SPONSORED FEATURE
THE SA JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES
A premier, a professor
and a president…
Women impacting society
IT SOUNDS LIKE A ‘BAR JOKE’: A PREMIER, A
professor and a president came to speak
at the SA Jewish Board of Deputies
Women’s Purim event… It wasn’t a joke,
however. Speaking at the event and sharing their stories – their challenges and
triumphs – were Gauteng’s premier Nomvula Mokonyane; Wits’ president of Convocation and Unisa’s vice-principal of Research and Innovation professor
Mamokgethi Phakeng; and past president of the SAJBD Marlene Bethlehem.
SAJBD chairman Mary Kluk shared the
story of Queen Esther and her courageous
role in averting the planned genocide of the
Jewish people in Persia 2 500 years ago. In
the footsteps of Queen Esther, we invited
three extraordinary South African women
who each have overcome difficulty to make
a difference to society through their personal tenacity, bravery and vision.
Premier Mokonyane shared her personal story of growing up in Kagiso as
one of 12 children, and of losing her father at the young age of seven. She spoke
of the values they learned living in difficult economic circumstances. Realising
the injustices of the country, at age 15
she became involved in the struggle
against apartheid – as a founder member
of COSAS, a leader of the Kagiso Residents’ Organisation and as a shop steward and leader of the Commercial, Cater-
22 JEWISH LIFE
ISSUE 72
ing and Allied Workers’ Union of South
Africa (now Saccawu). During this period,
she was continually harassed and detained by the apartheid security police.
She related the story of how she was imprisoned shortly after her marriage and
newly pregnant. She gave birth alone in
prison. Understanding the importance of
transforming our country, she continued
her fight, drawing on strength from other women such as Albertina Sisulu. Her
struggle and courageous fight culminated
in her being appointment as premier in
2009. She is a woman who has committed her life to uplifting our country.
Professor Phakeng grew up in the township of Ga-rankuwa. Her mother was a domestic worker who decided to educate
herself following the birth of her daughter. When Phakeng started Grade 1, her
mother was studying towards her Grade 6.
This value of education laid the foundation for her life. This remarkable woman
worked her way up the educational system, eventually qualifying with a Phd in
mathematics, the first black woman to
achieve this. Her belief, however, is that
while she was the first to achieve this, her
responsibility is to ensure she is not the
last. In this vein, she has started a nonprofit organisation called ‘Adopt-a-Learner’ to educate South African learners from
impoverished circumstances. She is equip-
ping many learners to become the future
Prof Phakengs. Her belief is “your past
doesn’t determine your future”.
The third speaker at this moving evening was our special Marlene Bethlehem,
whose success started on the tennis
courts – including on the prestigious turf
of Wimbledon. She went on to become
the first chairman and then president of
the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, overcoming prejudices on the way. Bethlehem
then went on in her colourful tradi