The SRC has drafted an international student’s memorandum which highlights their issues surrounding registration, the application process and up-front tuition payments among several other concerns. The memorandum will be handed to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Vilakazi on May 26.
The SRC has drafted a memorandum highlighting some concerns faced by international students at Wits.
The memorandum is said to detail issues which were raised at a meeting held by the SRC on April, 23 which invited international students to voice their grievances.
Students highlighted the registration fee, application process and 75% up-front tuition fee payment as some of their serious concerns.
Tanya Otto, the SRC’s international affairs officer, said the complaints were raised more strongly as a result of xenophobic attacks last month.
“The anger of international students came across when they said that these issues have been happening forever,” Otto said.
“The violence is an aftermath of what has been happening and institutionalised xenophobia is what’s allowing it to happen.”
The memorandum was compiled by Otto and other international student representatives.
SRC FOR CHANGE: Tanya Otto (left) and Shaeera Kalla (right) discuss fine tuning concerns for the international student’s memorandum which they will present to the DVC later this month. Photo: Riante Naidoo
Shaeera Kalla, acting president of the SRC, described the initial meeting as “hostile” and said her concern is to get international lecturers at Wits to help “push the agenda for international students at Wits and their own issues”.
“I am looking at this memorandum as a first step to negotiations around international issues,” Kalla said.
“The SRC aims to create a platform for international students to feel comfortable enough to speak about their issues without feeling it is just going to be dismissed,” Kalla said.
The SRC felt there was a lack of response from international students at the initial meeting and said she saw the current memorandum as a “working document”.
“There needs to be more issues addressed in the memorandum that relate to other stakeholders,” Kalla said. She said these were international lecturers and international non-academic staff at Wits.
The SRC aims to have events throughout the year in which they can promote international cultures in order to “create a safe environment where international students feel like they are heard,” Kalla said.
Kalla added that the extent to which local students are willing to get involved in international students’ issues and assist them also needs to be acknowledged.
Otto said the memorandum was compiled last week Friday and the SRC will present the memorandum to Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi on May 26.
Otto and Kalla said of the 15 international student associations on campus, only four have responded and provided input for the memorandum.
“We can’t blame it on unresponsiveness and say that that is the reason for not addressing issues,” Kalla said. “What we need to do is create a space to encourage participation where international student societies don’t feel as though they don’t want to be involved.”
Kalla said the SRC is focused on creating an environment which can foster discussion.
She said they aim to eventually extend the memorandum to focus on broader issues regarding international students and academics issues with home affairs and issues faced by all international visitors.
“We want to contact other universities to discuss these issues and do something about it.”
Wits alumni Brad Katzen and Durban filmmaker Shaun Naidoo will have their short film, The Beginning, shown at Cannes, the oldest film festival in the world. Katzen, who wrote, directed and edited the film, and Naidoo who produced it, are working a new full-length feature film which they plan to release next year.
Wits University graduate Brad Katzen, writer and director of The Beginning, will be walking the red carpet at this year’s 68th Cannes Film Festival which starts today in France.
The Beginning, produced by Durbanite Shaun Naidoo, is a short film featuring well-known South African actors Tumisho Masha, from The Wild and Letoya Mangezi who had a stint on Isidingo.
The storyline follows the life of Lisa, a mother who is forced to deal with the death of her young child. With the help of a man named George, Lisa journeys through various emotional stages in which she faces her own mortality.
In an article published by Wits University, Katzen is said to have graduated from the institution with three distinctions and continued his studies at the AFDA Film School.
According to the article, Katzen’s short films won him numerous film-making accolades. He was also said to have written and directed films for large corporates and was head writer for the sit-com J-Bay and children’s series Madiba’s Magical Folktales.
Producer of The Beginning, Naidoo told Big Up Africa that “The Beginning is a short film which in itself can be very tricky. You have a limited amount of time to tell a story so every detail is vital to doing that”.
Naidoo added that the film explored “some deep human themes and introduced a perspective on life, which we think is unique.”
Naidoo and Katzen are said to be on the lookout for funding for their next “big project” at the festival.
The Beginning will be featured throughout the Cannes festival which runs until May, 26.
The Red My Lips campaign hosted every year in April to show support and encourage men and women to stand in solidarity against sexual violence was supported by Witsies this year. Here are 5 facts telling you more about the campaign.
If anyone was wondering whether there is a new red-lip frenzy on the rise, the “Red My Lips” campaign is the reason women have been pouting a little more this April. The campaign is not an opportunity for ladies to paint on red lipstick and embrace their inner diva, as many may think, but stand in solidarity against sexual violence. The campaign, which has spread worldwide, takes place in Sexual Assault Awareness month (April) to support rape victims.
Below are 5 facts about the “Red My Lips” campaign:
1. What is “Red My Lips”?
The “Red My Lips” campaign aims to create global awareness about the realities and prevalence of sexual violence, while trying to fight rape myths and stop victim-blaming.
This image was used as the campaign’s trademark to inspire others to join the cause. Photo: Facebook.
2. When and why the campaign began, and by who?
The campaign began in 2011 by an American rape survivor, Danielle Tansino. She started the campaign due to the absence of family support and after she realised her perpetrator would not be prosecuted when a female district attorney told her: “Jurors don’t like girls that drink.” She has also campaigned to get men involved.
3. How far has the campaign spread?
The campaign has gained support in over 95 countries, including Australia, South Africa and India and Vietnam.
Red My Lips tweeted this image to indicate the support received from countries around the world. Photo: Twitter.
4. Why red lips?
“The societal idea of red lips is prostitution and women looking for trouble,” said Charlene Beukes, investigation and advocacy officer at the Wits Gender Equity Centre. Red lipstick violates this notion and is used to portray a bold statement and signify solidarity and support for victims of sexual violence. Founder, Tansino said “wearing red lipstick allows us all to stand in solidarity with survivors and refuse to be invisible … refuse to be silent.”
Witsies showed their support for the cause in April. Photo: Provided.
5. What has Wits done to support the campaign?
Wits University hosted the #RedMyLips event on campus two weeks ago. The event was attended by manyWitsies including VoW FM, the Golden Key Society, SRC members, the VC, Professor Adam Habib and deputy VC, Tawana Kupe and male and female Witsies.
Wits guys also joined in to show their support at the event. Photo: Provided.
Witsies wrote message of encouragement and support for sexual violence victims. Photo: Provided.
The presidents of Student Representative Councils at some of South Africa’s top universities have weighed in the removal of Mcebo Dlamini as president at Wits University.
Student Representative Councils (SRCs) around the country continue to discuss the dismissal of Wits SRC president Mcebo Dlamini earlier this week. While most have reserved their comments for now, others have expressed support for the axed leader.
University of KwaZulu-Natal
While most of the SRC presidents contacted say they are still in discussion over the matter, Dithobe Mosana, SRC president at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) told Wits Vuvuzela Dlamini’s Facebook account is a “private space”.
He added that Dlamini was voted in by the students of the university and Wits’ vice-chancellor, Professor Adam Habib cannot “dictate who should be leading the SRC”.
Dithobe Mosana, UKZN’s SRC president. Photo: Facebook.
Mosana felt that Wits students should decide whether their president fulfilled his job well enough. “If students are unhappy they must say the SRC president is not fit to lead in a petition,” he said.
“The SRC is supposed to be a platform where students believe their interests can be represented,” Mosana added.
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) SRC president, Ramabina Mahapa, told Wits Vuvuzela a meeting was held on Tuesday, May 5, with 14 UCT SRC members to discuss the removal of Dlamini.
He added that a statement would be issued by the end of this week but none was available at the time of going to press.
Rhodes University
Siyanda Makhubo, SRC president at Rhodes University told Wits Vuvuzela via email that based on the meeting of his SRC held on Wednesday evening they have “decided to reserve [their] comments FOR NOW.”
He said this decision was made in order to assess Dlamini’s behaviour so they “can be in a better position to critically engage with the situation at hand.”
Makhubo said a follow-up meeting will be held with Rhodes’ SRC on Sunday after which they will release a statement.
“We value and respect the jurisdiction of each SRC and will therefore do our own research in trying to find out about the context and issues following the outcome,” Makhubo said.
The SRC presidents of the University of Pretoria, University of Stellenbosch and the University of Johannesburg could not be reached for comment.
The website theconversation.com launched at Wits University on Thursday. Under the editorship of Caroline Southey, former Financial Mail editor, and her editorial team, The Conversation will re-produce academic papers and research articles on topical issues which are accessible to everyday people. The Conversation is located on the 21st floor of the Wits Art Museum building.
High above the shuffle of the city, in a large round glass-paned room, a new “conversation” launched at Wits yesterday.
The website theconversation.com is dedicated to bringing academic voices and articles into mainstream news and media.
The website, launched in 2011 in Australia, and initially concentrated on Australian news and current affairs. In 2013, UK and U.S sections of the site were also launched, headquartered out of London and Boston.
Caroline Southey, former Financial Mail editor has now launched the Africa section of The Conversation. Southey will work with a team of professional journalists that will re-produce academic papers and research articles on topical issues into news and current affairs content for everyday consumption. These articles will be allowed to republish for free, provided their “republished guidelines” are followed.
Contributors to the site have to be PhD graduates.
“What we bring to the party as journalists is that nose for a story,” Southey said. In what she refers to as a “massive translation service,” the journalists translate the work of academics into understandable articles which Southey said can be “accessible, exciting and interesting”.
Southey spent a year working on the website’s launch after she received the go ahead from founder, Andrew Jaspan.
Professor Adam Habib, Wits’ vice-chancellor and Dr Saleem Badat (former Rhodes vice-chancellor) were the first people to support Southey’s idea to launch The Conversation in South Africa.
The Conversation Africa’s editorial team comprises of Caroline Southey (standing), Jabulani Sikhakhane (kneeling), Natasha Jospeh, Thabo Leshilo, Candice Bailey and Edwin Naidu (L-R). Photo: Riante Naidoo.
The Conversation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) supported by donor funding. Alexandra Storey, The Conversation’s general manager and Southey approached funders in June last year and by December the organisation raised enough money.
Full-time work on the site began in February this year and the complete editorial team joined on April 1. Deputy editor, Jabulani Sikhakhane (communications director at the Treasury), Thabo Leshilo (former editor of Sowetan and Business Times), Edwin Naidu and Natasha Joseph are part of the editorial team.
Southey said The Conversation is the first of its kind to be launched in a developing country and despite being based in South Africa, it will be a continent-wide project. Future plans include opening an office in Nairobi and a West African country in 2016.
The website theconversation.com’s monthly audience is more than 2.2 million users across all current sites and has a readership of 22 million people when accounting for articles that have been republished through other publications.
Southey said Wits was very supportive and Habib has been a strong advocate for the organisation since its inception. The Conversation was subsequently offered office space on the campus and can be found on the 21st floor of the Wits Art Museum building.
Hangar 7 in Austria awaits Robin Attewell, a 2nd year Mechanical Engineering student. The Witsie took part in the global Red Bull Paper Wings competition in March and won nationwide in the distance category. He leaves for Austria this Wednesday along with two other South African competitors.
His older brother taught him the art of folding paper planes over a decade ago. It was only after a drawing lecture that Wits 2nd year Mechanical Engineering student, Robin Attewell had to recall the strategic folds needed to make paper fly.
Second-year Witsie, Robin Attewell jets off to Austria on Wednesday for the global Red Bull Paper Wings finals. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“Back in the day I didn’t ever think this would send me to Austria,” he said.
Attewell claimed his competitiveness came from playing cricket throughout high school, and although he was from a small school, he was up for the challenge.
“Competing on a bigger stage reminded me of our saying at St. Martin’s: We fight above our weight,” he said. “I was ready to show that even if you’re from a small place you can still produce results.”
“I’ve played a lot of cricket so my throwing arm, after 16 years of cricket, gave me an edge,” he said.
He added that being “technically minded” also helped him succeed. “When you fold a plane and it does one thing, having the understanding of why it happens, and being able to make adjustments because of that helps.”
This was the first time Attewell competed in the global Paper Wings competition and said “Going overseas with Red Bull for throwing a piece of paper was the defining eureka moment” for him.
Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria boasts a collection of 25 historical airplanes, helicopters and Formula One racing cars. Photo:Herbert Ruhdorfer
He heard about the competition during a drawing lecture. “Red Bull cans were taped underneath our desks,” he said, and after he learned the winner would jet off to Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria, he decided to compete in the competition which took place at regional level on March, 21 at Wits.
His talent as a right-arm fast pace bowler helped him land first place in the country in the distance category and was the biggest competition he ever won.
Attewell and two other South African competitors fly to Salzburg, Austria on Wednesday, May, 6. They will compete in the global finals against 82 other countries in three categories: distance, flight time and aerobatics.
Attewell said he hopes this experience will help him “get [his] foot in the door” as he would like to partner with Red Bull after completing his Mechanical Engineering degree.
The South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) said “firm action”, will be taken against the Wits SRC president following his “Adolf Hitler” Facebook post on Saturday. The union called Dlamini a “racist” and said they will ensure he no longer maintains his presidency as he is “a total embarrassment and disgrace to Wits University.”
The South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) said it will take “firm action” against Wits’ SRC (Students Representatives Council) president, Mcebo Dlamini, following his controversial “Adolf Hitler” Facebook post on Saturday.
Natan Pollack, SAUJS chairman, said the union has not yet decided exactly what action will be taken against Dlamini.
In a statement to Wits Vuvuzela, the union called Dlamini a “racist” and said his statements were “anti-Semitic, constituting hate speech according to the South African constitution”.
Pollack said “[Dlamini’s] racist statement that ‘every white person has elements of Adolf Hitler’ is an utter insult to our democratic rainbow nation.”
Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela he researched Hitler extensively and shared his admiration for the former Nazi Germany dictator. “What I love about Hitler is his charisma and his capabilities to organise people,” Dlamini said.
“We need more leaders of such cailbre. I love Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini said.
Pollack added the union was “appalled” by Dlamini’s behaviour, the “anti-Semitic image” he posted which compared a democratic Israel to Nazi Germany and his comment: “I love Adolf HITLER.”
SAUJS said Dlamini’s behaviour was a complete violation of his leadership role as president of the SRC and a “total embarrassment and disgrace to Wits University.”
“This is not Mr Dlamini’s first anti-Semitic comment, nor is it his first time to face disciplinary action from the University, consistently proving his inability to hold a position of leadership,” Pollack said.
Pollack added that the union were committed to ensuring Dlamini no longer leads the University as a “shameful, anti-Semitic racist.”
Late last night, an online petition was created and had reached 230 signatures, calling for the removal of Dlamini as SRC President. The motivation for the petition read: “It is unacceptable on any level for any person, yet alone a figurehead, to make such sweeping, racially motivated antisemitic remarks and express support for a man who sent approximately eleven million people to their deaths”.
Wits’ SRC president, Mcebo Dlamini caused controversy this weekend after he posted a Facebook status regarding whites and the state of Israel: “I love Adolf Hitler”. Following his Facebook comments, he told Wits Vuvuzela that he admired the German leader, who sent millions to death camps, for his “charisma” and “organisational skills”.
Mcebo Dlamini, Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) president, posted the statement “I love Adolf Hitler” in a comment thread below a graphic comparing modern Israel to Nazi Germany.
Responding to a commenter who wrote “Hitler new [sic] they were up to no good”, Dlamini replied “I love Adolf HITLER”.
When contacted about his comments on Hitler, Dlamini restated his admiration of the fascist leader of Nazi Germany.
“What I love about Hitler is his charisma and his capabilities to organise people. We need more leaders of such cailbre. I love Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela.
As the leader of Germany, Hitler is generally blamed for triggering World War II and sending over 6-million Jews to death camps as well as Roma, communists and homosexuals.
“I have researched about president Adolf Hitler. I have read books about president Adolf Hitler. I have watched documentaries about president Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela defending his knowledge of the former German dictator.
In the same comment thread, Dlamini wrote that every white person has “an element of Adolf Hitler”.
“I have had numerous encounters with white chaps. From primary till today I live with white chaps … As I said, they are not Hitler but there is an elements of him in all of them. I connected the dots,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini further defended his remarks and suggested that his love of Hitler had “nothing do to with white people”.
“I find it very absurd that people expect me to regard their enemies as my enemies,” Dlamini said. “The same way I love Robert Mugabe, it has nothing to do with white people.”
Dlamini told Wits Vuvuzela that “I will write what I like on my Facebook” and was not on the social media platform to “nurse Jewish people’s feelings”.
“Who told them they deserve special treatment? This is an academic space, we must debate issues not to silence individuals,” he said.
In the comment thread, Dlamini said his post had been reported to Facebook. Dlamini responded: “Shame nxaaaaa fok am not removing it…..truth hurts…face it murderers.”
“I LOVE HITLER”: a screen grab of SRC president Mcebo Dlamini’s Facebook post which declares his “love” of Adolf Hitler. Photo: Facebook.
The SRC held a meeting for international students on West campus yesterday. Wits’ international community expressed their grievances about paying seven and a half times more to apply to Wits and highlighted the issues of finding a place to live before the beginning of the academic year due to the registration system. A memorandum will be drawn up and given to the vice chancellor later next week.
International students have accused Wits of treating them unfairly by forcing them to pay most of their fees upfront and charging them an application fee 750% higher than that of South African students.
The students aired their grievances at a meeting held by the SRC which accused Wits of “institutionalised xenophobia”. The meeting, chaired by the SRC’s international students officer, Tanya Otto, encouraged international students to voice their concerns in light of recent xenophobic events.
