things that I don’t have,” she said. “It stems from fear of perfection or the pressures of the world, and trying to seek from happiness that you don’t have. An attitude of gratitude should be something that we instil every day"

"[My campaign] focuses on youth employment from the perspective of no longer waiting for opportunities from the state, but instead empowering youth by providing them with entrepreneurial skills to take charge economically"

"I have been preoccupied with 'forensic' methods of observation and perception for many years. Much of my work requires viewers to take on the persona of a kind of detective, deconstructing and unravelling clues and references that may not announce themselves outright. These clues are invested in the subject matter and iconography I employ but also live firmly in the media in which I choose to work."

"When working through ideas, I don't draw; I make collages. These can be visual, or more often they take the form of bits of conversations, observations and sampled words from pretty much anywhere. For this series, we decided to experiment with exposing photo-based images onto polymer plates, effecting a photogravure process, but combining this with a photolitho process."

"Working with films in this way was very interesting, considering that they were originally shot on film, processed and printed, and now transferred onto VHS or digitized onto DVD for home consumption. This process underwent a curious inversion in this work, as I photographed countless frames off my laptop screen as the DVD played."

"Watching films is no longer an exclusively public experience in cinemas. With the kinds of technologies available today, I am able to indulge my interests in capturing what lies beyond the between frames in films at my leisure, in my private space. These 'autopsied' images seem to give rise to other hidden, secret narratives when characters are caught in freeze-frame, or in the background, apparently unnoticed when not taking centre stage."

"The printmaking process for me is all about seriality - the ability to reproduce, copy, and repeat systematically. I like to think of it as a kind of failed forgery; failed as there really was no 'original' to begin with, just the possibility of many of the same."

"Monroe strikes me as being the quintessential symptom of modern society; displaced, alienated, capable of (and required to) taking on a range of personae without a basis in the understanding of self and agency. On another level, her story is also the iconic intersection of celebrity, causality and death, not to mention conspiracy. For someone whose identity is inextricably tied to her image and nothing more, it seemed right to recast her with a host of screen characters that more accurately reflected on her private experiences rather than her public persona."

"If I had something I always wanted something else, I’m just that sort of person."

"Shopping and clothing is part of my family’s culture. If something is wrong, you go buy a dress."

"She works in a wide variety of media in her artwork, producing sculptures, objects, prints, film, and more, which she often bases on personal experiences and self exploration."

"Her candidness regarding personal flaws and the cycles of repression and coping that accompany conservative, middle class, Afrikaans upbringing inform much of her work, calling attention to ways in which women are silenced or otherwise repressed in that space."

"It's difficult to talk about Southwood's work without talking about the artist herself because she so unashamedly bares herself, warts-and-all, to an audience. Plumbing the depths of her conservative, white, middle-class Afrikaans upbringing, Southwood unearths a nasty cycle of repression, abuse and the coping mechanisms offered her by this society where women occupy a silent and haunted interior. Southwood's candidness about her own disposition leaves a viewer trapped between doubting her sincerity and wanting to know less about a near stranger. 'Too close for comfort', her first one person show, held in 2000, presented the viewer with this dilemma in an all too attractive way."

"Searching, I roamed the world—to arrive at the origin—at beauty—at truth—away from the lies of everyday—and my longing was burning hot—then the darkness opened up and I stood at the source of the Beginning—Paradise."

"Verification of the art must still be done, but from a layman's view it appears to be the same pieces that were taken in Pretoria."

"Her heavily-laden brush deposits swathes of colour and a tracery of mark that evokes at times the sweep and syncopation of Islamic calligraphy. The calligraphy that she encountered in the carved cartouches of the lintels of Zanzibari doors and the Islamic manuscripts which she collected, armed and liberated her mark-making. The boldness of her impasto brushwork results in a tangible embodiment of her sitters and their contexts, such that her decision to frame the works using fragments of Zanzibari doors feels completely in keeping."

"Irma Stern travelled frequently between South Africa and Germany as a child and this pattern continued into her adult life. During the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, she exhibited throughout Europe and was both known and respected there than in South Africa, where the reception of her work was overwhelmingly negative."

"Strelitzias and bones are ubiquitously the stuff of still life at high schools and tertiary institutions. Themes of flight, transcendence and masks as well as painting's relationship to music have also been well explored in these contexts. All of the above feature prominently in Jeanette Unite's show entitled 'Sentences', and it is for this reason that I found myself suffering from a sense of deja-vu. Somehow though, I felt reluctant to dislike the exhibition. Perhaps it is the energy which clearly suffuses the show or perhaps the sincerity of Unite's quotes which appear throughout the well-produced catalogue. She may, I guess, believe herself but I'm a little less sure."

"I'm not sure I really bought it, but the clearness of the artist's intention and her apparent sincerity cannot be ignored. In the catalogue and abridged essay which appears with the list of works, I found Unite's claims grandiose and her jumps from one subject to another a little unbelievable and unresolved. I also battle to discern the relationship between pretty abstract paintings and a peppering of very specific themes. Nevertheless, as a visually consistent body of work and a thorough exploration of various media I find it interesting."

"Jeannette Unite also works directly with the products of mining. She, however, signals the artist’s complicity in the industry. Creating her own pastels using pigments ground from leftover minerals and mine tailings she continues the tradition of landscape representation, but knowingly constructs her images from the constituents of land itself."

"Mining has been central to her practice since an introduction to alluvial diamond prospecting pits on the Palaeolithic African West Coast beach resulted in her first body of work Earthscars (2004). The exhibition engaged the damage done directly to the earth by excavation, and aligned her concerns with an eco‐ feminist consciousness of earth as body."

"She has a deep reverence for all these substances and also a deep knowledge of their origin, their age, their occurrences. For them, it is important that we humans as end consumers and consumers develop a deeper awareness of the fact that practically everything we use every day comes from the minerals and materials we find on and in the earth. We ourselves consist of it! Unite is passionate about mixing, batching, firing, melting and reacting its substances. This passion and energy is clearly noticeable in her work. She works largely in the open air at home, so that the wind and other factors also leave room for chance."

"On her travels, Jeannette Unite collects ore-containing sand from the dumps, as well as dust, overburden and metal oxides. She uses them as a painting medium on her picture carriers, which makes her art something very special. The artworks thus contain waste products from industrial mining that develop amazing colors and patterns when they react chemically, for example, or are melted in the artist's kiln at extreme temperatures (her studio is half chemistry lab, half office, half apartment)."

"In Jeannette's work, the degree of abstraction varies. While in the abstract works just discussed the powerful effect of the self-created colours dominates and a very sensual, atmospheric impression is created, the objects in the "Highgear" series with the conveyor frames are clearly recognizable to the viewer. We can clearly see winding towers, machines, wheel bucket excavators, cranes... But even in these works there are undefined areas."

"Unite is one of the world's most respected artists when it comes to mining. Due to her artistically unconventional approach, she is often compared to an alchemist. In the creation and production of its works of art, Unite benefits significantly from its strong physical, chemical, geological and historical knowledge."

"Due to her artistically unconventional approach, she is often compared to an alchemist. In the creation and production of its works of art, Unite benefits significantly from her strong physical, chemical, geological and historical knowledge."

"The images I am working with are taken from our daily media coverage of recent and almost commonplace happenings in newspapers, on TV and on radio of social and criminal acts of violence and ongoing unnecessary deaths – occurrences so frequent that they no longer raise an outcry from our public, yet they still constitute disaster in peacetime."

"The portraits are made with the deposits of carbon from candle smoke on white paper. They are exceedingly fragile and can be easily damaged, disintegrating with physical contact as the carbon soot is dislodged from the paper. She was interested in the extremely fragile nature of these human lives and of all human life, attempting to translate this fragility into portraits made from a medium as impermanent as smoke itself."

"The technique of using ash as a drawing medium developed from printmaking. Texture and tone in etching is produced when rosin dust is sprinkled onto an etching plate to create an aquatint."

"Victor made another series of large smoke drawings of farm animals on glass called "Brief Lives", which were displayed in an abandoned abattoir. The glass drawings deal with the loss of body and identity and the nature of the smoke speaks of the transience of life."

"Victor's smoke portraits explore subjects often overlooked, for example South African prisoners awaiting trial and missing children. These portraits capture individuals caught in a vulnerable moment, an idea reinforced through the impermanent nature of the medium used."

"The fragile and ephemeral process of candle smoke Victor felt was an appropriate medium for the portraits of the primates rendered fragile and impermanent by mankind."

"I am trying to reconstruct a vision of District Six as it was in the 1960s,"

"As far as was possible, I worked from old archival photos of the district, first engraving, then inking up the areas with etching ink, and finally cleaning the ink from the surface, so that only the ink in the lines remained. I used a tin of ink I discovered in my studio, dating from the 80s and made by the incomparable T E Lawrence of London."

"Standing at the window through many different weathers, trying to reconstruct that vanished landscape, many visitors to the gallery came up to me to chat, and recall their memories of District Six, or asked me what exactly I was doing."

"I enjoyed these encounters. As an artist, one so seldom knows what the reaction of visitors to a gallery really is, or if they understand what one is trying to do."

"Trained as a printmaker, Williamson also works in video, photography and installation. Her work addresses the media, social issues and aspects of contemporary history."

"Williamson also writes and lectures about art, and is the author of the classic ‘Resistance Art in South Africa’ (1989). In 2009, she published ‘South African Art Now’ (HarperCollins, New York)."

"Throughout her career artist Sue Williamson has asked viewers of her photos, videos, urban graffiti and other pigeonhole-resistant labours to critically think about how and where they live."

"Williamson is a social commentator and combines slick aesthetic devices with hard, cutting edge facts of life. This is almost contradictory, yet it is precisely in this tension, that we are both lured into the artwork and then come away thinking about the issues, the image thus returns to text as it were."

"Williamson ran a series of workshops where she explored the power of place and its identity to various citizens. At the end of the workshop, a consensus was reached on how best to exemplify their feelings around that particular place."

"From My Soil to Yours has a lot to do with acceptance of myself — all the versions of me till now — and also opening up the space for versions that are yet to come and understanding that, as a human being, I am ever changing because, at some point, we think that this self-love and self-journey has a stop, whereas it does not"

"I struggled a lot with the separation because the industry calls for you to separate yourself from who you are and the art"

"I found myself in that dilemma of separating myself from Amanda Black and Amanda who are in essence me, they are one and there is no difference between them"

"I am lucky to have an audio diary that I literally go back to before I start a new project, and I listen to Amazulu, I listen to Power and I listen to Mnyama and it gets me to understand quite a lot"

"I have truly been called for this music. Over and above healing those that consume my music, I myself find healing in the messages in my music, I find healing even when I perform"

"I believe everyone has a voice and should always find courage to use it even when it’s not popular to do so. Every voice matters. Everyone has got a story to tell"

"I’ve learned that although there is no separation between myself as an artist and myself as a human, I value the ability to continue living my life outside of the limelight which allows me to still be able to be authentic in my artistry"

"The music is about falling in love with self, honouring yourself by self-acceptance. The theme and message is spiritual reconnection and trusting herself with her music"

"I’ve realised my need to talk, I’ve realised my power to talk. I only attributed it to the music for a while and allowed people to tell me it’s only in the music. Now, as I am unfolding, I’m finding my voice to speak for people who can’t speak for themselves, to speak out about things that are affecting me. I am black and I am a citizen of South Africa, that on its own is something to speak out on ... It's because I have found me again, I found my voice again and I am here to use it"

"We are in the system, and it's rigged. Better we get to know it if we are to survive, break out and thrive, at this moment its near impossible to live outside it. So we need to equip ourselves with the knowledge that will allow us to have more than a fighting chance"

"You don’t talk about how you become OK and how you went through it, and this is what this album is about ... I ignored my emotional, psychological because I was in the battle ... and I neglected me."

"I went through a break-up, and all my plans were in the trash. I kind of just shut down and I remember that there were so many things happening all at once ... I went through a mental block for two-to-three months, and I was at home ... it made me reconnect with myself."

"Going through the break-up within the lockdown, I was actually seeing what had actually happened, I had time to think about it and ask myself questions. I couldn’t really run away from myself any more, there was nothing to distract me ... Even being home, it reminded me of myself"

"I remember I was not able to express to people in the house that I don’t feel like getting up from bed, and not being able to give that a name, I just went through this darkness that I couldn’t explain"

"I feel that with this journey and just relating to the album ... I felt an awakening, I think I reminded myself of who I am ... ever since I started waking up understanding my blackness and my place in the world ... It started then opening my voice again. It shows on social media now"

"Firstly, I am showing that it's possible to every poor, unappreciated and broken young girl out there in our country. It's possible to dream and chase after your dreams, it's possible to be heard, it's possible to achieve and break the mould and be something"

"[A] few years as a struggling artist in Mahikeng and seeing people that are half talented being given a chance and messing it up while I was overlooked or being boxed in as just a female wannabe rapper. That is painful beyond words. Thank God I never even thought of giving up, not even for a day"

"I’m starting to feel like myself again, Yoh I went through it. Taking care of your mental health should be a priority, not a lot of people will get it, but zinakekele"

"Satan is taking advantage of the situations we find ourselves in. There's a demonic spirit going around taking our children who are coming with better things for the future of our country"

"Something is going on in the spiritual world. We need to stand up. We stood up and fought apartheid and many other ills that make us fight, let this be one of them"

"One thing about me, I am not shy to express how I feel. I have checked myself into a mental health wellness facility. I haven’t been OK for the past few months. I have been so depressed. I have decided to fight this by taking a break and dealing with this one on on"

"I am excited about the future;Venturing[out] independently after being in a label that took care of everything for me was a bit scary,but I'm ready and prepared to conquer what's ahead"

"i decided to leave because I felt it was time.I've learnt from being at the label,not just as my brand [as]Miss Pru,but I learned more about the business industry.Its time to leave the nest."

"It's not the award that means so much to me;it's the fact that I was the first woman in 20 years to win the award after Brenda Fassie"

"Because we need to keep this winning streak going,we can't let it be another 20 years before another woman wins"

"I had the time of my life doing this, it was like being a kid the whole time"

"It was hard because when I came to Joburg I did not have a place to stay so I had to squat at the studio to record and make music until I found someone who gave me the opportunity. There were many challenges because of that but fast forward, things ended up good after I recorded uMuzi eSandton"

"I would camp at Big Zulu's studio, so whenever he came to his studio we would all run away because I believe we were not allowed to be there. So we would camp there and make music. It was a lot of us in studio, until this one time I decided that I'm not gonna go when others were leaving, I'm gonna stay and see how this thing works"

"I ditched my family because they didn't want me to do music. They wanted me to finish school. So I left and came to Joburg. At that time there was something that was pushing me and that was 'the world needs this and the world needs a message that you are coming with'. Because I believe that every time I sing a song, it has a message"

"Whether its good or bad. Whether it influences others in a good or bad way. I was told by something at the back of my head that I need to go and work on my goals, go and find what you want to do, its possible. I was driven by the passion that I had."

"Soul music is memories, it’s everyday life, it’s easy to consume. I think it’s that the soul, the spirit, resides in Africa so soul music here could also mean the beating of a drum because that’s how we invoke our soul."

"The processes are different for every album. Nothing is ever deliberate. Making art for me is one step in front of the next. You don’t begin with a full art work, you begin with one stroke and then you go. And you ask what else can I do until it’s a full picture."

"A love for the people, a love for country, and a love for justice. They form the basis for what the production is about using audio visual elements to stimulate imagination and explore history while moulding a new world."

"I always knew that there were people who sang better than me, I never thought I would make it to this level."

"All I noticed was that something would happen to people when I sang, I found that people noticed me more when I sang."

"People associate my work with their traditions and culture and maybe there isn't enough of that in the music industry. The music industry does sometimes become a little poppy and more about the accumulation of things. My work is about memories and identity"

"You cannot want to live in other people's expectations Your only intention should be to tell your story and tell it authentically. That is the only culture an artist should have. I don't have a desire for popularity or a desire for anything that people think identify you as a successful person. My success comes from finishing my work. So, as soon as I finish my work, I feel like I have succeeded. Anything that happens after that is out of my hands"

"I have a lot of band configurations. I have a jazz band. I have the band I have been playing with for 20 years"

"I saw army tanks while walking to school ensuring us natives were ‘well behaved.’ It was impossible to miss those things"

"I was interested in something different and followed radical pathways to making art"

"Music gave me a natural medium to express myself and all I was seeing"

"Struggle didn’t need to be a bad thing, so long as we knew what we were pushing towards"

"Having grown up so un-free, there was a euphoria hearing Nelson Mandela was being freed and that we could get an ID and be a true South African with the rights of any other citizen"

"We were kind of swept away by this idea of freedom"

"In spite of having a Black-led government, we quickly realized we still needed to struggle, protest, and fight"

"We were trying to wrap our minds around neocolonialism and the way power corrupts"

"Even as I sing in my own language about a South African experience,she says, I also see it as pan-Africanist music that speaks to the Diaspora as well. I create work that is interested in connecting us and bridging gaps"

"Money draws people in and takes away agency"

"Learn when to say no to the money, because it comes with so many complications and people who feel entitled to steering your career"

"I’ve just become someone who has a whole different level of pride for my home and where I come from."

"I grew up with a love for all types of sounds and never wanted to be tied down to one."

"I want to become the new reference and the start of something new."

"When I was small, I was convinced that I was the best dancer. I never had dance classes but I would always try out all different forms of dance, from belly dancing to krumping, and now amapiano type dancing. I’m still learning but my love for dancing runs deep."

"I wanna eventually buy my parents their dream home and make sure they don’t need to work another day in their life."

"I would tell everybody that I was going to be a pop star. My parents hoped I would grow out of it, but I never did. No matter who asked me what I wanted to be, I’d always say singer. My answer never changed."

"I’m very determined. Tyla adds of her desire for further international success. If I want something, I make sure I get it. There’s a point where things become hard and you wonder if it’s going to work. But I always knew that things were going to work out eventually."

"I always know what I want and I trust [myself]. I also love collaborating and sharing other people’s ideas because everybody has something different. You never know, because initially with ‘Been Thinking’ it was a bit further into pop than I was used to, but I warmed up to it and recorded everything and it was great. That’s happened a lot where I’ve been worried or questioning certain things, but once I’ve done it I’ve ended up liking it, so I’m open to learning."

"I love it — it’s what I wanted. I’m super-proud of myself. I know this is the time when I’m just starting, but I know that it’s also the time when I have to really work because I want to make my home proud. It’s a lot to put on your shoulders, but that’s what I want. I really want eyes on all African artists in general, because we need more attention."

"I have always been a big dreamer, but obviously my parents and family will tell me to be realistic. It’s very rare that we get these opportunities in SA. Growing up, I used to watch a lot of Michael Jackson and Rihanna concerts; I loved it and wanted to do that. We are very close as a family and they are so proud, they get excited and it’s a whole celebration."

"They didn’t want me to be disappointed if things didn’t go my way. But I was so adamant. I was going to make it happen no matter what."

"I have a sort of thought process I go through. And what I normally do with my accompanist is that we will talk through the whole show beforehand. You go through every song and we say, oe be careful of that part, and that part and remember to do that there and so on. You get all those things out of the way and it’s filed in your brain, so by the time you walk on stage you actually do it for the second time"

"And after that I always tried to do that with every show and every album, there are no throw-away songs and they must all stand strong"

"I am not thinking of a cut-off point yet"

"Terribly! Yes, yes, yes, and also, it’s quite important for me to be nervous, because if I’m not then it feels like it doesn’t matter enough"

"It depends on what crosses my path, rather than me initiating it. And sometimes the chemistry between you and a musician is just perfect and then you just go with it"

"I have lived my childhood dream and given everything I could to the badge. Every match, every moment, and every experience has been a privilege that I will cherish forever."

"I’ve had a couple of setbacks in my career since the 2012 Olympics and I just really wanted to go there again, because it is the pinnacle of hockey and was always my dream"

"I had to give myself the opportunity again, otherwise I knew I would regret it once I’ve retired. So I’m really happy to be in Paris!"

"So I’m just super-happy he’s coaching us, we’re lucky to have him. That’s what you need if you’re playing in the Olympics – the best. We don’t have the resources and sponsors that push other teams like the top four, but Giles is so passionate and he gives us a sense of calm and belief"

"I pride myself on my fitness and keep my body as healthy as I can"

"It’s about being the best you can be physically and mentally. Having the right mindset and work ethic definitely helps me keep playing. A lot of players get injured when they are past 30 and that’s when their career ended."

"With my previous experience at the Olympics, I know what to expect. It’s going to be a packed stadium and you can hardly hear each other, it could be distracting. So we have to focus on that more in our preparation and I will help the others in the team who don’t know what it’s going to be like. We just need to stay calm and shut out the noise, and at least we know what’s coming"

"At the Olympics, every team is so on form because this is what they have been planning for, but anything can happen. We’ve focused on what we can control, like working on our structure"

"I find it’s the small details that really help and I spend so much time in the gym to prevent injury. It’s also to maintain my strength and I also watch my nutrition. If you are going to stay at this level, then you have to keep up with the youngsters and the energy they have."

"I have this slogan – I wish I could swim with a cap that says Swimming is just what I do; it’s not who I am."

"Achievements fall away but you want to be remembered for who you are, she said from Paris.I hope that I’m remembered for bringing people joy."

"Swimming is really just a part of and a season in your life, there’s so much more than swimming."

"I'm excited to in the future tell my kids I used to swim there (Olympics) once. I am just grateful that I can walk away with medals. It is any athlete's dream."

"I hope my story inspires one person, and if that happens I've reached my goal. It's never about trying to inspire millions, it's about inspiring that one person to never disqualify themselves from the race"

"The lane space is obviously crowded, so that could get frustrating on its own."

"But it really pushes you to grow as an individual. It helps you find your strengths amid this group because, at the end of the day, you're the one that's going to race the race by yourself."

"I swim because I love it. I also swim for a bigger purpose which is to use my talents to glorify God through my swimming"

"The world has defied success as medals and records where success is different in my mind. And I think that is why I'm very easy to go back and never be hard on myself in terms of that. I just try and find the next thing to improve a little bit more."

"For me, the emotions were really because it took a village to get me to where I am. I know they would have been proud even if I didn't have a medal"

"But it was really for them. I swam for everyone that's been there for me and believed with me."

"Sometimes, us as athletes, we always strive for the achievements, for example to get better or reach a certain goal, and that sometimes takes away from the purpose and passion of the sport."

"At the end of the day, a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer, so if we maintain that passion, we will ultimately maintain our purpose. The characteristics that our sport teaches us is also so important – the discipline and the perseverance – they create characteristics within you that last a lifetime, long after your swimming career has ended."

"I am very dedicated and motivated to the things that I love, when I put my mind to something I would do anything in my power to achieve it"

"I can’t believe what I had achieved. I had a difficult two years in which I did not once get close to swimming a personal best time. So, I had been quite discouraged ever so often. All I wanted to do at the Olympics Games was to swim a personal best time. It is what I wanted out of the whole Tokyo experience"

"It is always lovely to be recognised for what you are doing, but it should never be the sole purpose to do what you are doing. If you are swimming to get recognised, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. You should do it for the love of the sport, the love of being active and the experiences that come with it. If you then get recognised for doing something great it is only a bonus and it doesn’t define you."

"To overcome challenges, it is good to reach out to family and friends and I do believe it means having a great bond between you and your coach to always let them know how you are feeling since all kinds of challenges can affect your training."

"It is always a great feeling to do well with a lot of your teammates and to have hard work pay off."

"I would love to be able to show younger women that we as women are so much stronger when we support one another. I believe that swimming should stay in the pool and as soon as the race is over, you celebrate one another no matter the outcome. Women need to stand together."

"I train together with Tatjana and teammates are very important to me. Your teammates are the ones who push you when you feel like you cannot carry on. The Tuks swim team environment is constantly evolving and getting better but like they say a rising tide lifts all the boats."

"I was not particularly good at everything, I must say. I tried to be good at everything but swimming finally chose me. When I say that swimming chose me I mean that I started doing better in swimming than in the other sports and started loving my time in the pool with all my friends."

"I would give them the advice to never lose the hunger to be better. Every day I wake up wanting to better and to achieve better, but not better than someone else but better than me."

"Make sure that you challenge yourself to be a whole person, work on yourself not just physically but take care of yourself emotionally, spiritually and mentally. It takes a whole person to succeed. Lastly, build a support system around you that will support you through the highs and the lows since swimming is not an individual sport, you might swim alone but it takes a team to get you faster."

"I was actually very calm and just focused on what I had to do and how I had to execute the race, so I think that was a really good thing – learning how to manage the nerves."

"Sometimes there are setbacks, and you just have to sit back and see what needs to be done to ensure you get where you need to be and achieve what you want."

"I really am living my dream at the moment, and am just keeping focused on enjoying the journey and taking it one moment at a time."

"It’s a big step up. The hard work is only starting now, and I love all the new challenges coming my way and I am learning a lot from each challenge."

"Never give up! Your time will come, and some days will be hard, but the good days will be unforgettable."

"She’s had to compete against and chase swimmers, faster and older than her for her whole career and it’s never fazed her. That’s a major reason why she’s where she is today and why she’s so comfortable punching above her weight",Da Ponte"

"It runs in the family as my father used to play football, so I knew I was going to grow up to be a footballer. I was quite lucky with the support I had through my life."

"I started playing with boys in the streets, then a coach saw me to play in a girls’ team. I moved between clubs, until I came to Mameldi Sundowns only this year."

"It’s been long overdue. I’ve been playing football since I can remember and it’s beautiful to see this tournament happening. We thank CAF for taking this step, so now we can deliver and show our talents."

"As a team we want to win, and we believe in ourselves. This will happen by taking each team at a time."

"As an individual, I just want to help the team win."

"Some people say a striker does not do much, but if they play as a striker, they’ll know."

"Focus on your dream! Choose your circle! And don’t neglect your school! Just believe in yourself, you don’t need anyone."

"I believe that my role as a striker is crucial in contributing to the team’s success. Scoring goals not only boost our chances of winning matches but also motivates and energizes the entire team."

"I am fully aware that scoring goals requires hard work, dedication and seizing opportunities when they arise on the field."

"I am prepared to put in the necessary effort and take advantage of any scoring opportunities that come my way. Whether it is through my positioning, speed or technical skills, I will strive to make a significant impact in front of goal."

"It was a historic moment for South African football when Thembi Kgatlana scored our first goal in the tournament four years ago. It was a proud and memorable moment for the team and the entire nation. Seeing her make such an impact on the world stage inspired me and reminded me of the incredible opportunities that lie ahead in this year’s World Cup."

"Yes, the team did very well last season and our expectations are naturally high for the upcoming season but we know this league season won't be an easy one because there are no small or big teams. But obviously, us, as TS Galaxy, our expectations are very high,"

"Playing leadership as a senior player I believe is very crucial in guiding young players because I've also been guided and groomed by the coaches before. So, I think me helping the younger players can also benefit the team and I also believe that my leadership can also help younger players to develop their skills, help them to raise their confidence and understand the team's dynamics,"

"So, I still see myself continuing to help the young players because I also want to see them reach wherever I reached because I believe I was groomed well as a player. So, taking my experience and giving it to younger players, I think it can also help the team."

"I’ve learned not to give up in life. If I did take my life, the world wouldn’t have such a big song."

"Over the years I used to cry and tell God how unfair he is. Only later I realised why God did things the way he did them."

"I am elated that so many people have been unified by this song in the moment of darkness and that it has inspired positivity and joy."

"Music has so many different purposes and uses; it is also very instrumental in uplifting people’s spirits in difficult times as it can be very therapeutic. Through my travels, I’ve met fans in countries that I never thought I would see myself in, who have told me how much healing they have gotten from listening to my music, even though I sing in isiZulu, my native language, which they don’t understand. That was also a testament to the fact that music has a healing and spiritual power that we may not fully comprehend, so why not try as much as we can to use it to create a better world"

"Have set goals, stop at nothing to achieve those goals, and be very disciplined with your life and work. Have faith in your abilities and always give your best in everything you do."

"EXCLUSIVE: Nomcebo Zikode on Winning at the Grammys & Forbes Woman Africa Awards, By Olatunji Oluwadamilola, retrieved on March 16, 2023"

"I have a responsibility towards the next generation, not just an African American but for all of humanity who need someone’s shoulders to lift themselves up."

"If we are still using the old method we shall continue to get the same results as we did in the past."

"These are just some of the issues that have not become better, but in many parts of the world have become worse including in our own country …so this suggest that we are not at the stage where we can rest, we need to continue."

"This demonstrates the importance of being united …we realise that sisterhood matters… it actually does not matter what political party you represent, what matters is standing for the truth."

"There's a reason why I did what I did when I didn't do those female remixes, when I didn't jump on those songs, when I was okay that I wasn't on the 'Baddest' remix."

"I would have shined as another female rapper. And that's what I didn't want. I want when I'm involved in something, Nadia Nakai has an impact. Not just 'it's a whole bunch of girls together."

"Because I would have never shined as Nadia Nakai."

"And that's the reason why I didn't wanna work with female rappers before because I felt like nobody had created anything for themselves to make the collaboration impactful"

"I’m not going to disrespect Kaya FM. I’m not going to disrespect the other people who were in the room. I’m not going to disrespect Sammy T either because he is a legend in his own right. But I think in that moment I, you could see I was annoyed. But I was able to get my composure back and think, 'You know what, let me just breathe and explain to him what it is really about'."

"There was no spite, I could never spite Cassper. He gave me such a big opportunity to launch my career."

"For the longest time, I’ve never interacted with this person until when I was about to leave Family Tree."

"It just happened the way it happened and I don’t know how to explain it. I feel like it’s something God did. I feel like I don’t have to explain the Cassper element."

"I’ve known Kiernan for years. He was respectful every time I’d meet him. We never had personal issues and obviously, out of the respect for my label boss, I would refrain from socialising too much with him."

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be as serious as that"

"We had spent two weeks in Port Elizabeth, where we buried my dad. On my way back to Johannesburg I fell so ill that I had to be carried in a wheelchair straight from the plane to hospital."

"I was so grief-stricken and had my guard down, which I never allow. I remember trying to drink and eat something and choking. I could speak, but I coughed a lot"

"It is an icon of continuity; it has seen everything from the Norman Conquest to the Second World War."

"We tell the story of England — 6,000 years of history. We look after it and bring it to life."

"People will only preserve things if they understand them. We have to explain, therefore, why things matter. One of our purposes in this regard is to conserve things to help people understand their own history."

"I have always been interested in history and was taken to historic sites when I was a child. When I had young children, I went visiting with them, in turn. The diversity of visitors and the different ways they engage with historic places is something we have to be aware of and cater for."

"I would like English Heritage to be seen as a model institution for the challenge of bringing history to life"

"It was a very challenging time for that institution,’ she explains. ‘I learnt there how a charity was different from a government agency, which was invaluable for this job."

"we were meeting all our targets to make the organisation independent of state subsidy. The pandemic hit us hard and we received £12.6 million for capital projects from the Government emergency fund."

"Life in Antarctica is wonderful."

"Our goal is to make the entire process seamless, from finding a provider to getting your meds delivered to your home. By making everything tech-based, we are able to simplify, integrate and streamline access to healthcare services. Sitole on the core function of Zoie Health"

"Believe in yourself because it's a long tough road, worth all the effort but when you reach obstacles, you’re the one who has to keep yourself motivated. Sitole's advice to Aspiring entrepreneurs"

""To make access to healthcare more easy and affordable for women on the African continent." Sitole on the vision of Zioe health"

"I think I was always a very ambitious person. I always wanted a little bit more out of the world. So even when I was in school, I always wanted to add extra things."

"So for me with entrepreneurship, I’ll be honest with you, I wanted to be a pilot because I have a fear of heights. So every time I’m afraid of something, I like jumping into it so that I can get over that fear."

"So being an entrepreneur for me, I think it started with problem solving because even when you get into business, they tell you it’s all about solving a problem."

"It was just a startup, so there was no money, there was nothing, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. Then as I was working in that agricultural space, I saw a gap in the industry and a couple of issues in the soil preparation market."

"There’s a certain problem you need to solve. So I saw that problem and I felt that, know what, I’m going to do something about it. I want to change the way farming is done because it’s so unsustainable and it’s destroying the environment and people are not having access to food because of it."

"Whether or not I make it or I don’t make it, I don’t think anyone’s going to shoot me. So let me just go for it."

"The core business philosophy of owner management is still deeply ingrained in our culture. We believe in empowering exceptional people, giving them ownership and trusting them to deliver. This ethos continues to attract talent, which we're very proud of. When I joined in 2018, a company-wide survey showed that this culture is still very much alive and valued across all our jurisdictions."

"I joined FirstRand for the opportunity to get into banking. I was also drawn to the opportunity to work closely with Alan Pullinger, whom I held in high regard. It was a compelling and exciting opportunity that leveraged my experience with risk and compliance. Alan's sponsorship was also a factor, but I always operated with the mindset that I was there to learn. I'm grateful for the board's decision."

"While it's crucial to use every opportunity to learn, I was never complacent. I focused on doing my best rather than being preoccupied with leadership succession."

"Jacques has been leading FNB for 10 years successfully. He has now been given a new mandate to develop future business models. He is a builder. We are counting on his skills to build something new and exciting."

"Johan has been on the board for several years. I've observed his interactions with Alan over time. It's always interesting to see someone transition from an executive to a non-executive director role. Johan has been quite mindful of this. I've worked with him in a different context before, and I believe having experienced bankers on the board is crucial. They challenge us constructively, and I look forward to working with them."

"I had done some vacation jobs at PwC during my studies and when I signed up to do articles, so I had a two week advantage over most people in my group. During articles I gained great experience in the financial services sector, especially working in insurance, working with firms like Fedsure, African Life, Alexander Forbes and Regent Life."

"During articles I used to win the awards for the most productive employee in my group and billing hours is what counts at a firm like PwC."

"During the last year of articles I was given a lot of responsibility, because I was always dedicated to ensuring I add value and go the extra mile for the client. The quality of the companies I worked with on audits was high and I worked with some really smart PwC people, some of whom I am still in contact with now."

"Everything happens twice, the first time in your mind and then in reality."

"I’m a test-tube baby"

"I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. Maybe because of the fact that I was a test-tube baby, maybe because of the fact that my parents were very passionate about health"

"The thing I will always remember from this experience is the different cultures I got to experience. We ate Thai food every night in [Maeya Nonthawan Thongleng] Miss Thailand’s room. The US is very popular for their sweets, so Miss USA [Elizabeth Safrit] brought a lot of sweets for us to try… Miss Australia [Courtney Thorpe] was probably my best friend – people actually said that we look alike. It’s so funny because she’s amazing at doing make-up and I was good at doing hair so we helped each other for the final"

"It was a childhood dream that came true and as big an honor as it is, it is still a responsibility…But it’s also not the destination; it’s the beginning of a new journey"

"If you look at beauty, it fades. What we are working on is a legacy that will last beyond our lives. If you really look at what Miss World has achieved in raising millions of dollars for charities, you’ll see that we’re making a big difference in people’s lives."

"I actually do my own hair and make-up which comes in handy because I don’t always have someone. I have someone who helps with styling, Werner Wessels, and he’s been helping me [from] before I became Miss South Africa. My style is kind of the way you tell a story without people being able to speak to you. My style icon is Princess Kate Middleton"

"It’s part of who I am, part of what I want to be. I want to be able to practice and I also want to start a business that focuses on women’s health…I like the holistic approach to women’s health and my health because I believe that your mind and body are interlinked and connected so if you look after you mind you automatically look after your body, also vice versa"

"In life, you get a lot of platforms to do good, to reach for your dreams and have a positive influence on other people’s lives as well. Whether it’s through education, being a doctor, or others have the platform of being good at sports. That way, I’ve received the platform of Miss World and I’m going to use it to do good"

"We chose each other and chose to trust one another, to be gentle, and to put in the hard work"

"We had to learn how to live in the present, and decided to embrace every season and moment"

"We tried to not overthink the goodbyes, but rather saw them as an opportunity for the heart to grow fonder again"

"The biggest lesson I learnt from being raised in a small town is that you might not have all the opportunities there, but when you do get one, you should grab it with both hands"

"It was all about what you look like, whereas pageants and Miss South Africa was more holistic. It’s about using your unique skills and talents to really make a difference"

"True beauty lies in how you affect other people"

"I did my master’s in philosophy and studied leadership coaching to develop a model for women who struggle with their self-confidence. I use this model in a lot of the keynote talks, workshops and seminars I do, and in the business talks I give with my husband"

"I believe that very often, we turn to people to crown us with a title – ‘you’re good enough’ or ‘you’re pretty enough’ – and we always wait for someone else to put that crown on our heads"

"It’s about becoming the queen of your life, instead of trying to be the queen for everyone else and fit into their boxes."

"They brought me back to enjoying every moment, seeing its beauty and embracing everything as an adventure"

"They just tore all the unnecessary details away from life. They got to the core of building a heart-to-heart connection and being there for one another. They ground me in who I am"

"We struggled through our obstacles, stood up after difficult times and gave hope to so many countries where equality is a struggle. This shows us that we are capable of great things and we are resilient"

"The fact [is] that we as humans don’t realise how much potential we have to do good, give and make things right. How amazing would it be if we all realised our potential"

"I am the University of the Free State’s first successful test tube baby. One of the greatest gifts anyone can receive is the gift of a healthy life. With my passion for giving, people and health, I will be able to contribute to one of the most important things any country desires: health for all"

"I want to create spaces where young people are seen, heard, and inspired to take up space."

"Just start! Whether it’s watching games, writing, taking pictures, or even starting a YouTube channel, begin where you are."

"It won’t be easy, but it’s the journey that shapes you and builds your character. Along the way, you’ll be reminded of your ‘why,’ and that’s what will keep you going."

"The knowledge that I can compete at this level was just such a boost and for me the biggest achievement of my life. Look, no prop scrums alone, so it is not about me, but it was great to force my opponent to concede penalties and for our forwards to enjoy dominance over a highly-rated French pack."

"And I want to assist in mauls, make tackles, and carry the ball. The nice thing about all of that is that I can do so with my team and when we play together, we get things done."

"I can an really look back at this day for a long time. Here I was, being part of the opening match of the World Cup and when the action began, I felt at home."

"But because of my body shape, people kept saying, ‘you need to play, you need to play’. I was 18. I just thought, ‘why not’. So I tried. And the rest is history."

"But I want to tell girls that it’s OK to look how you look. I am grateful for my strength. I use my strength to push for my country. Why would I not be proud of that?"

"If I don’t keep winning penalties then someone else will come and take my position. And if I lose my position, if I lose my contract, then my family won’t eat. I can’t let that happen"

"I’ll keep pushing hard. For my family and for South Africa. For all young girls who want to play rugby. Ya, I can say that I’ll always keep pushing"

"Some ugly perceptions about women and women’s rugby still exist in South Africa,To be honest, it’s a pain in the arse."

"When it happens I just smile and maybe just move on to something else. But it’s hard to hear. My parents stand behind me fully so I know that I have their support. So what other people think shouldn’t bother me. But it’s not nice to hear. I know that I’m not like a typical female. I’m built differently."

"It won’t happen overnight, I’m not sure we can change a whole culture. There will be lots of people who will never support us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything. If we start winning and challenging the really good teams."

"It’s nice to be part of a professional group where you can just go out and have everything set up for you, but if I’m honest, there’s nothing that challenges you on game day.The biggest challenge comes in training. As an individual and as a team we’re not really tested on the weekend and that’s not good for us or for South African rugby. We need competition and the only way that can happen is if other teams invest like we have."

"I want to be one of the best players in the world, I want to play overseas, probably in England and the PWR where I can test myself against the best."

"I want to win awards and travel the world and be the best I can be. I want to be a role model and prove to people that South African women can play rugby at the highest level."

"I am glad that I am bringing hope to young women and young girls that anything is possible, and there’s no such thing as you are dreaming too big or dreaming too small. If you strive to get there one day, I just feel like anything is possible, so I am really glad that I could be a role model for the young girls and women."

"Give it a go, give it a chance! Don’t hesitate if you feel like you want to play rugby, and it’s something you enjoy doing, keep on doing it"

"I think women’s rugby is definitely growing in South Africa, and there will be light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the day, so keep on dreaming big."

"Go to the field, go play touchies in the street. It’s all the little things that matter in the day, if we don’t give up and keep on pushing. No one said it’s gonna be easy, but when you think about it, it’s not even that hard, if you are actually doing stuff with passion."

"It means a lot that I’m a role model to many young girls and women. I remember when I was young, I looked up to people, and I am glad I could now be someone that people could look up to."

"For me, in my own area, there are many things happening, like gangsterism, and the kids are looking up to the fact that they can become a gangster one day, and the wrong things"

"I literally feel like we are capable, as South African female rugby players. I don’t think there would be a country that could stop us from getting a Cup, but obviously, we must think of the small blocks towards it, and not just jump through the main thing. That’s an inspiration to bring the cup home."

"If ever, like, I get the opportunity to go to a World Cup again, that is something I would really want to do, just to be part of a group that would bring a cup home."

"I came here for game time and I came here to play against other internationalists regularly in high quality matches. With so many internationals in the PWR after the World Cup the standard is likely to have gone up and that is exciting and a challenge we are ready for."

"As an experience, you can’t beat that. I’m also excited to be able to take what I learn here back home into the national squad and impart my knowledge to help South African women’s rugby continue to grow. Giving back is always one of the reasons why I do what I do and why I play rugby."

"A lot of the girls have PWR Cup games under their belt and we’re just excited to set our standards and a platform and then work from there and see where we’re at as a squad. I am definitely excited for what’s to come and I am excited to be playing in this league."

"I think the biggest ‘work on’ for me is focusing on my attack. I think I focused a lot on defence over the last couple of years and I’ve grown so much confidence in that space, but now I want to be an all-round play"

"Being able to represent my country is a great honour, it’s one of those things that are really hard to describe but I know I want to do it to the best of my capabilities. I believe I’m not just representing my country but I’m representing the community that I come from, I’m representing my friends and my family, they celebrate me the most. They are what has made my journey even more meaningful"

"Playing the sport professionally always seemed like something very far from me considering that it was not professional for many years in my country. I have always been a hard worker, and somehow things aligned so that I could be where I am today"

"There isn’t too much adapting to do, rugby is all the same with different calls, Going into a national camp I just make sure that I am mentally ready because the level of intensity is on another level."

"I have always felt like my strength and conditioning journey only started when I got into the national team. Prior to that, I was just playing rugby without a clue in the world that I had to condition myself. Injuries were a common thing for me and I always think that not having that information was so unnecessary."

"I would like to help in youth development, I want to be able to help young athletes optimise their abilities and just to have the information on how to do that as they develop."

"A lot of things have been put in place so we can get better. In the past, I would have been screaming that the rugby unions can do better, and while they can still do better, I’m witnessing some great things and I am appreciative of the effort."

"I’ve always loved the idea of youth athletic development, as of recently I have been thinking about considering going the forwards coach route and there is also sport psychology. Honestly, I have no clear plan yet, but I’m excited about the possibilities, and I have to admit that it’s kind of scary"

"When we finished playing [against France], I saw a big sign saying, 'Hele, can I swap shirts with you?I asked him to come through, and I said I'd meet him at the gate when I came out.I didn't swap with any of the French girls because I had kept my shirt for him. And when I got there, he was waiting and smiling. That really warmed my heart. I thought 'Aseza, you are doing good.I've inspired young boys, not just girls. It warmed my heart to make someone's dream come true."

"Rugby has changed my life. I am the person I am today because of where I came from and the choices I made.Now, I'm able to feed my family because of rugby. I have my car because of rugby. My first flight was because of rugby."

"I’m a sweetheart, But when I play, you see the monster on the field. I cannot explain how I get to that point."

"When I meet people in the street or in the shopping centre they tell me, ‘You’re so sweet in real life’.But I now like what I see. It’s not that I become a different person. I become a different version of myself. Who I am on the field is me. It’s a part of me. It’s good that I can let that part of me out. I think it’s important to show people that women and girls can be more than just one thing."

"I always say I’m my granny’s daughter. My mom was around, but she worked far away. It was my granny who raised me. She taught me discipline and how to be soft, but also when to be strong."

"At some point I had to make a choice: keep rowing or devote (my life) to rugby. My parents wanted me to stay with the former, but I really wanted the rugby dream."

"I loved rowing but it was the same thing over and over again. The excitement wasn’t there for me, and as rugby was packed with thrilling new challenges, it made it easier for me to make a decision"

"I never thought that I would end up playing sevens, and then I was playing it. The same happened with the 15s and me going to England. The world of rugby just opened up to me, and I had to go through those doors. When I raised my hand, I felt it was the right step for me. It was exciting times"

"I got an email from Lewis Sones (Saracens Women’s Performance Pathway Manager), and I thought it was a scam at first glance. I showed it to our High Performance Manager, Lynne Cantwell, and she said she would look into it."

"I struggled mentally in the first season, as I was not used to the weather or the food. It was a complete change of pace for me. I missed home, my family and friends. However, I learnt so much in that first season, and my Sarries teammates helped me every step of the way."

"When I started playing rugby, I never thought I’d be the first player to score 100 points, let alone 200. But I’m very proud to say I’ve achieved that."

"I hope it inspires young girls in South Africa. We’re seeing more players coming into the system, and I want them to feel like they can beat my record, become the most capped Springbok, or set new standards for the game."

"Bringing South Africa together, inspiring young girls to dream big and lead."

"As I neared the end of my studies, I knew that somehow I would be involved with rugby, be it on or off the field."

"We saw that when we play as a team, we can be unstoppable, even against a top side like Canada. That self-belief is growing every day, and we do have the luxury of testing that against the New Zealand side who are also going to put up a massive fight. So, it is exciting times for all."

"The coaches are really doing a great job in getting us battle-ready and fine-tuning our strengths"

"We played both WXV 2 tournaments at Athlone and that resulted in us getting a regular crowd of people coming to watch our games. We hope they will all be out there again on the weekend and even better, bring a plus one along. That will be awesome to have a good crowd in supporting us"

"Flyhalf is a new position for me. I play 13 for the Border Bulldogs. I think I played one game (at No 10) for them. It’s a fairly new position, didn’t quite go as planned, so I still need to learn a lot in that position, especially about keeping calm."

"I think if I can play flyhalf against the No 2 in the world, then it should become easier. I was very humbled in that position. I learned a lot."

"I put myself under pressure by standing too flat. Just knowing when to be a little deeper, because they had a rush defence, which put us under a bit of pressure"

"If I was deeper, then the rest of the team would have more time on the ball. It's a small thing that can make a huge difference."

"It is always great to have a coach that allows you to play what you see.We have structure, but within that structure you must see what options are open. It’s great that we are allowed to play heads up rugby, either at centre or flyhalf."

"But God’s timing is always the best because this time I feel I am better prepared physically. I’m well and feeling good. I am excited to go there and have this experience"

"There are going to be a lot of people with a lot of experience at the tournament. I will learn through them. Seeing players that I look up to there is going to be something else. I want to enjoy every moment"

"I think the reason I went for rugby is because people were asking, ‘Why would a woman take up rugby?’ That is why I went for it."

"They would say, ‘It is a man-dominated sport.’ I wanted something that would challenge me, something different from netball and soccer — something that was different. They say rugby is not for women."

"They always have something to say about playing rugby, but it is a sport for all sizes and shapes. Anyone is welcome to play rugby because it accommodates everyone."

"I enjoy the freedom. You can do anything you want on the field, provided it is legal. Maybe if you have anger issues, you can sort that out. There are a lot of things, and you have fun while doing them."

"You get to experience other cultures through it. There are different cultures around the world that you can learn from"

"Rugby has changed my life, and for the best, I don’t come from a great background, but with rugby, I know how to take care of my family and myself. There are a lot of things that rugby has changed for me. I am very grateful that I chose this sport. It came into my life and did good things."

"I’ve been in the system for about a decade, and this is probably the pinnacle of it. It’s been a big honour to be on that journey for so long, and to witness the growth and depth of the squad. I think there’s a lot of improvement in terms of how well the system has been invested in."

"We’ve developed an edge- a competitive edge. There’s just an overall better understanding as to what it means to be a professional athlete. All these factors contribute to the quality of the group that we are now and to where we’re headed."

"We understand that we come from various different backgrounds, but we are able to have a beautiful melting pot of different cultures and different characters even. We tap into that and embrace that because we are South African."

"Certainly, we get a boost from representing Africa as champions at the World Cup. It's a reminder of what we can do if we remain committed, united, and believe in ourselves"

"The World Cup, however, is a whole new level and requires even more of us. Not only will we participate, but we want to compete, proudly represent Africa, and push ourselves to the limit"

"The World Cup preparations are really going well, the intensity in training has been high, there’s strong sense of focus and unity in the group."

"It's important that we build on last weekend’s performance. Our mindset is to stay focused, disciplined and also be consistent with everything we are doing, not stopping our physicality going direct to them."

"I believe we’re moving in the right direction, and starting not to hold back against New Zealand."

"Our mindset is to stay focused, disciplined and also be consistent with everything we are doing, not stopping our physicality going direct to them"

"When I came back to play last year, I was not quite where I wanted to be due to giving birth and getting back onto the field a couple of months later.I was training with the boys and that made me stronger as well."

"I wanted to be the best player. I had to; I have a son to look after. If I play well he eats well."

"For this World Cup, I just want to make my mark. After this tournament, I want people to talk about me. When I was playing u18, I started to dream about playing for the Springboks. Later I heard about the World Cup and then I set my mind on that"

"But we’re not here to just make up the numbers. We want to prove that women’s rugby in South Africa deserves attention, that we deserve respect. That’s on us. We’ll only get that respect if we deliver on the field. We’re all fully focussed on what we need to do."

"We know we’re not going in as favourites, But the growth of our team gives us a lot of confidence. We have structures in place. We have a game plan. We know what we need to do. We’re not shouting and making a lot of noise or promising we’ll do this or that. But keep an eye out for us. That’s all I’m saying."

"Because so many of our players are professional, and because they don’t have to worry about things like a second job or worrying about when they can train, we can work on things on the scrum, the line-out, the maul."

"That’s become our strength and we now love to get physical with teams and we back ourselves to compete in that space. We want to go to dark places with teams. We want to bring them to the gutter. We want to get physical because that’s a South African way of playing. The men’s team has had so much success playing"

"I am just so happy to be back. I love playing for my country and this is such a great opportunity for me to show that I am fit and ready for another Rugby World Cup."

"It is not about impressing the coaches, although that will be part of everyone's thinking, but playing international rugby again. I was kicking my heels long enough, now it is time to play,"

"The crowds are amazing and the support for their home team is just off the charts. For us as players, not used to play in front of 15 000 fans, it is a real experience, and I cannot wait to feel that energy again. It is actually the ideal place to make a return to test rugby for me."

"I still struggle to trust people. I find it difficult getting too close to people. I keep my circle very small. It can be hard. I’ve definitely not had a difficult life. I’ve had an amazing life. But ya, I suppose you can say it had an impact."

"Growing up on my grandmother’s farm, rugby was this thing that brought us all together. We’d all get a braai going, I’d play with the boys and the game was just this way to make me feel part of a family"

"Whenever the Springboks were on we’d all share the gees [Afrikaans for spirit]. When I’d see one of the players do something on the field I couldn’t wait to go and try it in the garden"

"Growing up with that love and passion for rugby, even before I knew that there was women’s rugby in South Africa, helped me deal with a lot of things in my life. Representing my country, realising my dream, it’s been just incredible."

