WSU FEMALE LEADERS CELEBRATE WOMEN AND THEIR STRENGTHS THIS WOMEN’S MONTH

As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, Walter Sisulu University’s top female leaders, including the Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Rushiella Nolundi Songca, are celebrating not just the contributions of women in the institution, but also their unwavering strength, and the determination that drives meaningful change across the university.

Sharing words of encourage, Professor Songca said this period was deeply personal and symbolic, also a chance for each woman to be celebrated for their contributions to the development of the society. 

For her, Women’s Month is about honouring the bravery of women who paved the way, while also looking ahead to the opportunities still waiting to be created.

She added that, it was a profound significance both as a leader and as someone who understands the transformative power of education in breaking cycles of inequality.

“Personally, it represents a time of reflection on the remarkable journey of women in South Africa, from the courageous women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest the pass laws, to the countless women today who are reshaping our nation’s future through their leadership, innovation, and resilience,” she said.

Prof Songca reminded the WSU community that leadership was not about titles, but about opening doors for others.

“In any leadership role I have ever occupied, I nurtured the next generation of women leaders, particularly in leadership roles. In my current role as Vice-Chancellor, I intentionally committed to ensuring that our university remains a space where young women can see themselves reflected in leadership positions and feel empowered to pursue their ambitions without limits,” she added.

Her message to young women was simple yet powerful: “Dare to dream and chase those dreams relentlessly.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Margaret Linington, echoed the same passion for representation and diversity. For her, leadership as a woman meant breaking down barriers and creating new possibilities.

“Women in leadership challenge the conventional norms and ingrained biases. It opens doors for equitable opportunities, and allows women lecturers to feel seen, supported, and empowered,” she reflected.

She believed that diversity lies at the heart of excellence at WSU.

“If we do not celebrate diversity in all its facets, we can never change Walter Sisulu University into a university of excellence where our students are valued,” she said.

Prof Linington also shared advice for women aspiring to lead in academia and said: “Know who you are, define yourself first and do not let others define you. Leadership is not about fitting into an existing mould, but about expressing the best person you can be. Leadership is not about you; it’s about what we can achieve together.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, Professor Nosisi Feza, offered an honest look at the unique struggles women face in higher education leadership.

“Women do not start at the same time as men, because they start with backlogs, especially in leadership. It’s not easy for us to be part of leadership, because we are not mentored or encouraged in any way,” she said.

Yet, Prof Feza also highlighted the strengths women bring to leadership and strengths that should never be overlooked.

“Women leaders will never be like men, and they don’t want to be like men, but they do not want to lose the skill they have, which is called a nurturing skill. Once you have a woman leader, many people will grow. We need to find a space where women are allowed to be women in leadership,” she added.

The voices of WSU’s women leaders painted a powerful picture of strength, courage, and possibility. They reminded the community that women are not only part of history, but are actively shaping the present and carving out the future.

This Women’s Month, WSU salutes all its women from students and academics to professional and support staff for their invaluable role in making the university a place of growth, transformation, and endless possibilities.

By: Yolanda Palezweni