“Our problems are not monolithic,” said Gwinyai Aubrey, the SRC’s strategic planning officer and himself an international student.
CONCERNED: International students expressed stresses of feeling unwelcome in South Africa. Photo: Riante Naidoo
One issue singled out by international students said the application process needed to be reviewed and highlighted fees as a big issue.
International students are required to pay an application fee of R750 and a 75% upfront tuition fee, as opposed to a R100 application fee and 25% upfront tuition fee for local students.
DOWNCAST: International students voiced their concerns at yesterday’s meeting and suggested improvements Wits can make. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“The university may not deliberately do this, but [it] does exclude some of the best minds in Africa from applying,” said one international student.
International students said the online registration only for South African students was a major problem as many of them study on scholarships from their governments and do not have funding to live off campus before lectures begin.
“It makes no sense to make us come and register in the middle of January when lectures only begin in February,” an international student said.
“Where am I to live for almost a month and who will pay for that?” she added.
Delayed financial aid and a lack of cohesion between local and international students were also highlighted as some of their major concerns.
The SRC has undertaken the task to draft a memorandum which will be given to the vice chancellor, Prof Adam Habib next Thursday.
Several of Wits University’s foreign academics have experienced difficulty renewing their “critical skills” visas since last year, risking deportation from South Africa. The academics feel there is an lack of understanding of the requirements for the renewal of the visa, which has resulted in protracted delays.
Several Wits foreign academics experienced delays and other issues in renewing their “critical skills” visa which allows them to work in South Africa.
The academics say changes in the visa renewal process since the beginning of this year are largely to blame. This month some of the affected academics finally had their visas renewed after a wait of nearly six months. Associate professor in political studies, Joel Quirk was one of them. “The new system meant a lot more work,” Quirk said.
Quirk resubmitted his paperwork in early December, 2014 and only received his renewed visa last week. Due to the delay he was unable to return home to Australia to join his family for Christmas, or transfer money. In addition, Quirk says he had to decline a month-long visiting fellowship at a university in Milan, Italy.
“There’s no one in SA, or who’s visited SA, who’s had to go to Home Affairs and who has good stories to tell about their efficiency,” Quirk said. “I’m not going to pretend I’m unique in this regard.”
Professor Tawana Kupe, Wits’ Deputy Vice-Chancellor, told Wits Vuvuzela the renewal of visas has been difficult as the new system requires the applicant to show they have critical skills which are needed in South Africa, to remain working here.
Associate Professor Joel Quirk received his renewed visa 5 months after being rejected and reapplying. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“For us, a person who teaches a subject that is their specialty, who can supervise students in honours, masters and PhD, have critical skills,” Kupe said.
But, he said, delay was caused by a lack of clarity about the paperwork required and the definition of critical skills needed by the Department of Home Affairs. Professor David Hornsby, vice president of the Academic Staff Association at Wits University (ASAWU), agreed with Kupe.
“I submitted on the grounds that I had a permanent job at Wits, and a PhD from a foreign university,” Quirk said, “which constituted the Act of the Home Affairs criteria.”
However, his application was rejected on the grounds that he did not have the necessary skills and experience as specified in the Act.
Vice president of ASAWU, David Hornsby, said the organisation has supported foreign academics as best as possible. Photo: Riante Naidoo
“There seems to be a real disconnect between what is enshrined in the law and the policies and what is being interpreted by Home Affairs officers,” Hornsby said.
“If I understand correctly, it’s that the Home Affairs officers are unhappy with the current regulations and think they’re problematic so are therefore not enforcing them.” Hornsby referred to this as “vigilantism which is going on” and said it is concerning for all foreign employees.
Wits University’s intervention
According to Kupe, Wits Vice Chancellor Adam Habib was intrumental in setting up a specific division in Home Affairs “to deal with the backlog”.
“If an academic has applied and there are delays, I take up the case with Home Affairs and push it,” Kupe said.
The support system, which runs through the offices of Kupe and Wits Human Resources director, Dr Kgomotso Kasonkola, has assisted almost 10 foreign academics so far.
“Whether it is five people or one whose visa is delayed, it is a worry for us because we need that person,” Kupe said. “If we didn’t need the person, they wouldn’t be here but we need their critical skills as there are students waiting in class.”