"I now feel a responsibility to be an icon for other young girls. Being raised by my grandmother, I try every day to hold the values she taught me."

"When I go there, I would thank those who helped me along the way, gave guidance and advice and just supported me in chasing my dream. It is just sinking in, how much it means if people put their trust in you and you can reward them"

"The folks there actually joked that I will become the town's first Springbok and now it has happened"

"I was in tears last year for not being called onto the field, but on Sunday, those memories were wiped out when I finally ran onto the field. Suddenly, all the blood, sweat and tears made sense to me.Looking back now, it actually made me stronger and more determined to prove that I can play at this level."

"The fact that I benched last year helped a bit with the emotions when we sang the anthem actually – I knew what was coming"

"It was such a great feeling and relief when I ran onto the field.By that time, I was in the game and really expressing and enjoying myself. The crowd was hectic, but soon I hardly noticed them as I was in the game."

"Without Father Gérard and Mr Hayne Clarke, I would not have been here, there is no doubt in my mind..I was abandoned as a baby and they took me in and became my family and the orphanage my home and my life."

"I can honestly say that rugby has given me everything I could have ever dreamed for, and for me to be playing for the Springbok Women tomorrow is almost surreal, but very true. Dreams really come true, and rugby made that happen for me."

"When I played in my first game, with the encouragement of Father Gérard and Mr Clarke, I immediately felt the sense of belonging"

"I was at ease with the sport from the start and from then on, rugby became a very important aspect of my life. When I first made the Sharks team, I realised what rugby could mean for me and started to really invest back into the game."

"I was offered a scholarship at university because of rugby and that opened even more doors for me. And look where I am now."

"That first year was tough for me, I was young and it was tough mentally, as I was suddenly playing amongst senior players"

"In fact, at one stage that year I almost quit, but I realised that criticism towards me was not personal, but to improve as a player"

"I am a quiet person, but was told that I had to become more forceful in communicating if I wanted to succeed on the field of play. Once I understood not to take it personally and to actually do that, I became a better player"

"It made me realise that I was noticed by the national coaches and the fire to one day play for the Springbok Women was burning bright after that"

"There were so many emotions and thank yous that flooded me, It will be such a special occasion for me, but emotions aside, I have a job to do out there"

".I don’t know if I will miss touch or drop a high ball, but what I do know is that I will leave nothing out there. I will play my heart out on that field, in honour of all who made this possible."

"Making my Springbok Women debut last year was an absolute dream come true! It was a moment I had worked towards for years, and to finally wear the green and gold jersey was an incredible honour."

"My immediate goals are to absorb as much as I can from the coaches, senior players, and the team’s culture. I want to develop a deeper understanding of the team’s playing style, strategies, and expectations."

"Even though women’s rugby is becoming more and more popular, there is still a big support and sponsorship imbalance. It is more difficult for female athletes to find support since many potential sponsors give preference to men’s sport."

"Having a sponsor would offer inspiration and emotional support. It would increase my confidence and motivation to succeed to know that someone thinks highly of me and my skills."

"As a young athlete, I think there are a few essential aspects that can improve our prospects of getting sponsorship. Professional online presence so employers can more easily locate and evaluate us. When we have a great website and social media profiles that highlight our accomplishments, abilities, and personalities (it can work in our favour)."

"We also need to be clear on our goals and vision. As well as outlining our present and future goals, both on and off the pitch. That will show our determination, drive, and success potential. Unique value proposition by emphasising our unique promoting points, such as our abilities, character, or community service, helps companies see how supporting us will enhance their brand."

"Although there have been notable advancements in women’s sport sponsorship, more work remains until women’s sports are on level with men’s sports. I think the following actions can be made to guarantee that more funds are allocated to supporting female athletes."

"Increased internet and television coverage of women’s sports can draw in new sponsors, viewers, and sources of income. It is important to encourage sponsors to develop focused advertising strategies that highlight the distinctive qualities and experiences of female athletes"

"Organisations ought to launch targeted campaigns and programs aimed at assisting female athletes and women’s sports. Governments as well as companies can fund grassroots initiatives, top athlete development, and the infrastructure of women’s sports. The idea that women’s sports are truly less important or marketable must be eliminated."

"My goal is to build myself as a reliable player and solidify my spot on the national squad. Make myself a consistent player and join the team for the 2025 World Cup."

"What we did see against the New Zealanders in Cape Town was that our physicality is tough to live with, and that gives us confidence for the weekend."

"We have prepared well for this one and we have showed that we can play with the best. This is what this tournament is all about, proving that we belong."

"It will be good for us to train against France, as they are in the middle of their current campaign and will be full of speed and intensity, whilst we have not played together since the WXV. Also, as you can see, the weather is quite nice now to play rugby"

"The trick for the weekend will be to look to what we want to achieve and to go out there and enjoy it."

"That's the main reason, or part of, why I'm here – that I can provide for my family and I can provide for myself being in this environment"

"So, yes, this environment does not require me to go and look for work, this is my work. And every rugby player would appreciate that, especially for women in the country"

"I went to the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and that's where I started playing rugby in my final year. My mom did not want me to play any sport before I got my degree and qualification."

"But she was happy with me playing as soon as rugby wanted to pay for my tertiary fees, so that's how I started playing, and I played for the Sharks for over nine years before I now joined the Bulls Daisies"

"So starting from the domestic games, coming into national games, I’ve just been determined to keep my game on point and grow so much from it. I then took motivation from my teammates and learned from them"

"I’m one of the youngest players in this team. So I’m always talking with the most experienced player.So staying with them in the same environment just motivates me. And then the thing that they say to me is something that motivates a person. So I think that’s also the thing that they advise me on.That’s the thing that keeps me going"

"And for the first time, I saw how my own music had the power to connect with different races. In those spaces it didn't matter that I was black. It didn't matter that I was young. It didn't matter that I was female. It was just beautiful music. And it gave me a taste and the possibility of freedom, I think."

"We need to own our space. We need to own our career. We need to own our creativity. We need to know that it's possible."

"If you don't invest in yourself, who do you expect to do that?"

"I do believe in love—as a verb. Not as some airy-fairy feeling. As a verb. As something you do, you think and you speak."

"Accept your situation; that way, you can figure out how to navigate it from an empowered space."

"Make small goals – ones that you can see yourself attaining – and celebrate each step of the way. You’re alive. Life wants you to be, and that’s got to count for something. Appreciate life."

"Overcoming is not a one step process."

"Our world is changing. The old stories have worn thin. We're telling new stories now. We're creating new realities: ones which inspire and give us true power."

"I've got a new story. A new chapter - deliberately created. In this part I show respect for myself and my world."

"I also just think that in general about life, whatever you experience feeds into whatever you end up doing."

"So, nature is a very big influence for me and conservation is close to my heart."

"Too often, we like to think of ourselves as somehow being separate from nature when the truth is we belong to nature."

"As a human being, your priorities change, naturally, when you have kids, if you are consciously parenting. Things change. By definition, your identity changes as well, particularly if you’re a mother."

"I think that this thing of men being the leaders and women having to follow is going to go away. In many parts of the world, it’s the rule of law that men and women should take the lead even though it’s very difficult in societies to find it that way. But in our band, we see each other as equals and my role in the band is my role in the band, so one can’t argue about that simply because I am a woman."

"We are all different and the most successful artists are those who come up with something unique."

"My mom died when I was six. My fondest memory of her was colouring in. She taught me to colour in the lines. I felt so safe, like I was infinitely loved. When she died, I struggled to find a new way to colour in the lines."

"Going on that inward journey has led me to this point where I feel I need to share my story for the benefit of others. To explore my individual voice apart from the collective."

"Sevens teaches you to live in those high-pressure moments, there’s no room to hide, every second counts and each decision can change the game"

"That environment sharpened my ability to make quick decisions, manage space effectively and maintain intensity over long periods"

"It also taught me resilience because in sevens you can be down and out in one minute but turn the game around the next. Those lessons have translated into 15s, especially at the World Cup, where the stakes are so high."

"It’s about keeping composure, adapting to what’s in front of you and the skill be it passing, tackling and quickly bouncing back up into the game"

"It was a mix of joy and gratitude. Personally, I thought back to all the years of sacrifice, challenges faced and the faith that kept me going when the road wasn’t easy"

"To finally see it pay off on a stage like the RWC felt like a testimony to God’s grace and our team’s resilience. For women’s rugby in South Africa, it was so much bigger than just us"

"I think it was a message that the Springbok Women belong at the highest level. It means that young girls can dream bigger and the country can start to see the true potential of women’s rugby."

"On the field, it’s about composure, showing younger players that you can handle pressure, stick to the system and still express yourself"

"Off the field, it’s about being approachable, sharing knowledge and making them feel supported in moments of doubt"

"You know they will test every part of your game. For us, the key was discipline and structure. We couldn’t get caught up in their tempo or play on emotion alone"

"Our physicality is always a strength, but it needed to be applied smartly with dominating collisions, slowing their ball and staying patient"

"At the same time, speed and fitness had to come into play, especially in transitions. If I had to choose one thing it was our discipline and structure. That gave us a foundation to compete, to stick to our plan and to trust each other in the big moments"

"I want girls to know their dreams are valid, no matter where they start. I was once a young girl with a dream too and it took years of work, setbacks and faith to get there."

"If you stay consistent and keep working even when no one is watching, opportunities will come. I want young girls to see us and know that it’s possible – whether it’s rugby, studies or something else entirely, you can break barriers"

"My personal goals are to keep growing as a player and leader and to continue representing South Africa in both sevens and fifteens."

"I also want to be part of building pathways for younger girls so that when they pick up a rugby ball, they already see a future in the sport."

"I hope South Africa will keep growing the game at the grassroots level so that we see more opportunities and investment in our athletes. The talent and passion is there – it’s now about building a structure that gives every young girl a chance to reach her potential"

"We respect the Springbok name deeply, but we also know that we’re writing our own story within it. We want to be known for our resilience, unity and courage"

"In terms of style we bring physicality, passion and flair that’s uniquely South African. We want people to look at us and see a team carving a legacy of heart, strength and pride in green and gold."

"The mood in the squad has been amazing heading into the new season. Playing for this team on its own carries a lot of pressure because we have set ourselves a very high standard. That means we have to push even harder to stay at the top."

"The mandate is clear—win every trophy we lost. It starts with winning COSAFA because that puts us in a strong position to compete for the CAF Women’s Champions League title. If we get another shot at competing Continentally, I believe we will perform better because we have already experienced that level"

"We stayed on our toes, even during the festive period. We were given individual programs to maintain our fitness and keep the momentum going. Having an early preseason has also been a big advantage, giving us more time to get ready."

"Our esteemed supporters are the 12th player on the field. I want to thank them for their continuous support and encourage them to keep coming in numbers to witness more great football at the stadium(s)"

"My priority is to help the team concede fewer goals so we can win more games. But football is evolving and defenders now play a crucial role in attacking too. I want to improve my ability to push forward, create opportunities and even score more goals."

"It means a lot to me, I've been trying to get it, and upon getting it, I was really emotional," said Shangase"

"At the same time, I [had to remind myself] it's still not over, the game is still on, and I still need to wipe those tears and go back to carry on with the match."

"At the moment, batting is in front now, and judging from both – I can't judge, it's two different skills and I love them both," she acknowledged."

"I think the creation of a professional franchise women's league in South Africa needs to start happening in the next year or two. I think that is the only way we can start bridging the gap between our provincial set-up and the national team"

"We need to play more competitive franchise or club cricket throughout the year, and we can't just rely on four players that go to the WPL, the Hundred, or the Big Bash"

"Every day, every month and every season teams change, and it is going to be hard, but we have to fix ourselves instead of looking at other teams, and we have to work hard to achieve what we want. So far, we are doing well, we have frustrations here and there, like mistakes on the field and we have to fix those – it’s difficult but we are working hard,"

"We are more focused on what we need to be doing on the day when the Ghana game comes, and we are really working on that. We are focused on ourselves and not stressed about other teams, and we just need to make sure that we do (on the field) what we train"

"So many people look up to us because of where we come from."

"It is important that they know that one has to work really hard to get what you want. Honestly, success does not really fall from the sky. You need to wake up early."

"Gugulethu is like a community, like a school. You learn a lot from the people there. They are all parents to us. If you are able to take all the lessons from them then we can succeed. That is the weapon to achieve our goals."

"The album is like taking pages from my diary and choosing what I want to say, but it’s basically about my life"

"I think the formula is just being honest and sincere"

"I hate listening to myself because I hear all the things that I could have done better."

"When I have nothing to say, i don't see the need to make noise."

"It was a hard-fought game from start to finish. We knew it was not going to be easy, and the University of Fort Hare challenged us, especially in the first half. I honestly feel we could have scored more goals — we created some good chances but just lacked that final touch at times."

"What made the difference today was our perseverance. We worked hard for each other, stayed composed, and stuck to the game plan. We implemented everything we had practiced throughout the week, and that helped us maintain our structure under pressure"

"As defenders, we take great pride in protecting our goal, and the fact that we have not conceded all season is something we work extremely hard for in training. Every player—from the forwards pressing high to the goalkeeper—contributes to that defensive effort."

"I feel we did very well as a team, especially with our build-up to the game. We worked hard in training to sharpen our combinations and it was fulfilling to see several of the ideas we practiced come to life today. It was an intense match, but we kept our focus from start to finish"

"The coaching team was very clear in their instructions, and we all played with purpose and confidence. We are growing in every match and this result shows what we can achieve when we stay united and disciplined."

"The game was eventful and everything we planned and prepared for throughout the week resulted in a good win for us. We are so happy with how we managed the game from the first whistle to the last"

"Our defensive structure was solid and we capitalized on their weaknesses at key moments. The communication between the backline, midfield and attack was excellent and that made it easier to control the tempo."

"One thing the general public does not know about me is that I work very hard behind the scenes; I even have a personal trainer. I train twice a day, with my club and then with the personal trainer. So, I put in a lot of practice, especially for my passing. What you see on the field is a result of that hard work and practice"

"I’m not a person who likes to become comfortable in one position – I want to constantly improve as a player. I never want to hear people say ‘Bambanani can’t play football anymore’. So, I need to always work hard, especially because age is also not on my side"

"I’m grateful for the support I was getting from my wife, family and team. That really helped me bounce back from that setback, even though it was not an easy journey"

"I will continue playing until I feel that I can’t do it anymore. Everything we do in life is about timing and I feel as though I can still continue playing for the national team. After all, everyone is entitled to their own decisions,"

"But I’m happy for the retired players. They raised the level of women’s football in general, not just at Banyana Banyana"

"I am also very happy with the clean sheet—it’s something we take pride in as a team. We are now looking forward to the next game with confidence and belief."

"Being able to do something different and show another side of my creativity was such a proud moment for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me that I can tell stories in more than one way."

"When you attack life at such a young age, you have ambition and you’re hoping that things will go your way until you actually get the experience that life doesn’t quite work that way."

"I think one of the things that I had to learn is that sometimes you have to be patient for some things; no matter how talented you are, you just have to be patient. And also, hard work pays off. Well, it hasn’t really fully paid off for me but I can see the rewards of working hard."

"Sometimes talent alone is not enough and I’ve had to learn that along the way. Sometimes you just have to work hard."

"It’s a huge responsibility because we have so many young ones in this team so we (the older players) have to motivate them and show them the ropes"

"But, it’s also not that difficult because we have been in this team for so many years, so we know what is expected from us, so we have to make sure that we keep the kids motivated to do better"

"[For the new players] it’s a matter of them adjusting to the game plan of the team so I believe that even with coach calling them, she saw something in them of which it will help boost the team"

"My family are the first people who played a role in shaping my mind and their importance in my life cannot be emphasised enough. With them beside me, I know that everything will be okay and I know that I have purpose"

"I want to branch into the research sector so I can play a role in developing nutrition related guidelines to combat South Africa’s double burden of malnutrition and obesity"

"I am lucky enough to be on a platform that allows me to provide community education on the importance of a healthy life through a healthy diet. I have also recently started a campaign called #nyakazani which aims to get community members involved in responding to crises"

"I have always pictured myself as a role model for young women. Growing up I read about female trailblazers and always thought of myself as one too. I entered the competition because I am a driven woman who wants to make changes for the better of our country"

"I think it’s how we show love. My love language is showering people with gifts. I also reciprocate feelings when someone shows me love"

"beauty queens are the subject of harsh criticism and booing"

"It’s like a boot camp for women. It allows me to grow. About the bullying, you can choose to lock out the negativity and focus on the good things"

"From an early age, I had a seed planted inside of me, which I have been watering over the years, and seeing my dreams realised has been nothing short of amazing! Especially when this experience has far surpassed my expectations"

"I love a good challenge, and pageantry is exactly that; I get to be involved in community projects, take the lead on various campaigns, and find out more about myself and my own capabilities. Essentially, I get to step into my power. From afar, pageantry seemed like glitz and glam, which initially is what drew me to the industry; however, the closer I got, the more appreciation I had for this world, and I have not been able to turn back since"

"The issue that is most aligned with me is our flawed healthcare system. It is no secret that a lot of attention has been directed towards the Department of Health since the beginning of 2020 due to COVID-19; however, all that attention was only focused on the new pandemic on-hand. As a result, other sectors started to lag, leaving our country in shambles! I want to tackle finding interventions that will improve and strengthen health system resilience and financing through local, national, and global engagement. After all, a healthy society is a thriving one"

"As someone who is considered to be a part of the youth, I believe that I can speak for the majority of my generation when I say that the biggest lesson that can be learnt from 1976 is that: change is inevitable if you are willing to actively play your part towards seeking it. The students who marched bravely in 1976 knew what they wanted, and they took the necessary measures needed, drastic as they were, to see it through. We need to learn to have that resilience today as well! There are so many social injustices that need to be faced head-on. If we can learn to gather our strength and put on brave faces, we, too, can lead our own revolutions"

"After all, what you wear should be a reflection of who you are and how to keep yourself updated with the world’s and South Africa’s current affairs. I have been putting all of this into practice by actively searching for self-awareness; reading up on current affairs; thinking of possible questions, which I then answer myself; using social media as a tool to get my message across; using any free time I have to work with my community to find gaps that can be filled"

"I felt the need to build my business acumen; I wanted to meet likeminded entrepreneurs, individuals who are doing different things in their spheres. I also wanted to find out how to run a business that is sustainable, not one that is launched one day and vanishes the next"

"As an entrepreneur your time is your money, and I couldn’t have my business affairs grind to a halt because I was studying,’ she says. ‘And as mother of two little boys – aged two and one – I have responsibilities on the home front that can’t be ignored, nor can they simply be moved down on my list of priorities"

"I started my degree in 2021, so it’s taken me four years to finish. The reason being that I had both my children during this time. At no point did Henley put me under pressure to finish my course at a time when it was literally an impossibility"

"I love the freedom to choose what I want to do, the freedom that comes with owning my time, while still being able to be present for my young family"

"My passion lies in cultivating a safe, loving and supportive home life for my children. One that I dreamed of as a child. In business my passion is to grow a beauty business by women for women, that offers simple beauty solutions that fit into their lifestyles. One of my biggest passions is always to finish what I start. It’s one of the key drivers that have gotten me to where I am today"

"Life is an accumulation of all our experiences. So I would tell her to explore more. To be more inquisitive. I would tell her to travel more, to immerse herself in different cultures at a time in her life where she is still unencumbered by the responsibilities of adulthood"

"Go for it! Don’t tell yourself this is not a good time because then you’ll always have an excuse to put it off. And if you’re worried about life getting in the way while you’re studying, don’t be. This is truly a flexible MBA programme that works with your goals in mind and considers your lifestyle. If you are committed, you will make it work"

"academic, political and work experience credentials combined are needed in our leadership now not apartheid struggle heroes"

"Give us a dream and a strategy to believe in followed by quality representatives based on merits to turn that vision into reality. Remember Obama's ‘Yes We Can’ campaign. I’m not American but he sold a new America to me. We really need this kind of energy in our country"

"What’s really lacking in the political parties opposing the current leading party is a lack of effective direction. I don’t know what they stand for and how they wish to achieve what they say they want to achieve. All I know is that they hate the ANC and that’s not good enough"

"South Africa weighs heavy on my heart. One of the most beautiful countries in the world — the food, weather, people, diverse cultures, parties, experience. I don’t understand how we have fallen so bad. The quality of life is horrendous! People are suffering, hustling day to day"

"It is much easier to start a business conversation when people recognise who you are. Of course there will be skeptics who question your intellectual range and ability to perform. It is how you navigate the polarities"

"It is tough gaining the trust of clients as a new entrant and as an entrepreneur; one needs to find outlets to sustain cash flow when the chips are down. Fortunately, I have had the luck of balancing my business ventures with freelance work opportunities in modelling and television"

"I felt so privileged to be able to wear my country across my heart and to take people on a journey through our diversity and resilience. It was just an honour for me to have that opportunity"

"I definitely worked hard and expected more for myself but the journey does not stop there and it is now up to me to continue the legacy that has been created"

"It was quite difficult balancing my studies and the competition because I was in my penultimate year of my Law studies so I took some time off to focus on Miss South Africa because on its own it is a full-time job that requires all your attention. I had explained it to my lecturers and they understood and helped me finish the rest of my studies"

"I wanted first to prioritise my education and the purpose I had set out for myself which was to become a lawyer. By the time I entered again, I knew the power of what it takes to be a Miss South Africa and the importance of having a voice of relevance"

"Being in the Faculty of Law, one of the best in the country, there was so much support and help to learn both theoretically and practically. When I finished studying, while chatting to colleagues in the industry, I realised just how privileged we are to study at UJ"

"You may not be successful the first or second time around but if you believe in something, it is so important to never let go of that belief. Sometimes it may not be the right time but if you give up on yourself you won’t realise that. Don’t be afraid to fail, have hope, reevaluate yourself, and try again. If it is for you, it will find you at the right time. This is not just about following your dream but also choosing something to study and following the course"

"As a lawyer I am passionate about empowering women and I have seen how effective our law in South Africa is when it comes to the constitution. I wanted to start an initiative that helps women because they are the most vulnerable group of people in our society and need the most protection. Her Way Out is an initiative that allows women to find their way out. It is specifically targeted at empowering women in their legal rights and helping them to find platforms to better themselves. I’ve partnered with a legal firm and we have been working with Gender Based Violence victims in the courts, and working with women-led initiatives to help them"

"I am incredibly excited and honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming Miss Supranational competition. I have been working tirelessly to prepare myself both mentally and physically for the competition. These preparations have included intense training sessions to enhance my physical fitness, catwalk, poise and stage presence. I have also been working with top-notch trainers to improve my communication skills and develop a strong and impactful voice. I always say that the most important thing for me when preparing for any competition is to have a positive and healthy mindset and to have put in all the necessary work"

"It taught me invaluable lessons about confidence and grace. These platforms demand more than physical beauty- it’s about owning your uniqueness and embracing it. I learned to stand tall, speak my truth and carry myself with poise. The spotlight can be intimidating, but I realised that authenticity shines brighter than any spotlight. And now, as I step into the international arena once again, I carry with me the lessons learned. I know that genuineness, resilience and an honest connection with people transcends borders. Whether I win a crown or not, I’ll continue making South Africa proud. So, here’s to dreams realised, lessons learned and the magic of representing my country on a global stage"

"The outpouring of support from fellow South Africans has been nothing short of heartwarming. Their encouragement, positive messages and unwavering belief have fuelled my determination. To every person who has cheered me on, sent kind words or simply believed in my dream, thank you. You are not just spectators, you are part of this adventure. Your love transcends borders and it’s a reminder that we’re all connected. Thank you for your support, and I can’t wait to embark on this new phase of my incredible journey"

"I want to empower all women, no matter the issue, from those battling gender-based violence, pensioners, women with health problems, professional women, mothers, grandmothers and daughters. Women are facing severe issues which stops their progress in life, and the time is now to recognise that women’s rights are human rights and that women can become whatever they want to be. In my legal career, I have witnessed the disparity which exists between men and women and the existing patriarchy enforcing power over women, which urgently requires our attention and voice for change"

"I have seen a woman glow when she heard she had tenancy rights and could not be evicted from her home of 43 years and I have comforted a domestic worker who wept on learning she had legal recourse to summary dismissal and was later awarded a six months’ salary. There are no small victories here. These are monumental life-changing moments and I want to make sure that this happens more and more. I’m a lawyer, so how can I not use my background to empower women to help themselves? All women need to know is that the law is on their side. My mission and pledge is to teach a woman about her legal rights and let her know that information is Her Way Out"

"I have always believed that being different is a superpower and becoming the second South African of Indian descent to represent our beautiful country on the international stage is a testament to that fact. I will be giving the competition my all and have already started extensive preparations. I cannot describe how excited I am to start this Miss Universe journey and, as this new chapter unfolds, I am fully committed to my support of women equality in South Africa. My advocacy is to address and remove the gaps in the progress of women empowerment by introducing mentorship programmes focusing on business and leadership courses, entrepreneurial and job training programmes and skills development training programmes on secondary to post-tertiary levels of education for girls and women"

"I wanted to try something different to challenge and push myself"

"I consider it an honour to touch people's lives"

"Those experiences helped me conquer many fears and self-doubts"

"I enjoy it and love embracing my full authentic self"

"I encourage everyone to experience the diverse art scenes, amazing food and warmth of its people"

"I have my moments of doubt and vulnerability just like anyone else"

"Stay true to yourself and keep pushing forward"

"Growing up in a village made me realised the importance of education. It is important for young girls and boys to be educated and to break the cycle of poverty through education. It is my wish to work with corporates and universities across South Africa to champion the power of education"

"I would like to change that and make women and children feel safe in our country – gender equality is important"

"I am Miss SA 2022. I have uttered these words more than a thousand times before, but to be able to say it today and it actually being my reality is so humbling. Look at God"

