Beating around the Bosch

with

Dear Reader,

Our class has 24 students. 20 are women. Arriving on our first day and seeing the classroom dominated by a host of incredibly talented women, was empowering, but also surprising – I had thought journalism was still a largely male-dominated industry. 

South Africa had the highest percentage of women in top editorial positions (47%) in the world in 2020, according to data collected by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, which covered 200 news outlets in 10 countries. This put South Africa ahead of Finland and Germany, who are otherwise leaders in gender parity. South Africa’s percentage of women in top editorial positions has since dropped to 29%, according to Reuters’ data collected in Feb

ruary 2024. So, even though, in our tiny newsroom in Stellenbosch, it looks like more women are entering the space, this doesn’t guarantee that women hold positions of authority in the newsroom, nor that their voices are heard in the news. 

Now that we've discussed the women that write the news, let's look at those who have made the news:

Mandisa Maya was appointed South Africa’s first female chief justice.

Tatjana Smith decided to end her swimming career with a bang – she defended her title as breaststroke queen and added two more Olympic medals to her collection, followed by the announcement of her retirement.

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader, has joined her supporters in protesting against suspected fraud in the recent election results.

Kamala Harris is now running against Donald Trump for the upcoming US elections. If she wins, she will be the first female president of the United States.

Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, nicknamed the ‘Iron Lady’ for her turn to autocracy,has resigned from her post and fled her country by helicopter amid riots. This ends the reign of the longest serving female head of government in the world.

Nicola Amon, newsletter editor

Visual of the Week

📸Some BTS from SMF News’ Maliza Adendorff:

The most difficult thing about this story was getting access to the event; the final round of the ATKV Applous competition. Getting tickets was like finding wors in ‘n hondehok, or sausage in a kennel. Still, with big eyes and fluttering eyelashes, there are few places you won’t get access to. I ended up sitting on a balcony, feeling very important, with a cup of coffee from the VIP lounge. Again - big eyes and fluttering lashes!

Read the story here

📚Good reads from SMF News this week📚

Fitness event highlights need for research into women’s nutrition

A recent women-only running event highlighted the need for more research into women’s nutrition in the sports space. Amy Lindstrom interviewed Tarrin van Niekerk, the event’s host and professional ultra trail runner, on the importance of knowing how to refuel one’s body as a female athlete.

Dorp Street market temporarily relocated

Abigail Baard spoke to Leani Breedt, the Dorp Street Market organiser, on the market’s temporary relocation to Casa Cerveza’s courtyard due to complaints about sidewalk obstruction. The market organisers are currently awaiting approval from the Stellenbosch Municipality to trade on Dorp Street again. 

Stellenbosch University addresses safety concerns at Engineering complex

Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Engineering complex is undergoing renovations because of safety concerns that arose from the increased annual student intake. Nkululeko Ndlovu reports that Enzo D’Aguanno, faculty director at SU’s faculty of engineering, expects the R850 million project to be completed in November 2026.

🎶What we’re listening to:

Word of the Week

Convalescence (con-vah-LESS-ens)

The time spent recovering from an illness and getting back to full health, often while being taken care of by others.

“Convalescence is the part that makes the illness worthwhile” - George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright.