Next Friday, August 9, the country marks Women’s Day and 63 years since
20 000 women staged a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against Apartheid’s pass laws. As the country celebrates 25 years of democracy, Vukani looks at a number of women who have made strides
in their lives and are changing the world in their respective spaces.
Judy Vatiswa Sikuza
Khayelitsha’s Judy Vatiswa Sikuza has been appointed The Mandela Rhodes Foundation’s (MRF) new chief executive officer from today, Thursday August 1.
Judy is herself a Mandela Rhodes Scholar from the class of 2007 and has been the foundation’s deputy executive director, having first joined as MRF programme manager in 2014.
Ms Sikuza, 33, succeeds founding executive director Shaun Johnson, who was personally tasked by Nelson Mandela to establish the foundation in 2003.
The Foundation’s trustee chairman Professor Njabulo Ndebele said: “After an exceptionally rigorous and open international process of identifying, shortlisting, and interviewing candidates of exceptional quality, we are delighted to appoint Judy Sikuza. We are very proud that a Mandela Rhodes Scholar has reached the highest position at the foundation – this is indeed a historic moment.”
Mr Ndebele said Ms Sikuza achieved an excellent track record in her position as deputy executive director and has an exciting vision for the next phase of the MRF’s growth.
Ms Sikuza is a leadership and organisation development practitioner with a passion for education and projects that support people to fulfil their highest potential.
“It is an honour and a privilege for me to accept this appointment and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead a new phase of the foundation’s work” she said
Ms Sikuza was born and raised in the Eastern Cape. She holds an MA in Organisation Psychology from Columbia University in New York City, which she completed as a Fulbright Scholar. Before joining the MRF, Ms Sikuza worked at ABSA, Investec, and Reos Partners on systems change projects with leaders in business, civil society and academia. She is a member of several boards in the education, publishing and communications sectors.
She has appeared on public platforms locally and internationally.She has received several leadership and excellence awards including an Abe Bailey Fellowship to the United Kingdom in 2007, being named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2011, one of Michelle Obama’s Young African Women Leaders in 2011 and an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow in 2018.
Moira Mdakana
The Cape Grace’s concierge Moira Mdakana, 31, who hails from New Crossroads in Nyanga, has become the first woman in Cape Town to be appointed to the elite Les Clefs D’Or (translated as The Golden Keys), a professional association of hotel concierges.
She is described by hotel management as a “woman that embodies what it means to be part of a community”.
“I want all young children who are in hotel schools right now and are dreaming of becoming an elite concierge to know that anything is possible through hard work. Your background does not define where you will go in life. I’ve proven that anything is possible if you set goals and work hard,” said Ms Mdakana.
The Society of the Golden Keys is recognisable to hotel guests all over the world by the lapel pins of top concierges and the recognition is synonymous with “excellent service rendered by a seasoned professional”.
Those who wear the pin are revered for their professionalism, integrity, local knowledge, and impeccable recommendations.
“You have to be able to engage with all types of guests and provide them with the best customer service all the time. So you really have to genuinely love it,” said Ms Mdakana.
“Imagine how rewarding it is to be part of orchestrating such a milestone life event for someone,” she enthused. But that’s just part of what she does in between arranging bookings, transfers, restaurants, and tours, going so far as to “anticipate guests’ needs before they even ask”.
A Golden Key Concierge is also charged with having the ultimate insider knowledge of their city. So what are Ms Mdakana’s top recommendations for things to do in the Mother City?
“I really enjoy finding new places to eat. A few of my favourite places to go are Sea Breeze in Bree Street and Tjing Tjing in Longmarket Street – the food is mind-blowing and so creatively prepared.”
For a great vibe on a Saturday, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market is another crowd pleaser she enjoys, the local produce and artisanal foods the main drawcards.
Lastly, as the mother of a 5-year-old daughter, the Two Oceans Aquarium is always on her list. “Not only does it keep my little one busy with entertainment and fun, but the conservation work they do is incredible (and often goes unnoticed)”.