Fictitious social media posts instilled fear of xenophobic attacks in Pietermaritzburg over the past week. This came after two Congolese men were subjected to an attack in Howick, outside KwaZulu-Natal’s capital on the weekend. The two men were saved by local taxi drivers who, according to reports, said “there’s no place for xenophobia in Howick”.
A fear of xenophobic attacks spread through parts of Pietermaritzburg this week because of social media reports which claimed two foreign nationals were “brutally” murdered along with a picture of a dead man. The reports though were incorrect.
Instead local residents were responsible for preventing an attack on two Congolese men as they shopped in Pietermaritzburg. On Saturday, Morisho Hamissi and Mukobwa Gilbert, were attacked by a man who wielded a spanner at a shop.
RESCUED: From left: Morisho Hamissi, Moses Kilozo and Mukubwa Gilbert in Howick, outside Pietermaritzburg relieved to have been saved by locals after an attack on Saturday. Photo: Mfundo Mkhize
“I was going to buy food at Chicken Palace when I heard people murmuring about foreigners,” Hamissi told reporters. “Then they started shouting at me. Suddenly a man came in wielding a spanner and started to attack me. ”
Hamissi reportedly said he was grateful for the locals support. When the attacker’s family learned of the incident, they allegedly rushed over to the foreign nationals’ house and apologised, according to local media reports.
In media reports, Moses Kilozo, another Congolese national, said this was not the first time foreigners were victimised and targeted.
He added that they have regularly been subjected to insults from locals.
The Two Oceans marathon, which initially started out as a training run for Wits lecturer, Caroline Wostmann, turned into the biggest win she has ever achieved. Wits Vuvuzela caught up with her to reflect on her win in Cape Town and Comrades preparation.
Photo: Facebook: Caroline Wostmann
At dawn last Saturday morning Caroline Wostmann set out in the cool Cape air for what she thought would be a training run. Three hours, 41 minutes and 23 seconds later, she crossed the finish line winning the Two Oceans marathon as the first South African woman in 14 years.
Wostmann, a Wits finance and management accounting lecturer, said her immediate reaction after she won was that it was God’s will for her on that day as it was something she was not expecting.
“I was just feeling so, so good, I was having one of those days when everything felt easy,” she said.
Wostmann started training for the Two Oceans as part of her preparation for the upcoming June Comrades Marathon.
“I wasn’t planning on using Two Oceans as a race,” Wostmann said. “I was going to use it as training but I felt so good on the day, it turned into a race and I was definitely racing at the end!”
“I planned to run at my easy running pace,” she said. “If I was comfortable after 42kms I thought I’d pick up the pace and if I was lucky enough, get into the back-end of the top 10 in just under four hours.”
Wostmann said she ran with various groups of people along the route and enjoyed chatting and running alongside them.
She said she realised the seriousness of her position when she moved into third position and “picked up the pace and pushed harder”.
“I didn’t comprehend as I was running that there was a possibility I could win it,” she laughed. “Until right at the end when I moved into first place.”
“When I went into the lead, from that point, I thought, wow, I am winning the Two Oceans Marathon and there is no way I am going to let anyone pass me now!”
Wostmann said she does not have a pre-race ritual, however sticks to a diet of high-protein shake and bananas before a marathon.
“My husband and my two kids are my biggest supporters,” Wostmann said. “My husband is fantastic with supporting me, from taking the kids to school when I have early morning runs, or riding alongside me with water.”
Wostmann and her daughter Gabriella, 7, on a run through the muddy Sabie trail. Photo: Twitter @11Caz11
“My kids are so accommodating,” Wostmann said. “It’s always: Mommy are you going to run now? And not: Mommy do you have to go run now?”
Wostmann began running seven years ago after the birth of her first daughter Gabriella in order to lose weight. Once she became fitter, she joined the Midrand Striders running club.
“There were so many people at the club who ran the Comrades that’s what got me inspired,” she said.
Wostmann has run four Comrades marathons. She secured 6th position last year and was the first South African woman over the finish line.
This is Wostmann’s second Two Oceans Marathon which she ran as part of her Comrades preparation. Her training consists of running an ultra-marathon every two weeks (for the past eight weeks), a two-hour long midweek run and a weekly hill training session.
Since her announcement as the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille has dominated national headlines. In this bonus episode of We Should Be Writing podcast, hosts Lulah Mapiye and Bonolo Mokonoto dissect a media meet-and-greet with the mayoral hopeful. From her extensive political résumé to her controversial public utterance, we examine why the Democratic Alliance has chosen Hellen Zille as their candidate for the 2027 local mayoral elections. Additionally, […]