"I would like to glorify my heavenly Father for making this dream come true. God has carried me and prepared me for such a time through every season of my life, and it is through His faithfulness that I am here. With every step that I took, I had peace in knowing that He was there with me and I know that He will continue to guide me to touch as many lives as possible in this new chapter"

"A big thank you to the Miss SA Organisation for this incredible platform that you’ve created for us young women to grow, lead and fully face our power. There is no other space that embraces the power of women in all their diversity and that also empowers them to give back tenfold. I am honoured to continue to do what I love in partnership with the organisation, which is to serve my country"

"For a girl from Gabaza to be seen, embraced and chosen to represent her country is a groundbreaking moment. A moment that reaffirms that our dreams are valid, regardless of where we come from. I am grateful for the women who have gone before me who broke the glass ceilings so I could stand here today empowered, fulfilled and ready to proudly raise the South African flag up high everywhere I go and to shine the light of hope to all South Africans"

"As your Miss SA, I understand the importance of representation, because it is through seeing other women look beyond their fears and their circumstances, that I gained the courage to rise to the call. I will represent SA, in all its diversity, resilience and beauty. It really does take a village, and I am so grateful that my village showed up for me. It is now for me to work and ensure that every success of mine overflows into my country"

"I plan to meaningfully contribute to levelling the ground for all South Africans, by increasing the accessibility to information for those in underdeveloped schools"

"I think that a lot of people can relate to my story and it's also an example for other young women from a small village to dream big, believe in themselves, regardless of where they are in life"

"As someone who comes from a small village, I know the mindset is there that the youngsters limit themselves because they are not exposed to as much but I want to inspire South Africa’s youth to open up minds, dream bigger, see what is possible and know that our communities are willing to show up for us"

"I am passionate about creating an equitable education system in SA because I think that it is so important to ensure that every youngster in the country is given the opportunity to gain skills and resources to be a success in whatever profession they choose and that no one gets left behind"

"When this happens, it leads to many other problems like crime and teenage pregnancy because young people feel like they are unable to be part of a bright future"

"What has stood up for me the most is fighting for one another on the field even when I make a mistake my teammate is there to motivate me and that has kept me going and made me want to give my all."

"I started playing football when I was seven, mostly playing with boys at home."

"My flow of the game depends on the tempo."

"The positive energy and vibe that I bring into the team, by merely playing the drum, is very important to me."

"Football will speak for itself."

"I feel school is not for me. I quit last year, dedicating my life to football. I'm positive I'll have a successful career as a footballer."

"I decided to drop out because I wanted to spend more time playing football. So far, I have been able to focus on football the way I have always wished. I was an average learner."

"I think God only blessed me with football."

"Here you have to bring your A-game all the time or you will struggle."

"When the coach told me to go warm up I had butterflies in my stomach."

"As the kick-off approaches, my heart is racing but I am looking forward to the challenge."

"We want to show young girls that anything is possible with hard work, determination and a never-give-up attitude."

"I remember how challenging it was playing with boys in the streets. Although it was difficult, I had discovered my love for football and I was prepared to continue playing no matter the circumstances."

"But for me, this is what being limitless is all about, working hard to achieve your goals and putting no limits to your dreams."

"Being limitless has taught me to believe in myself more as I hope to inspire other up-and-coming footballers who look up to me. It doesn’t matter where you come from or your what your background is, just believe in your talent and work hard."

"I grew up in a family that was football oriented."

"When I play football, I forget my problems. It is my joy. It is my happiness."

"Pressure is a privilege for me."

"I like being criticised because if I am not being criticized, I get worried because it means that people care."

"Glasgow is my home. I call it my second home."

"I do not only represent my team or just my family, but I also represent kids from back home."

"“It’s very important for us to achieve things and make history for the next generation. When they come here, they must know they can’t take things for granted and need to work for the nation."

"I used to play football with boys before playing with girls."

"It’s every player’s dream to play in the World Cup. Everyone that is here is trying to find their ticket to the World Cup."

"I think the lesson for us is that if we put the badge first and remember the people on ground who support us. That is what pushes us as a team. We are just taking lessons from the previous experiences, and just want to do it for the badge and for the people."

"I think, one thing about experience is that you can't buy it, you need to earn it, and being part of this tournament earned that experience for the team, and the individuals to show what we're made of in South Africa and the type of skills and players we have."

"Grassroots football is so important."

"It’s not a coincidence for me to be where I am now. It’s something that I’ve been working towards for years, without even changing the recipe – just constantly showing up and working hard, even when nobody is looking."

"For me, the biggest drive has been my family, to ensure that I achieve my goals so that I can make life better for them. That’s my biggest motivation."

"Being where I am now is definitely a dream come true – something I’ve been working towards for years. So, it’s quite fulfilling."

"As a footballer it’s also important to have a purpose besides things on the field."

"That’s actually what I want to be, the best striker in the world."

"Because I don't score for me, I score for the team, I score for my fans, I score my family, and my team to win at the end of the day."

"Football is a team sport, and I would not have achieved this without the incredible support of my coaches, teammates and family."

"Being nominated motivates me to push even harder, not just for myself but for my teammates and everyone who supports me. This nomination also inspires other kids to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their dreams."

"I’m still the same humble Nthabiseng I was before. But definitely my life has changed a lot."

"A lot of these girls are discouraged. They have to choose between going to school and work or playing football."

"My advice to them is to work hard. Keep on pushing. Because success does not come without hard work."

"I know that it’s important to be educated, because football is a very short career."

"Most mining companies, government and big businesses do not procure from local women-owned businesses. Yet, I resigned from a well-paying job to create a private business in steel and metal manufacturing. I’ve hired four women in my company so far and I want to create more jobs for rural youth and women"

"[I’ve connected with] women’s networks and learned that for women to succeed in the industry, we must not be afraid to take risks"

"There is nothing like family support for me. Family is everything."

"To know that there are people who care about you and wish you success is very motivating."

"Ultimately, working as a team will be key. Team spirit will help us prevail."

"I think every defender can say that the minute we step on the field and in training, we try not to concede because the team won’t lose if we don’t."

"It's about what you want in life. Studying and playing football at the same time is a nice challenge, it keeps you focused. I am not finding it difficult at all."

"I’ve never doubted myself, but I never thought I’d be here this soon!"

"It is a dream for all African players to come to Europe and play football, so it is a dream come true that I am now standing here in Farum."

"I am very goal-oriented as a player, and if I had to describe myself in a few words, I would probably define myself as a “silent killer” on the pitch."

"Excited is an understatement for me, I still pinch myself now and then just to make sure that I am not dreaming."

"We understand the significance of our supporters and we aim to give them a reason to cheer. They have stood by us through thick and thin and it’s our responsibility to put in a performance that they can be proud of."

"Our supporters are our 12th player on the pitch and we know that their energy and enthusiasm can make a huge difference to our performance. We value their contribution, and we’ll do everything possible to ensure that we give them a reason to celebrate on Saturday."

"When you come from the villages you don’t give up. We keep on working no matter what."

"It’s also about working hard and not giving up. Because when you love something you’ve got to go the extra mile."

"Sometimes we mess up our opportunities. But if it had to happen, it had to happen."

"I don’t like to be relaxed. When it’s my time to move, it’s my time to move. I wake up in the morning and pray. After that, I go for a run. Then I train with some boys. On Sundays, we play matches."

"I don’t need to be reminded about where I come from. Wherever I go my name stays the same, my accent stays the same. But it’s good to know people are behind me."

"We are feeling good, and we are prepared. We know what it will take to defend our title, and we will have to work as a team – play for one another, support each other, fight for one another. So, teamwork will win the day, unlike in tennis where you are on your own."

"I want to do more talking on the field of play."

"Teamwork will win games for us because football is about the team not individuals...we're here as a team, representing our country."

"I fell in love with football when my two brothers played football, I would stand on the touch line and watch them. I was only 7-years-old when my mom bought me my first soccer boots and that increased my confidence."

"I am motivated that women’s football has been understated for a long time, now at least we have an opportunity to play. My mom used to tell me how she loved football but they never got the chance to play."

"My inspiration is to take South African football forward."

"I am very open to learning from my mistakes, and I’m really grateful for them."

"I’m really grateful and I know the people from home are very proud of me. We play very good football in Hammersdale and there aren’t a lot of girls that play football."

"My mother was a netball player and my father played football. So, I think my parents' love for sports really pushed me. I’m also happy that I got into football because if it wasn’t for it maybe I would be a disrespectful child and it just taught me to treat people with kindness."

"Sports changed my life."

"I believe that this says a lot about women’s football in general in South Africa. It means women’s football is growing in a positive manner. Each and every staff member and players gave their best and that’s why we were able to get the gold medal at the end of the tournament. This is a positive sign for the future of our national team."

"Yes I did and I think there are more young girls now who are seeing that it is possible to become a professional soccer player because of others who have led the way."

"As I pointed out, when I was young the only thing I saw myself being was and still is, a professional footballer."

"I think every player needs to be patient because their time is coming as well."

"She had that thing that football is for boys only."

"It’s actually not easy to juggle school and football."

"Sometimes you've to go to camp, while you have assignments. So it’s daunting but doable."

"As time went by, I had to start at church before going to Sunday games. Even my coaches understood that on Sunday I’d arrive late because I’d start at church. It was either that or I don’t come at all. But now she’s so happy for me."

"From day one, it became clear that no sports career lasts forever. We had to be as passionate about our studies as were about football."

"Being a versatile player is one of the things that work to my advantage."

"I love every position as long as I’m playing football. Whatever role I have to play in the position that I’m selected for, I always make sure I do my best."

"I always prepare for whatever comes my way."

"Honestly I do, I feel like the hard work is paying off but I realise that I still have a lot to learn, a lot to improve on and consistently playing is helping me improve a lot, so I'm grateful for that."

"So, I'm happy because it makes me feel at peace knowing that I can make a mistake and they will correct me. Also, knowing it's comfortable that they are happy for me to be here and it's good."

"It's gonna mean the world, I really love presenting the country."

"It was also one of his dreams to see me playing abroad, he would be very proud and happy for me now. My dad was very supportive with my career and came to watch each and every game I played, coaching me here and there. I know I am where I am today because of him."

"It is every girl’s dream to take part in the biggest women’s football tournament on the African continent, and I am no different."

"My dad was my support system, he would drive me to practice every day and he would have to drive back home an hour away, as I was in boarding school and they would not allow me to leave the premises alone."

"Education is very important. I know I love football and I know I can make a living out of it but things are different in South Africa, as we do not have a professional league here."

"I know there will come a stage when I won’t be able to play professional football."

"I need to have something to fall back on. Injuries occur sometimes and I should be ready if something like that happens. Not only will education help me in the future, but I can also apply the knowledge I gain while playing soccer; aspects such as injury prevention, rehabilitation, sport psychology among others."

"Sometimes, I feel like quitting but I have one goal; to finish this year even if it means crawling to the finish line."

"Through education, you can achieve your goals."

"Not everyone will represent their country at national level. Education is the best thing you can fall back on if things don’t work out the way you want them to. Let’s get that qualification!"

"I have learnt a lot from it, from playing against the best players in the world. It is an experience that no one can take away from me."

"The smiles they put on my face that day… it hit me that they needed us more. I realised that when I made it, I had to go back and help. I want to show people who think they have boundaries that there are no limits."

"The first thing you need as a footballer is a ball. Then you need shoes. If you have that, you’ve got the confidence to play. That changes everything."

"It all starts with development. The earlier kids have access to proper gear and training, the better their chances of making it. If brands invest now, they’re not only changing lives, they’re strengthening our national teams, our leagues, our future."

"I’ve made it out of an under-resourced area, and they can too. The impossible is nothing."

"Imagine what the national team could achieve if women’s football was fully professional. It would change everything."

"It’s important to remember where you come from and to use your success to uplift others. I want these young players to know that their dreams are valid. They must know that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve anything."

"I know that I love football and can sustain myself by making a living out of it but circumstances might change – like getting an injury and obviously reaching a stage where I won't be able to play professional football and I need something to fall back on, in this case, it's my education. It also helps me apply the knowledge that I have while playing the game: aspects such as prevention of injury, sport psychology, etc."

"The partnership with adidas allows me to dream big about my goals and aspirations. I can fully concentrate on my performance without stressing about boots and bras that will help me to perform extremely well."

"Sponsorships go beyond just tangible things. I have access to a team of experts to help me optimise my training and nutrition to ensure that I perform at my best."

"This is a big win, not only for me but for other sportswomen as well from disadvantaged areas. Let's celebrate and pave the way for the next generation of athletes by also giving back to the communities we come from."

"Being a radiologist helped me because I knew that if I gave myself enough time to recover, there'd be less chance of me getting injured again."

"Had I not quit my job, I wouldn't be here because I was working in the deep rural areas. It was very hard to train. I was training with the boys."

"Not everyone gets a chance to play at the highest level of sport, especially when you are from a rural area like where I come from."

"I know that one day it will also pay off and that once I am retired from football, I have something to fall back on."

"I always make sure no day passes without me not going to the library. I have to always ensure I am ahead with my studying and finish my assignments very early."

