Editor

Zonke Shazi-Hlongwane’s story of adversity and resilience is now serving as an inspiration for township and rural girls facing various challenges which once also left her feeling unseen and worthless.  

As South Africa commemorates Human Rights Month in March, Vuk’uzenzele spoke to Commissioner Philile Ntuli of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) about land rights and food security.   She said it is impossible to speak about any of the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights without speaking about access to land.  “If you talk about food, it is a matter of land. If I do not have land to plant food it means I cannot have food unless I have a job that gives me an income so that I can buy food,” she said.

Under the leadership of the Mahumani community women, a centuries-old custom flourishes in Limpopo, east of Giyani, along the banks of the Letaba River. The amazing Baleni Salt Project, which is founded on indigenous knowledge, aims to provide local communities with economic opportunity while preserving the age-old-art age-old art of salt collecting.

All social grants, barring the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, are expected to increase from April this year.  Delivering the 2025 Budget Speech in Parliament recently, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the number of social grant beneficiaries – excluding those receiving the SRD grant – is expected to rise to some 19 million in 2025/26 and 19.3 million in 2027/28 due to a growing population of older persons.

The government has added R19.1 billion over the medium term to keep approximately 11 000 teachers in classrooms.

Siyamthanda Johns (32) of George, in the Western Cape, leads a thriving broadcast media company dedicated to delivering captivating and informative content that educates and entertains audiences.  Johns owns Muzi Capital Media (Muzi FM), a business he started in 2019 as a skills development institution. Initially, it offered skills development and trainings on radio production for unemployed youth. 

Chef Xolisa Kalipa (22) of Daveyton in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, has just landed a chance of a lifetime: introducing authentic South African flavours to the world through working for Qatar Airways.  The talented young chef is among nearly 50 newly appointed recruits who have just joined the multi-award-winning airline’s catering company, retail and hospitality subsidiaries in Doha, Qatar.  Kalipa is now placed with Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC) and Qatar Duty Free (QDF), both of which operate from the world-renowned Hamad International Airport. 

Abaveleli Funeral Directors, founded in 1999 by the late Nocawe and Zanemvula Saul, provides burial services across South Africa. Now led by their daughter, Unathi Saul, the company has expanded to 13 branches, creating 125 jobs while honouring its legacy.

“I am proud to carry on my parents’ legacy. Their vision was to serve communities with dignity, and I remain committed to that mission while ensuring that our services evolve to meet the needs of today’s families,” she said.

Falling victim to a heinous sexual crime and not getting justice is a traumatic experience that could have left Norma Uhuru Mbele hopeless, but she rallied to start an organisation that fights gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).  Mbele is the founder of Tosunga Baninga, a non-profit organisation situated in Evaton, Emfuleni, Gauteng, that helps survivors of GBVF, including various forms of abuse and rape.  “The name Tosunga Baninga comes from the Lingala language used in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and means ‘helping you to help others’.

Having financial freedom does not only apply to rich people. Even if you are a low-income earner, you can make better financial decisions and ultimately reduce your stress levels.  While many people set their goals for the year, Vuk’uzenzele spoke to financial coach, co-founder and chief executive officer of Financial Journey, Rose Nkabinde, about practical ways that people can use to achieve financial wellness.