"What you put in is what you get out."

"I think for me we need people to come and watch our games."

"I think it's because most females, they all want to go into coaching actually and I think they also don't realise that they are some other branches that you can go into and I think this one of them and that's where I saw that there was a gap and there was a lot of opportunities."

"So, there's a lot more than just being a coach, there's a lot you can do in football and contribute to the game."

"I was always involved in sport. I used to be the only girl at school or back home playing with the boys. At school I tried all sports that were available, but I enjoyed football more than anything"

"Football is not just about becoming a great player it’s also about becoming a great person."

"We need people to invest in women’s football. The team managed to qualify without a professional league. We need a professional league so that players can be committed to the game and the national team needs to play very international break against the best teams, get exposure and play abroad."

"Extremely difficult, I'm gonna be honest, we all know as athletes, it's very, very difficult to come back from an injury. For the most part, it knocks down the mental side of things but I had to be tough on myself and be like, you gotta get back into the game, that's what I love to do."

"Personally, it has been talked about for so many years that women's football needs to be professionalised, but at this point, I am going to reserve my comments and will only believe it when I see it practically happening. I've heard it mentioned so many times that I don't believe anything they say about the intention anymore."

"Indeed, as female footballers, we do value education highly because it's simple: We are not paid enough to make a living out of the game, whereas our male counterparts can play, say, for 10 or even five years and make enough money in order to make a living if they use their funds properly. So, there is a huge gap in terms of we know that we are not being paid well and the money that we make cannot sustain us for the rest of our lives or for a longer period of time, so we opt to navigate towards education. That is so that we are able to secure full-time jobs on the side, or even after football. We need that more than our male counterparts."

"I own it because it gives me so much pride in being a woman in a space mostly deemed as a men's sport."

"Oh, I love those people. They treat me like a human being – like a girl. Let me tell you when we go and do shoots, they just hire a whole makeup crew to pamper me and I love that."

"I love the face beats, lipsticks, eyelashes – just everything about it. I love everything about it. You know what, Puma, let’s just end it there because I can just go on and on about Puma!"

"Life has been amazing, spending time with my family and that’s what I’ve been longing for many years, as you know as a professional athlete you travel a lot ... you don’t get time to sit down. I don’t know if players talk about it, I’m taking time to take care of my mental health."

"When I talk about mental health, I’m not saying I wanted to kill myself. You get tired as a person, that’s why there is sick leave, and people go on vacations, I needed that."

"There are many things that go on that people from the outside don’t understand, but as a person I understand myself, I know how I operate, I know when I need a break, I know when I’m having a breakdown, I know when my body says 'no' and when it says 'yes', so I have to listen to it."

"Before achieving everything that we achieved, we set goals and said this is what we want at this time. And we achieved everything, every goal that was set."

"Development is key. 100%."

"I demand more of myself and my teammates. I want to win things – this is where my teammates and I are supposed to show up. This is where we are supposed to show the world who we are, right?"

"I command and organise when needed. I also understand the need to encourage and push the team to stay on top of our game."

"Barriers are only in the mind. If you truly want something, do whatever it takes. Invest in yourself if you’re not getting the support you desire."

"There is always something that feels unfulfilled when I wake up."

"I’ve got something to do on this planet and whatever that purpose is keeps me going."

"It is extremely important to be mentally tough."

"NEVER give up. Always lift your head up. Always be positive."

"My family is extremely proud of me and very excited. They spoil me every time I do well at sports."

"I want for other learners to know that there are opportunities in sports and if they continue studying doors could open, let your talent make room for you."

"I had to make a decision on my own, that I wanted to be a professional footballer."

"But it’s tough. Especially when there’s no women’s team. Because where do you start? Hopefully one day it will change. Hopefully I can be part of that change."

"It felt great knowing people notice the talent I am blessed with. It gives me the motivation to work hard and to get better."

"I believe if our league can have more sponsors it would help teams to build good structures and prepare properly for the league and games."

"To Market more women’s football games and promote each team just as much as the top teams."

"Netball opens up a lot of opportunities. For example, it can help you further your studies by getting a high school or higher institution bursary. Besides that, you can play abroad, which is a dream come true for many. Above all, you can make a living out of what you love."

"Being captain isn’t just about wearing the armband, it’s about connecting with people, understanding what motivates them, and creating an environment where everyone can perform at their best."

"I’d say my leadership style is calm but intentional. I believe in leading by example, through my work ethic, communication, and consistency. I’m also big on empowerment; I want my teammates to feel trusted and confident to make decisions."

"Leadership for me is about guiding, not controlling."

"They have taught me that leadership is never one-size-fits-all. Every person in the team is different; some need encouragement, some need accountability, some just need to be heard. I’ve learned to listen more, to be patient, and to celebrate others’ strengths."

"When I look at where netball was when I started and where it is now, the professionalism, the exposure, the opportunities, it’s truly inspiring."

"The younger generation now sees netball as a career, not just a passion."

"I always strive to better myself and give my best on and off court."

"I tell myself that what I do now counts for what lies ahead! So not focusing on the future but making sure I give my very best at each task now because later I will reap the rewards."

"Lastly, that little netball player that we inspire, will get to see live how it is possible to reach your dream."

"Where you come from or even how you look doesn’t determine where you are going. It is important to know where you want to be in order to set goals and chase them. Believing in God and believing in yourself is vital to achieving your dreams."

"I’ve got goals to achieve so I need to keep working."

"The decision to continue chasing your dreams and not focusing on the loss is also one of the most difficult decisions in life, but it has made me who I am today."

"Having doubts about yourself is inevitable, however, it is important to use those negative thoughts and emotions to keep you motivated and continue pushing on."

"We have provincial teams that consist of national players, which can be used to reach out and conduct clinics for the less fortunate. I also believe that young netball players should have access to netball facilities that are well-equipped and looked after."

"Difficult circumstances don’t determine who you will be or where you will go, you can use them to become a better person and example. I love netball because it is an escape, but you also learn life lessons from it."

"Netball opens a lot of doors and it’s helped me become a person I never thought I would be."

"What’s what makes a good leader, your actions in the present, it’s not always necessary to talk so much, you must lead by example."

"It was amazing for me to witness these young South Africans seeing a future for themselves in netball."

"Netball is an easy sport – all you need is a ball and a bit of space. Everyone can understand it and relate to it, no matter who they are and which part of the country they’re from."

"People have commented that when we walk onto court, we move as one – and that’s how it feels. We want this culture to trickle down to netball at every level. We need to respect and support one another so that we can be united. Then, everything else will fall into place."

"I believe strongly that you can’t just stick to making your home better – you can drive just 100km down the road and find a life that you can change in an instant. And that’s the stuff I’m really looking forward to."

"I will remain a proud ambassador for the beautiful sport of netball, and I will remain fully committed to maintaining my humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours."

"The passion I have for netball is at another level."

"Netball has given me many fantastic opportunities just because someone looked after me. And I looked at how I can use my experience on how to help others so that they can have more or less the same opportunities that I had without having to pay. It was a thoughtful process to start a project and up until today I am really pleased that I actually did."

"There are players that are really doing well despite their upbringing and background."

"It makes so much of a difference if you know you can play a part in someone’s life. If they don’t have shoes you can contribute towards that."

"Netball has changed over the years with the make-up of the team in terms of representing who we are as a country. South Africa is diverse and netball is currently a true reflection of who we are."

"The role models that the kids can look up to are so diverse. They can now actually relate to a particular person because of the numbers and the mixture of the group."

"Diversity is our strength."

"An opportunity given to players of different languages and skin colour allows the national team to influence kids from all backgrounds. Every player brings something different and the unity that the team brings is also a big advantage for the team going forward."

"You also have bills to pay. Sport can also assist in that sense, so it’s a fantastic opportunity that one can explore."

"I always had a support system even outside my family through Netball. I’ve seen first hand how netball can change one’s life through guidance, support and opportunities!"

"This for me is what I take from the sport and will always hold dear to my heart. Through this, I’ve learnt to love the sport and the competition. I’ve learnt to grow from the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities to discover myself continuously and to live limitlessly."

"I have always enjoyed working with people and wanting to help where I can while showing them respect. When it comes to leadership, I don’t think there’s an exact way of leading people, every situation calls for a different type of leadership. Some situations require you to involve everyone and get their opinions, and other situations require you to give direction. Knowing the fine line between the two and being unbiased is what separates a leader from a great leader."

"Personally, I prefer to be respected than liked because with respect comes understanding and value in my teachings."

"All I know is what you see is what you get."

"Investment in women’s sport has grown tremendously. However, there’s still a lot of room for growth. Women’s sport needs long term sponsorships to invest in the growth of the sport. I have seen big corporations show up to major events however, do not continue their investment within the sports afterwards. Inconsistent sponsorships do not allow development and sustainability for the longevity of the sport."

"There’s room for growth through the opportunities that constantly arise, the rules adaptations and the potential careers within and through the sport."

"I have learnt that I am more than who I perceived myself to be before the sport. The sport has shown me that I have a lot more to offer and my potential is limitless."

"Do not be misled by the glitz and glamour of what you see now. There is a lot of work being done behind the scenes for many years; late nights, challenges and sacrifices. It’s the positive mindset, commitment, passion and continuous hard work behind the scenes that will set you apart from the rest. Your drive and determination will determine your path in your journey."

"Every encounter has added to the person I am today. I am blessed."

"As a woman in sport, there are areas where we can still be better but now and then I look back and think about those who changed things for us or played their part in making sure that in a few days, we can celebrate Freedom Day."

"Women are getting to sit at big seats at the table, and this makes me proud."

"Cherish that moment because it’s not guaranteed, nothing in sport is a lifetime thing, it’s really about that time when you are still able to and can still run around injury-free and healthy."

"I like experiencing progress and I always think it is best for the future. I can proudly say that amongst all the black players in the Spar Proteas‚ none of them would say they feel marginalised or ill-treated because of their skin colour because we all matter."

"We black people sometimes do treat white people differently to how we treat other blacks."

"I have been in a situation where I needed assistance at a hospital from a black lady with my mom and I had to wait. Right at that space‚ a white man came with more or less the same request and was assisted immediately."

"Random situations where I had to say ‘sorry I didn’t hear’‚ but the conversation or coaching was in Afrikaans‚ which used to be a norm."

"I have to thank God for the idea of knowing when to take one big decision, moving forward into the next level, not just my netball career but my life in general."

"Because I know if anyone is given a chance, are supported fully and obviously given the right information, they can actually be as big as they want to be. I love that I am seeing this with the girls."

"Every time my name is announced in the national squad there is a feeling of excitement."

"I love having the opportunity to help empower women and I want to give hope to all girls in the South African community."

"Sport has the power to change things. For instance, I have become much more confident from being involved in netball."

"I am extremely proud of what I have achieved and am grateful to many people behind the scenes who have made this all possible."

"I believe that passion, leadership skills, valuable knowledge and experience, confidence, fairness, and time management make a good coach."

"I don’t know where I would be without netball. It gave me an opportunity to travel the world, represent my country, make an income and to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for all the young girls who have dreams of following in my footsteps."

"Anything is possible through hard work and determination. I didn’t ever think that my life would turn out this way coming from poverty and lack of resources. I am so grateful for what netball has brought into my life."

"Whatever you want to work towards or whatever you want to achieve, it doesn’t matter who you are, your height, or whatever your circumstances are, you can achieve it and it comes with a lot of hard work."

"I would like to offer a piece of advice to the incoming captain; refrain from micromanaging, avoid biases, adopt a generous approach, prioritize fairness, uphold respect, and lead by example. Base your decision on facts and align with the federation’s objectives. Don’t hesitate to seek clarification by asking questions."

"The only competition we can and have competed in is the COSAFA Cup, so I honestly don’t know what I can achieve with my national team. Maybe I will be one of those great players who retire without ever being at a major tournament."

"It’s every player’s dream to play abroad, and I am no different. I would like to see myself getting out of my comfort zone and challenge myself against some of the best players in the world."

"Putting the ball in the back of the net is always a good feeling because goals help us to win games."

"Adapting to a new country with a different culture and way of doing things was tough at first."

"All I can say - is that we have players who are always willing to take instructions - they make our job easy and we are very proud of their achievements this season."

"It is such a great opportunity to be given a chance to showcase my talent as a woman."

"I am very proud of how far I have come and I am hoping to inspire more women in football and across other disciplines they find themselves in."

"I am proof that gender cannot prevent one from becoming what they want to be."

"At the end of the day, it comes down to the application of one’s self in whatever he or she is doing. Again, I am very thrilled at the prospect of making more history as a woman."

"I believe that everything starts at training, as coaches we make sure we apply good tactics, so that when we face-off with tough oppositions we can have players follow the game plan."

"It was a dream come true. In a way, I have been preparing for that moment because I've always wanted to be a coach."

"Before the match, I spoke about the unpredictability of the game of football because there are no pushovers in the sport anymore. It’s incredible to see how much momentum the women’s game is gaining across the continent. Nevertheless, the final allows us to showcase our attacking capabilities once again. We simply cannot wait."